MaxPreps 2014-15 Preseason Top 25 Basketball Countdown: No. 3 Findlay Prep

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Something was missing at Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) a year ago, and the Pilots got a glimpse of it last December in a loss to Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

In that contest, Montrose junior guard Allonzo Trier rallied his team from a 20-point deficit by pouring in 38 points – including 24 in the second half. It may have been the game and performance of the year in high school basketball.

In a strange twist of fate over the summer, Trier opted to spend his senior year at Findlay Prep. The Pilots now had an elite-level scorer to add to a talented, athletic returning cast.



Early results suggest that the move will be a positive one for both sides.

See the entire preseason national Top 25

Findlay Prep is 4-0 with gaudy point totals of 133, 124 and 119. Trier is averaging 37.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, including a 50-point outburst over the weekend in a win over Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix).

"I think what gets overlooked with him is his ability to create for others," first-year Findlay Prep head coach Andy Johnson said of Trier last month.

That ability should be on display this season given the talent of his teammates. Every player on the roster has Division I potential and most already have multiple offers in hand.

Trier's running mate in the backcourt will be junior point guard Derryck Thornton Jr, a Top 10-caliber prospect being pursued by Duke, Kentucky and Michigan.



The Pilots are loaded at the wing and forward spots with 6-foot-8 senior Horace Spencer III, 6-8 junior Justin Jackson and 6-8 sophomore PJ Washington, a recent transfer from Prime Prep in Dallas.

When they need to go really big, 6-11 junior Jayce Johnson and 6-9 senior Khalea Turner are tall options.

Findlay Prep has finished in MaxPreps' final Top 25 each of the past seven years, but haven't been crowned the mythical national champ since the 2008-09 season.

View gallery of Findlay Prep from preseason photo shoot

"We set out every year to try to compete and win the national championship," Johnson said. "That's the standard we set and our guys are working hard and doing the right things to try and achieve that."

Findlay Prep's last five years:
2013-14 – 31-5, No. 13 final national ranking
2012-13 – 35-1, No. 3 final national ranking
2011-12 – 32-1, No. 2 final national ranking
2010-11 – 28-4, No. 20 final national ranking
2009-10 – 32-2, No. 5 final national ranking{PAGEBREAK}

Affiliation:
Pilot players attend Henderson International School in Henderson, Nev. Findlay Prep operates as a basketball-centric college prep program within Henderson and is recognized by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association.



Head coach:
Andy Johnson

Career record:
First year. Johnson was hired as an assistant at Findlay Prep prior to the 2009-10 season. Prior to that, Johnson served as an aide for Lon Kruger at UNLV and served in support roles for FIBA, USA Basketball and the NBA Summer League.

Former Pilots in college/pro basketball:
- Brandon Ashley, Arizona junior forward
- Anthony Bennett, Minnesota Timberwolves forward
- Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics guard
- Dillon Brooks, Oregon freshman wing
- Amadeo Della Valle, Plays professionally in Italy
- Al Freeman, Baylor redshirt freshman guard
- Nick Johnson, Houston Rockets guard
- Cory Joseph, San Antonio Spurs guard
- Myck Kabongo, NBA D-League guard
- Kelly Oubre, Kansas freshman guard
- Stanford Robinson, Indiana sophomore guard
- Gavin Schilling, Michigan State sophomore forward
- Winston Shepard, San Diego State junior wing
- Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers forward
- Craig Victor, Arizona freshman forward
- Dion Wade, Miami-Ohio sophomore wing
- Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington sophomore guard
- Christian Wood, UNLV sophomore forward{PAGEBREAK}

O'Shae Brissett (6-8, So., G/F)

Justin Jackson (6-8, Jr., G/F)
UNLV verbal commit and native of Toronto is ranked No. 28 in 2016 247Sports Composite.

Horace Spencer III (6-8, Sr., F)
Auburn verbal commit. Top 50 prospect chose Bruce Pearl and Tigers over likes of Georgetown, Maryland and Memphis.

Derryck Thornton Jr (6-1, Jr., G)
Top 10 point guard prospect carries himself like a pro, has Duke, Kentucky and Michigan battling for his services.



Impact newcomers:

Shakwon Barrett (6-2, So., G)

Jayce Johnson (6-11, Jr., F)

Aleksa Novakovic (6-7, Sr., F)

Donnie Tillman (6-6, So., F)

Allonzo Trier (6-4, Sr., G)
Arizona verbal commit. Scorer extraordinaire is regarded as No. 7 senior prospect by 247's Jerry Meyer.



Khalea Turner (6-8, Sr., F/C)

PJ Washington (6-8, So., F)
Late addition from troubled Prime Prep in Dallas.
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Circle the date: January will be a pivotal month for the Pilots. Johnson's team opens the new year at Hoophall West in Arizona with matchups against preseason No. 16 Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) and defending Louisiana state champ Riverside Academy (Reserve).

Tournament time: Findlay Prep will then trek east for meetings with No. 10 Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic and Ohio state title contender Wayne (Huber Heights) at Flyin' to the Hoop.

Finally, the Pilots will be looking for revenge Jan. 24 against local frenemy Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), which beat Findlay for the first time in six tries last season.

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