Words. Aron Phillips
Seeing as how P.J. Hairston and Dezmine Wells are two of the top 50 players in the Class of 2011, it might seem unfair to you that they have both taken their talents to Hargrave Military Academy for their senior year. The only people we hear complaining though are the guys that have to guard them. Next season, Hairston will play for Roy Williams at North Carolina, while Wells is head to Xavier.
Words. C.J. Leslie
Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) star forward C.J. Leslie is the #10-rated prospect in the HSH Top 50. Previously committed to N.C. State, Leslie recently re-opened his recruiting and has opted to wait until the spring to decide on a college. That alone makes his one of the most intriguing stories in the 2010 senior class, and Leslie also happens to be one of its most exciting players.
C.J. has agreed to give HSH exclusive access and chronicle his thoughts in this bi-monthly diary where he’ll talk about everything from his season with Word of God to the recruiting process as he inches closer and closer to a decision. MORE >
Words. Jason Jordan
Dezmine Wells isn’t currently in serious contention for the number one spot in the Top-50 for HighSchoolHoop or any other recruiting outlets. He’s not bombarded with autograph requests at the ends of games, and there’s a decent chance that if you saw him play last season at Word of God Academy (N.C.), depending on the game, you may not even remember the 6-4 combo guard who averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game.
It’s not a knock; it’s just that shining is hard when you’re sharing the backcourt with the brightest star in the country. That’s how it was for Wells when he played alongside John Wall for the Holy Rams. MORE >
Words. Jason Jordan
WILSON, N.C. — When a 5-8 guard sprinted from the top of the key and retrieved the ball on his way up from a seated fellow camper while soaring over top of him for an authoritative slam, everyone in Barton College’s gym was ready to anoint him the 2009 Elite 80 Fall Showcase Slam Dunk Champion.
Everyone except Word of God Academy guard Bishop Daniels.
Amidst the leftover “oohs” and cheesy imitations of the unbelievable dunk, Daniels, who stands 6-2, calmly asked Dudley High’s P.J. Hairston, a guard who stands 6-5, to stand in front of the rim. Then he walked three feet behind the left wing, turned around and bolted toward the basket where he took flight clear over Hairston’s head, without him even slightly ducking, and threw down the contest-winning dunk. MORE >
