Phillip Starks continues to carry a young, inexperienced basketball team at Prince RVT (Hartford, Conn.).
Prince RVT's Phillip Starks.
File photo by Paul Stockmann
After scoring a school-record 59 points earlier this season, the 5-foot-9, 148-pound senior guard poured in 58 last week during an 83-56 victory over O'Brien RVT (Ansonia, Conn.). He is averaging 40.4 points – No. 2 in the nation - 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 92 percent from the free throw line and 53 percent from the field.
The Falcons start two sophomores, plus a junior and senior off last year's JV team.
Coach Kendall May told MaxPreps, "He's so advanced and the other kids are so young that they can't catch his passes. In the third quarter he made seven passes and they blew the layups. Four times he got the rebound.
"Every week he is double-teamed full-court. One game he had his jersey ripped off in the third quarter. (He has great) knowledge of the game, an adept shooting eye and unlimited range. He wants to shoot 3-point shots from four steps behind the 3-point line, but I won't allow it.
May also pointed out, "Our offense is designed to get him the ball and one millisecond of space. He's got a step-back (shot) that also creates a split second. He is very, very quick. He's (NBA star Brandon) Jennings quick."
Starks has Division I ability, May believes, but so far he is getting offers only from Division II and III colleges plus prep schools.
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Fredrick Turner, a 5-7, 150-pound senior guard, exploded for a state-record 17 3-point baskets as Wilcox Central (Camden, Ala.) routed Francis Marion (Ala.), 96-54. He drilled 17 of 22 from beyond the arc to tie for fifth all-time. The national record is 24. His 56-point total tied the school record, which was set by his coach, Mark Dukes, in 1985.
* Wolfe County (Campton, Ky.) junior guard
Sawyer Denniston (6-3) scored 52 points during a 73-69 victory over Menifee County (Frenchburg, Ky.). He connected on 20 of 26 shots from the field to go with 13 rebounds and five steals.
* The nation's leading scorer (42.7 points per game), 6-1 junior
Zach Richie, had 46 points as Oregon-Davis (Hamlet, Ind.) lost to Kankakee Valley (Wheatfield, Ind.), 89-59.
* Providence (Burbank, Calif.) star
Patrick Gonzalez had a recent week he won't soon forget with games of 47, 43 and 52 points.
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Ryan Taylor, a 6-6 senior, had 41 points, 12 rebounds and six assists as Western (Louisville, Ky.) nipped Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, Ky.), 91-90, in overtime.
* Holmes County (Bonifay, Fla.) sophomore
Chris Walker (6-8) collected 41 points, 21 rebounds, seven blocks and five assists in a 75-67 double-overtime victory against Blountstown (Fla.).
* University of Louisville signee
Chane Behanan had his first career triple-double (21 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds) as Bowling Green (Ky.) defeated Barren County (Glasgow, Ky.), 83-49.
* Senior guard
Jordan Johnson outscored winless Fowlerville (Mich.) by himself with 40 points as DeWitt (Mich.) posted a 58-29 victory.
* Junior guard
Davonte Brunson scored 45 points to lead East (Akron, Ohio) past Massillon (Ohio), 85-75, in overtime.
* Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) rolled past Western Beaver (Industry, Pa.), 85-51, behind a triple-double from 6-9 junior
Devontae Watson, who finished with 35 points, 26 rebounds and 13 blocks.
* Ripley (W.Va.) senior guard
Chase Fischer (6-4) scored 40 points during a 77-76 win against South Charleston (W.Va.). The Wake Forest recruit is No. 3 in the nation with a 39.5 scoring average.
* Bosse (Evansville, Ind.) freshman
Jaquan Lyle already has received scholarship offers from Indiana, Illinois and Xavier, according to the Evansville Courier & Press. The 6-foot-4, 14-year-old is being billed as the most hyped freshman in Evansville history – ahead of such stars as Calbert Cheaney and Walter McCarty.
*MVP
Matthew Christiansen, a 6-8 junior, had 23 points, 18 rebounds and 11 blocks while sparking Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City) to a 77-61 victory over Northwest Classen (Oklahoma City) to win its own tournament.
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Bishop Hartley (Columbus, Ohio) defeated DeSales (Columbus, Ohio), 51-40, to break a 50-game home winning streak.
* Ed Kershner became Florida's all-time winner with 761 victories when
Oviedo (Fla.) defeated Trinity Prep (Winter Park, Fla.), 56-36.
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Trinity (Washington, Pa.) coach Joe Dunn notched his 300th victory, 72-49, against McGuffey (Claysville, Pa.).
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