Crusaders for college: Trinity Christian players garner exposure
By Patrick Obley FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Staff writer
Posted Sep 25, 2017 at 7:09 PM Updated Sep 25, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Consider it a college career day, basketball style.
Trinity Christian’s boys basketball team spent some time in front of more than two dozen college head coaches and assistants Monday afternoon at Fuller Recreational Center. For many of the Crusaders, it was an annual kickstart to season, which begins Oct. 30.
For some, though, it was a revelation and a welcome to big-time prep hoops.
Trinity Christian’s highly rated duo – Joey Baker and Greg Gantt – garnered the most eyeballs on Monday and for them, the atmosphere was nothing new. There was a time, though, when they both were eighth-graders just trying not to embarrass themselves in front of schools they dreamed about.
“In eighth grade, you’re just trying to make yourself look good and not make mistakes and stuff like that,” Gantt said. “Now I have more freedom, so I play my game and I’m more confident.”
Eighth-graders Cam Oates and Frederick Dilione were on the floor Monday, trying to weave their way through crowded lanes under the scrutiny of coaches from places such as Texas, N.C. State, Missouri, Michigan, Louisville and UCLA.
That’s a tough task for a 13-year-old.
“You saw them miss a couple of layups,” Gantt said. “That’s jitters. When they are our age, they will be OK. It’s hard to explain, seeing all those coaches out there, so it’s hard on them. But they did great.”
Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandevender said these college days are vital for the less-heralded players on the Crusaders. Baker and Gantt get the coaches in the door, where up-and-coming prospects such as Au’Diese Toney, Talton Jones, DeUmbre Ginyard and KJ Marshall get the opportunity to be seen.
“KJ works just as hard as Greg and Joey but he’s 5-9, 5-10,” Vandevender said. “I think he’s a D-I kid. I think he’ll pick up some D-II and D-I offers this season.”
Then there’s youngsters like Oates and Dilione. The starting blocks they find themselves in were once filled with the sneakers of Gantt and Baker, who now have 32 college offers between them.
“Kids like Greg and Joey (get exposure) but others don’t and that’s why I wanted Freddy and Cam to be out here,” Vandevender said. “They need this exposure just like KJ. Greg and Joey played in eighth grade, so these coaches got them. They’ll see them on film and see them on the chart and say these are two kids we have to watch coming up.”
Patrick Obley can be reached at pobley@fayobserver.com or 486-3519
TRINITY CHRISTIAN PLAYERS WITH OFFERS
Joey Baker (22): Florida, Hofstra, UNC Charlotte, Providence, Tennessee, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Western Carolina, Texas, East Carolina, North Carolina, Boston College, Kansas, St. John’s, Louisville, DePaul, Oklahoma State, UCLA, South Carolina, Georgia Tech.
Greg Gantt (10): Grambling, Hampton, East Carolina, Providence, Campbell, South Carolina, DePaul, UNC Charlotte, Hofstra, Eastern Kentucky.
Talton Jones (1): Fayetteville State.
Au’Diese Toney (4): UAB, East Carolina, Hampton, UNC Charlotte.
By Patrick Obley FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Staff writer
Posted Sep 25, 2017 at 7:09 PM Updated Sep 25, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Consider it a college career day, basketball style.
Trinity Christian’s boys basketball team spent some time in front of more than two dozen college head coaches and assistants Monday afternoon at Fuller Recreational Center. For many of the Crusaders, it was an annual kickstart to season, which begins Oct. 30.
For some, though, it was a revelation and a welcome to big-time prep hoops.
Trinity Christian’s highly rated duo – Joey Baker and Greg Gantt – garnered the most eyeballs on Monday and for them, the atmosphere was nothing new. There was a time, though, when they both were eighth-graders just trying not to embarrass themselves in front of schools they dreamed about.
“In eighth grade, you’re just trying to make yourself look good and not make mistakes and stuff like that,” Gantt said. “Now I have more freedom, so I play my game and I’m more confident.”
Eighth-graders Cam Oates and Frederick Dilione were on the floor Monday, trying to weave their way through crowded lanes under the scrutiny of coaches from places such as Texas, N.C. State, Missouri, Michigan, Louisville and UCLA.
That’s a tough task for a 13-year-old.
“You saw them miss a couple of layups,” Gantt said. “That’s jitters. When they are our age, they will be OK. It’s hard to explain, seeing all those coaches out there, so it’s hard on them. But they did great.”
Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandevender said these college days are vital for the less-heralded players on the Crusaders. Baker and Gantt get the coaches in the door, where up-and-coming prospects such as Au’Diese Toney, Talton Jones, DeUmbre Ginyard and KJ Marshall get the opportunity to be seen.
“KJ works just as hard as Greg and Joey but he’s 5-9, 5-10,” Vandevender said. “I think he’s a D-I kid. I think he’ll pick up some D-II and D-I offers this season.”
Then there’s youngsters like Oates and Dilione. The starting blocks they find themselves in were once filled with the sneakers of Gantt and Baker, who now have 32 college offers between them.
“Kids like Greg and Joey (get exposure) but others don’t and that’s why I wanted Freddy and Cam to be out here,” Vandevender said. “They need this exposure just like KJ. Greg and Joey played in eighth grade, so these coaches got them. They’ll see them on film and see them on the chart and say these are two kids we have to watch coming up.”
Patrick Obley can be reached at pobley@fayobserver.com or 486-3519
TRINITY CHRISTIAN PLAYERS WITH OFFERS
Joey Baker (22): Florida, Hofstra, UNC Charlotte, Providence, Tennessee, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Western Carolina, Texas, East Carolina, North Carolina, Boston College, Kansas, St. John’s, Louisville, DePaul, Oklahoma State, UCLA, South Carolina, Georgia Tech.
Greg Gantt (10): Grambling, Hampton, East Carolina, Providence, Campbell, South Carolina, DePaul, UNC Charlotte, Hofstra, Eastern Kentucky.
Talton Jones (1): Fayetteville State.
Au’Diese Toney (4): UAB, East Carolina, Hampton, UNC Charlotte.
