We’re unveiling the most extensive and only prep school poll of its kind and we’ll take a look at Prince Avenue Prep (S.C.), which checks in at No. 25.
Not too many people have even heard of it, but that won’t last for long. Coach Mark Knight is building something down in Pickens, S.C., and it starts with Maurice Petty and Jajuan Robinson.
The 6-6, 220-pound Petty is an athletic wing from Shelby, N.C., who played at Mount Zion last season. He’s gotten some big-time looks, but has been unable to get it done academically and that’s why his recruitment has suffered.
``He’s extremely unselfish,” Knight said of Petty. “He has the potential to take over a game, but he just doesn’t do it many times. He’s got to become more aggressive.”
The 5-11, 190-pound Robinson has also bounced around. Also ultra-athletic, the Baltimore native attended Dunbar and then Philadelphia Lutheran before landing at Prince Avenue Prep. Providence appears to the favorite with Middle Tennessee State, St. John’s and a few others taking a look.
Perry will play alongside 6-9, 215-pound senior Davon Allen in the frontcourt. Allen is also from the Baltimore area and has gotten bites from Binghamton and Winthrop thus far.
The other starting spots are likely up for grabs. Charlotte native Melvin Crowder, a 6-3, 215-pound senior forward getting interest from Winthrop and Charlotte, should earn one of the spots.
Brian Petty, a 6-1, 205-pound post-grad, should back up Robinson at the point. He’s getting low-major interest. Other players that should see time include 6-foot, 180-pound guard Brandon Hendrix (Easley, S.C.), 6-3, 195-pound junior Ja-rick Boxley (Winston Salem, N.C.), 6-1, 155-pound junior wing Will Wright (Birmingham, Ala.) and 6-3, 180-pound wing Brandon Newkirk, a post-grad from Wilmington. N.C.
``Looks can be deceiving sometimes,” Knight said. “Our biggest problem is that we don’t have any post players. The biggest thing we want to do it be able to stay on the floor and not get blown out. We want to compete night in and night out.”
With Petty and Robinson as his top duo, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.
``If they can learn to play together and set aside egos, they can sneak up on some people,” Knight added. “But with Maurice and Jajuan, they give us a definite dimension that other teams may not have. Both are explosive leapers and scorers.”