5. Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.)Head coach: Rob Fulford
2010-11 record: 22-3
Players to watch: Tanveer Bhullar (7-2, 290, Jr., C),
Javontae Hawkins (6-5, 185, Sr., G/F, South Florida verbal commitment),
Stefan Jankovic (6-10, 235, Sr., F/C),
Elijah Macon (6-8, 230, Sr., F, West Virginia),
Evan Payne (6-1, 180, Sr., G),
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (6-3, 185, Jr., G),
Negus Webster-Chan (6-7, 195, Sr., G/F, Missouri),
Andrew Wiggins (6-7, 200, So., G/F)
Express scouting report: Could too much talent be the biggest issue for upstart Huntington Prep? The Express feature four players already committed to high-major programs and a handful of other Division I prospects on the roster.
Sophomore Andrew Wiggins is among the most highly-touted young players ever from Canada.
Photo by Nick Koza
"We addressed that in our first team meeting," Fulford said. "We do have a lot of really good players, but roles are established pretty quick. Playing time is going to be predicated on defense."
Incredibly, the main attraction at Huntington Prep this winter won't be one of the four committed seniors (Hawkins, Jankovic, Macon and Webster-Chan). Wiggins – a Canadian native – is MaxPreps.com's No. 1-ranked sophomore nationally and piled up 25 points and nine boards in his debut with the program Oct. 29.
"He's an unbelievable talent," Fulford said of his young star. "It would be very difficult with him being as good as he is if he was cocky and mouthed off to everybody. But he's very humble, we can barely get him to talk."
A challenging schedule includes Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) at Cameron Indoor Stadium, defending Ohio state champ Taft (Cincinnati) and defending national champion St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.). Fulford hopes this team can begin a legacy for the program in line with some of high school basketball's other powers.
"Carmelo Anthony has his jersey hanging on that wall at Oak Hill," Fulford said. "We told our guys, 'Start your own legacy.' That's one of the things that we've targeted here."
