Behind a trio of junior stars, Peach State squad ready to enter national spotlight; Gilchrist joins USA U17 team.
After reaching Georgia’s AAAAA title game with a lineup that featured three sophomores and a freshman last March, head coach David Boyd of Milton High School in Alpharetta thinks his young Eagles are ready to make a splash on the national scene in 2009-2010.
Even without a single senior on the roster, Boyd isn’t shying away from providing big goals for his program.
“Our goal for this year is to win the state championship and be nationally ranked, and for next year, win the state championship and the national championship,” Boyd said. “The only way you can do that is play the schedule we are playing.”
Milton went 24-8 last season, losing to regional rival Marietta Wheeler in the state final. Reaching the title game again will be a whole new challenge as the Eagles won’t be sneaking up on anybody.
“I think it was a surprise (reaching the title game). I don’t think anybody expected us to go that far,” Boyd said. “But you also have to keep in mind that this is a very unique group, very balanced and unselfish.”
Spurring the high expectations are three members of MaxPreps.com’s 2011 Top 100. Julian Royal, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, is No. 15 on the list, while guards Dai-Jon Parker and Shannon Scott check in at Nos. 32 and 54, respectively.
“Julian is the leader of the group,” Boyd said. “He is a big-game player. He had 32 points against South Gwinnett (in the regional finals), and we needed all of them because we only won by one point.”
Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Texas and Wake Forest are among the suitors for Royal, who averaged around 18 points and 11 rebounds per game last winter and earned state freshman and sophomore of the year honors each of the past two seasons.
Point guard Scott posted 11 points and seven assists per outing as a sophomore, and is being pursued by the likes of Clemson, Connecticut, Ohio State and UCLA.
“He is the epitome of a pure point guard,” Boyd said of Scott. “He is a pass-first, run the team, look to score second guard.”
Scott is the son of former North Carolina and NBA guard Charlie Scott, who was Dean Smith’s first African-American recruit. Charlie Scott played professionally for 10 years and won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics.
It doesn’t appear Shannon will follow in his father’s footsteps to Chapel Hill, however. Ohio State may be emerging as the leader for his services. Buckeye head coach Thad Matta has made a pair of recent trips to Alpharetta to visit the junior guard.
“They (UNC) are interested, but they already have a long line of point guards and at Ohio State he can step in and play,” Boyd said. “Plus, they have an unbelievable recruiting class (coming in).”
Parker is the third member of Milton’s super junior trio. The 6-4 guard averaged over 14 points per game a year ago and is the team’s best athlete and defender, according to Boyd. Clemson, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are the primary players involved with his recruitment at this point. Parker is also a football star at Milton, playing wide receiver and cornerback, and returning punts and kicks.
“I think we have the best guard combo in the country in the (2011) class, but I’m biased,” said Boyd, who is more than qualified to make such a statement with 515 wins, four state titles and a nationally-ranked team at Lilburn Berkmar on his resume in 26 years as a head coach.
Joining the "Big Three" is sophomore Evan Nolte, a 6-7 forward who started as a freshman and averaged 14 points per game. He is yet another surefire Division I recruit.
Despite the youth of his team, Boyd isn’t approaching the season with kid gloves when it comes to scheduling. In addition to regional foes Centennial, Walton and Wheeler – all Georgia powers in their own right – Milton will face in-state challenges from defending AAAA champ Miller Grove and Norcross.
Even bigger tests await at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., and the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. Those events will show the Eagles exactly how they stack up on the national level.
Boyd also expects contributions from juniors Kevin Kornegay (6-0, G), Jordan Loyd (6-2, G), Luke Neenan (6-2, G) and Eric Riley (6-6, F), sophomore Chase Coleman (5-9, G) and freshmen Jazz Felton and Laron Blakemore.
Felton is the son of former University of Georgia head coach Dennis Felton.
Milton's Dai-Jon Parker is warming up for basketball season by starring for the Eagle football team.
Photo by Kent McCorkle
Gilchrist joins USA U17 squad
After a gold medal effort at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina over the summer, the Men’s Developmental National Team re-assembled this week in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a mini-camp under the direction of head coach Don Showalter (Mid-Prairie High School, Iowa).
The next goal for Showalter’s squad is the FIBA U17 World Championship slated for July, 2010 in Germany.
"We plan to work them hard this weekend and let them know we are serious about winning the gold medal,” Showalter said. “I think it also shows the rest of the world we are very committed to winning the gold medal. I think sometimes U.S. teams get a wrap for not having the fundamentals down or expecting things to go our way, but this group is definitely not. The players have come in with a great attitude, and we are working hard."
The big news of the week is the addition of St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) star Michael Gilchrist, who did not play with the team in Argentina. Point guard Marquis Teague of Indianapolis’ Pike High School is also participating with the National Team for the first time.
Don Showalter
Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball
"Everybody has been helping Mike (Gilchrist) and me," Teague said. "They are letting us know where we need to be. It's been very good so far. Everybody has been supportive because they know we don't know the plays. I just want to come in here and compete because I know that there isn't anything set in stone. No matter what you are ranked or who you are, it's all about what you do while you're wearing this USA jersey."
Twenty players are in attendance at the mini-camp, all trying to make an impression and secure one of 12 roster spots for Germany.
“They all realize it is a whole new ball game,” Showalter said. “There are no roster spots locked up. If you had to pick 12 players right now, it would be impossible."
In addition to Gilchrist and Teague, attendees include;
Kyle Anderson (Paterson Catholic H.S. / Fairview, N.J.); Justin Anderson (Montrose Christian School, Md. / Montross, Va.); Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep H.S. / St. Louis, Mo.); K.C. Caudill (Brea Olinda H.S. / Brea, Calif.); Angelo Chol (Herbert Hoover H.S. / San Diego, Calif.); Quinn Cook (DeMatha H.S. / Bowie, Md.); André Drummond (St. Thomas More School / Middletown, Conn.); Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights H.S. / Wichita, Kan.); Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall Prep / Scotch Plains, N.J.); Brandan Kearney (Southeastern H.S. / Detroit, Mich.); James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian H.S. / Norfolk, Va.); Johnny O'Bryant (Eastside H.S. / Cleveland, Miss.); Tony Parker (Miller Grove H.S. / Lithonia, Ga.); Norvel Pelle (Price H.S. / Long Beach, Calif.); Chasson Randle (Rock Island H.S. / Rock Island, Ill.); L.J. Rose (Second Baptist School / Houston, Texas); Adonis Thomas (Melrose H.S. / Cordova, Tenn.); and Kevin Ware (Rockdale County H.S. / Conyers, Ga.).
Beal, Drummond, McAdoo and Pelle are in Colorado Springs despite injuries that prevent them from actively participating. Seattle’s Tony Wroten Jr. was expected to join the group but is coming off an ACL surgery.
Taft highlights Mission Prep field
Preseason national top 25 candidate Taft of Woodland Hills highlights the field for the 11th annual Mission Prep Christmas Classic, slated for Dec. 17-22 in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Taft head coach Derrick Taylor expects to have one of his most talented teams, which says a lot since the Toreadors won the Los Angeles City Section title under his direction in 2004 and 2008. USC verbal commitment Bryce Jones, a 6-5 senior guard, and Texas pledge De’Andre Daniels, a 6-7 junior wing, are among the standouts for Taft.
Campbell Hall of North Hollywood returns after making an appearance at the Classic in 2007 with current Philadelphia 76er Jrue Holiday. This year’s Vikings will be led by Division I prospects James Johnson (6-7, Sr., F) and Austin McBroom (5-11, Jr., G).
Washington, D.C.’s Ballou High School will also be in attendance led by 6-3 senior guard Donte Thomas 6-8 junior forward Marquis Gentry. Thomas has been one of the top players in the District of Columbia each of the past two seasons, averaging over 26 points per game as a sophomore and 22 as a junior.
Complete Field
California teams: Birmingham (Lake Balboa), Campbell Hall (North Hollywood), Campolindo(Moraga), Cathedral (Los Angeles), Edison (Fresno), Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo), Pasadena, Pioneer Valley (Santa Maria), Rio Americano (Sacramento), San Luis Obispo, St. Joseph (Santa Maria), Sylmar, Taft (Woodland Hills), Washington (Los Angeles)
Out-of-state teams: Ballou (Washington, D.C.), Eldorado (Las Vegas, Nev.)
