Independent Top 10 high school basketball team preview: No. 3 Montverde Academy

Video: Montverde Academy photo shoot
Eagles gearing up for another run at national title.



Head coach: Kevin Boyle (645-141 career record)

2015-16 record: 26-2, No. 7 national ranking

Enrollment: 998 (K-12)

It's national championship or bust at Montverde Academy.

Probably unfair pressure for a bunch of teenagers but that's the standard Kevin Boyle has set for his program.

The Eagles are 134-10 since the former St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) coach took over in 2011 and were recognized as national champions by MaxPreps in 2013 and 2015.

NBA Draft Lottery picks D'Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons are among the standouts that have gravitated to Montverde over the past six years.

So is the 2016-17 team prepared to embrace and chase that lofty standard?

Talent is not going to be an issue. Experience and chemistry might be causes for concern out of the gate, but that's really nitpicking.

The backcourt and go-to scorer role are in good hands with sophomore star R.J. Barrett. The 6-foot-7 wing led the team in scoring as a freshman and is regarded as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2019 by 247Sports.

Barrett followed his outstanding rookie campaign at Montverde by averaging over 18 points per game at the FIBA U17 World Championship over the summer while representing Canada.

The frontcourt situation is less certain but promising.

Gone are E.J. Montgomery (6-10), Silvio de Sousa (6-8) and Simisola Shittu (6-8) – three bigs on last year's roster that elected to continue their careers elsewhere.

In are seniors Sandro Mamukelashvili (6-9, F) and Grant Shephard (6-9, F) – natives of the Republic of Georgia and Canada, respectively.

EuroHopes.com has Mamukelashvili pegged as the No. 3 prospect in Europe for his age group. He and Shephard will have to be more than just big bodies for Montverde to be special.

View gallery from Montverde Academy preseason photo shoot

Keep an eye on the City of Palms Classic before Christmas. Boyle and the Eagles have become fixtures in Fort Myers and won the tournament in 2012 and 2013. But Montverde fell to eventual champions Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) and Chino Hills Hills (Calif.) the past two seasons. Expect a determined Montverde effort to regain the crown at the nation's most prestigious regular season tournament.

MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jake Betlow (6-2, So., G) … One of the top freshmen in New Jersey last season

Rechon Black (6-7, Jr., G) … Committed to North Carolina

Marcus Carr (6-2, Sr., G) … Committed Pittsburgh

Akol Mawein (6-8, Jr., F) … Newcomer has offer from TCU

Sean Mobley (6-8, Sr., F) … Committed to VCU

Andrew Nembhard (6-4, So., G) … Top 25 prospect in Class of 2019

KEY DATES

Nov. 19 – vs. Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.)

Dec. 3 – vs. Evanston (Ill.) @ Chicago Elite Classic

Dec. 16-21 – City of Palms Classic

Jan. 7 – vs. Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.) @ National Hoopfest

Jan. 12-14 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions

Jan. 16 – vs. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) @ Spalding Hoophall Classic

Jan. 26-28 – Montverde Academy Invitational

Feb. 2-4 – St. James Invitational

Feb. 11 – vs. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.)