15. Grace Prep (Arlington, Texas)
Head coach: Ray Forsett
2010-11 record: 30-6, TAPPS 4A state champions
Players to watch: Isaiah Austin (7-0, 210, Sr., F/C, Baylor verbal commitment), Jelon Hornbeak (6-4, 185, Sr., G), Jordan Mickey (6-8, 215, Jr., F), Emmanuel Mudiay (6-4, 180, So., G), Karviar Shepherd (6-9, 215, Jr., F)
Lions scouting report: The talent continues flowing to Grace Prep, a program coached by the brother of Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett. Transfers Mickey and Shepherd bolster a roster that already featured a five-star senior in Austin and sophomore in Mudiay.
Led by Isaiah Austin, Grace Prep features national championship-caliber talent.
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Much of the attention at Grace Prep will go to Austin, a tantalizing talent who averaged 14 points, nine boards and six rejections as a junior. He finished the 2010-11 in dubious fashion, however, getting suspended for Grace Prep's championship game against
Westbury Christian (Houston). Grace Prep went on to win without him. Ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Class of 2012 Top 100, the future Baylor Bear is about as skilled as 7-footers come.
Mudiay earned Freshman All-American honors from MaxPreps last winter after averaging 11 points per game. He is a Top prospect in the Class of 2014 with much of the Big 12 in hot pursuit already.
The transfers of Mickey (Richardson Berkner) and Shepherd (DeSoto) were two of the bigger moves in Texas during the offseason. Both came from successful programs and should help keep Grace Prep in the national picture for at least another year.
Meetings with
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) and
Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest Nov. 25-26 should have the Lions battle-tested for the prestigious City of Palms Classic in December.
