Following a solid junior campaign at Trinity, Myles Turner has played his way into elite status in high school basketball's 2014 class.
Photo by Dan Wozniak
is best known for its powerhouse football program, which helped bring the fearsome Haka dance into popularity and won state titles in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
But the Trojan gridiron gang isn't the only attraction at Trinity these days.
Rising senior hoops star
Myles Turner, a skilled 6-foot-11 center, was installed Wednesday as the
No. 5 overall prospect in the Class of 2014 by 247Sports.com. Turner made a big impression on national recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer at the NBPA Top 100 Camp last week in Charlottesville, Va.
"Turner is very mobile although not necessarily an explosive athlete. He has great timing as a shot blocker and a good overall feel for the game," Meyer said. "It's rare to find a young big man with the tools he possesses."
"He is special, no doubt about that," Trinity head coach Mark Villines told MaxPreps this week.
After breaking his foot and needing surgery last spring, the opportunity to showcase himself and gain exposure during the summer of 2012 was a complete lost cause for Turner. Forget five-star status, Turner wasn't even on the radar of most basketball scouts and analysts.
Turner attacks the bucket during a December game against Nolan Catholic of Fort Worth.
Photo by Dan Wozniak
Turner wasn't cleared to play until the start of his junior campaign at Trinity. He posted averages of around 14 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots per game while leading the Trojans to a rare playoff appearance.
Following the high school season, Turner's stock rose quickly on the Under Armour club circuit with Texas Select. He cemented his status as an elite prospect by standing out on a star-studded roster at last week's NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia.
"Defensively he's so long and now that he's growing into his body and getting stronger, he's just a huge presence in the paint," Villines said. "There are not many big guys that can step out and shoot it like he can. He shot 40 percent from the 3-point line last season and 70 percent from the free throw line. You don't get 6-11 and 225 pounds that can play like that very often."
College programs like Baylor, Connecticut, Kansas, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA have extended offers, while Duke and Kentucky are among those showing serious interest.
His sudden status as a super-recruit has already led to an upgrade in Trinity's 2013-14 schedule as event organizers and promoters have come calling. The Trojans will travel to Illinois in November for the State Farm Tournament of Champions and will also participate in the Whataburger Tournament — arguably the top holiday tourney in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
"Trinity has always been a football school and basketball has always been the stepchild," Villines said. "But we are starting to get a little notoriety."
Holding on to a talent like Turner for a school with little to no basketball tradition can be a difficult task, but Villines is confident he will be back at the Mid-Cities school in the fall.
"There have been plenty of people around him telling him do go here and do this, but I trust the he wants to play here and play with his friends," Villines said.
