MaxPreps 2013-14 Preseason Xcellent 25 Basketball preview: No. 7 Prime Prep

A first-year program last season, Prime Prep (Dallas) legitimized itself on the court instantly with wins over powers like Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W.Va.), Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.), Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) and Yates (Houston).

Head coach Ray Forsett's squad was minutes away from playing in the de facto national championship game, but fell to eventual No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) 57-55 at the National High School Invitational.

"Last year was a special group," Forsett said. "I'm not sure if we are quite as strong as last year, but we are right there with everybody else."



Forsett isn't overstating his description of the 2012-13 team. Four seniors from a year ago are on Division I rosters this season and two others are playing at lower levels of college basketball.

That puts a lot on the shoulders of Emmanuel Mudiay — 247Sports.com's No. 1 senior prospect and the leading scorer on Prime Prep's 37-win team a year ago. The multi-dimensional guard was pursued by powerhouse programs nationwide but stunned many by electing to stay close to home and play for head coach Larry Brown at SMU.

"He's grown tremendously," Forsett said of Mudiay. "He's matured into being a leader and worked his butt off so he can get stronger and carry the load a little bit more for us."

Early returns indicate Mudiay is more than comfortable in his role as the go-to guy for Prime Prep. He scored 33 points Monday night against perennial power Yates (Houston) in the RCS Season Opener to help his team start the season 1-0.

Sophomore Terrance Ferguson should be a dangerous sidekick on most nights. He was overshadowed a bit as a freshman by the deep assortment of talent on the Prime Prep roster. But the 6-foot-7 scorer made a statement over the summer by earning a spot on USA Basketball's U16 team that won a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Seniors DaVontae Bailey and Micah Seaborn and sophomore Sean Williams — an Arkansas native — add additional firepower in the backcourt.



The frontcourt is not as settled. Prime Prep took a major hit there recently as star 2015 forward Elijah Thomas left the school for nearby Lancaster High School.

Promising 6-6 freshman P.J. Washington figures into the replacement plan there. At 6-7, Wakeland (Frisco) transfer Sam Schwietz also provides some size in the post.

View gallery of Prime Prep preseason photo shoot {PAGEBREAK} Classification/Division:
Independent charter school

Rolling out red carpet at Prime Prep:
Deion "Prime Time" Sanders was among the co-founders at Prime Prep — hence the name. But the school took its celebrity status to a new level during a midnight madness event last month. Prime Prep welcomed in Allen Iverson, who was used a prop in a dunk contest. Also on hand for the tip-off festivities were Dez Bryant and rappers Dorrough and Trina.

Head coach:
Ray Forsett (Second year as head coach at Prime Prep)

Career record:
37-2 at Prime Prep, 105-25 including four years as head coach at Grace Prep (Arlington)



Former Prime Prep players in college basketball:

Damon Collins (Howard freshman wing)

Jordan Mickey (LSU freshman forward)

Jamaal Robateau (North Idaho College freshman forward)

Karviar Shepherd (TCU freshman forward)

Shirmane Thomas (Tennessee Tech freshman guard)



Bryan Umoru (Henderson State freshman wing)

Forsett's Grace Prep players in college basketball:

Isaiah Austin (Baylor sophomore center)

Jamal Branch (St. John's junior guard)

Je'lon Hornbeak (Oklahoma sophomore guard){PAGEBREAK} Key returners:

Jokwon Bagby (6-0, Jr., G)



DaVontae Bailey (6-4, Sr., G)

Terrance Ferguson (6-7, So., G)

Emmanuel Mudiay (6-4, Sr., G), 247Sports No. 1 prospect, SMU verbal commitment

Micah Seaborn (6-3, Sr., G)

Newcomers:

P.J. Washington (6-6, Fr., G/F)



Sean Williams (6-1, So., G)

Circle the date:

Part of the appeal of Prime Prep is the opportunity to play a national schedule. The program will trek to seven states outside of Texas this season and likely approach double figures in terms of games against other nationally-ranked teams.

Showcase appearances include the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, Marshall County Hoopfest (vs. Quality Education Academy of North Carolina and Memphis White Station), Cancer Research Classic (vs. Simeon and Whitney Young of Chicago), Spalding Hoophall Classic (vs. Huntington St. Joseph Prep) and Flyin' to the Hoop (vs. Trotwood-Madison).

Tournament time:

Though it won't be a bracketed portion of the event, Prime Prep will travel to Las Vegas before Christmas to compete in the Tarkanian Classic. Other programs of note competing there will be Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) and Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.).