Addition of reigning New York City POY Rawle Alkins has raised the bar for Holy Rams.
Video: Early Contenders - Word of God Christian AcademyMaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour
Head coach: Brian Clifton (first year)
2014-15 record: 29-3
State association: Independent
Enrollment: 175 (K-12)
2015-16 Word of the God Christian Academy basketball coaching staff and players
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Players to Watch
Rawle Alkins (6-4, Sr., G) … No. 15 overall prospect in 2016 class by 247Sports
Jaylen Fornes (6-3, Sr., G) … UNC-Wilmington commitment
Blake Harris (6-3, Jr., G) … Offers from several ACC schools
Jalen Harris (6-1, Sr., G) … Buffalo commitment
Brandon Huffman (6-9, Sr., F) … Transfer from Alaska
Dequan Lockamy (6-8, Jr., F) … Transfer from Garner Magnet
Guard Rawle Alkins is the No. 15 overall prospect in the class of 2016.
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Key Dates
Nov. 27 – vs.
Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) at Charlotte Hoops Challenge
Dec. 10 – vs.
Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) at Buckeye Elite Shootout
Dec. 12 – vs.
Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) at Big E Classic
Jan. 23 – vs.
Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.)Feb. 13 – vs. Quality Education Academy
Feb. 16 – vs.
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Guard Blake Harris
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Holy Ram Storylines
* Word of God may be best known as the high school home of John Wall. Clifton was Wall's club circuit coach and spent last season at
Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.).
* Alkins surprised many by relocating to Word of God over the summer. It wasn't your average transfer situation as the reigning New York City POY wasn't likely to be cleared at
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) this season due to time he spent playing varsity basketball as an eighth-grader. Alkins averaged over 20 points per game in 2014-15 and earned a spot on the MaxPreps Junior All-American Team. He scored 25 in his Word of God debut Nov. 10, an 81-61 win over Positive Day (Burlington).
* Huffman is another Holy Ram settling into a new situation this year after making the jump from Anchorage West in Alaska. The senior forward was an all-state pick — helping West go 21-3 and capture the 4A state title.
View gallery of preseason Early Contenders photo shoot with Word of God
Forward Brandon Huffman
Photo by Alik McIntos
