Battle between Spartanburg's Williamson, Christ School's Lecque draws national attention
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ARDEN – Tony Freeman sat in the fifth row of the Christ School gym Wednesday night wearing a Carolina blue and white shirt with his cell phone pointed in the direction of Spartanburg Day’s Zion Williamson.
Freeman was one of hundreds who packed the gym to get a glimpse of the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Williamson, the nation’s top uncommitted basketball recruit with NBA potential.
School officials said they sold around 900 tickets for the game and printed more than a thousand programs.
“I would love to see him be a Tar Heel,” Freeman said. “But honestly tonight is really a cool chance to see a player of his caliber up close and personal. Pretty soon it won’t be so easy.”
Wednesday’s game not only gave fans a chance to see Williamson – who, despite recent official visits to Duke, Kentucky and Kansas, has yet to commit to a school – but a bright future at Christ School behind its own star, Jalen Lecque.
The excitement before the game radiated through the gym. Lecque and Williamson entered as internet sensations, their clips of electrifying dunks going viral several times over on social media. Even during warmups, Lecque gave a small sample of his dunking skills, executing a between-the-legs, one-handed jam to the delight of the student section.
Christ School student Marshall McDill led the group in its raucous cheers before and during the game. The group of nearly 100 well-dressed students, wearing suit jackets, ties and slacks, turned a regular-season high school game into a college atmosphere. Asheville native Cameron Maybin, who recently won a World Series title with the Houston Astros, even found his way into the stands.
“We’ve got two guys here who are like famous for their crazy dunks,” McDill said. “There is so much hype around this game. You can feel it in here.”
The first points of the game came from Williamson - unsurprisingly - a dunk.
The moment drew loud cheers from fans wearing a rainbow of college colors, including 14-year-old Christ School student Andrew Graham, who sported a Kentucky Wildcats jersey.
“Words cannot explain how excited I would be if Zion committed to Kentucky,” Graham said. “He’s just amazing. He has a presence about him I’ve never seen.”
While Williamson was the main attraction – he finished with a game-high 45 points – it was Christ School that took the 70-62 win behind Lecque’s 23 points.
The point guard from Brooklyn, New York, showed why he’s earned the nickname “Baby Westbrook” on social media, displaying next-level handles and a jaw-dropping vertical. Lecque is ranked as the third best overall player in North Carolina from the Class of 2019. He has 33 offers. There are likely many more to come.
"It was a high-intense game. I was nervous; everyone was nervous," Lecque said after the win.
But the focus Wednesday was on Williamson’s future. Rumors circulated that he may commit or sign during the early signing period, although that looks to be unlikely now. Wednesday marked the final day of the period.
Local and national media swarmed Williamson after the game, but the senior sidestepped interviews and headed towards the locker room.
Williamson’s stepfather, Lee Anderson, said Wednesday his stepson is “weighing all of his options heavily and not taking the decision lightly.”
Lecque said after the game he would not be surprised if Williamson stays close to home. The two communicated through text messages all week leading up to the game.
“He’ll go where he fits best; that may be his hometown,” Lecque said.
That could bode well for Clemson, which looks to be one of Williamson’s top choices. His stepfather played for the Tigers.
Lecque did not comment on his own recruitment, saying he had “all the time” to figure that out.
He’s not the only Greenie player with a Division I future. Junior center Brandon Stone has received offers from Houston, Pittsburgh and Penn State. He finished with a double-double against Spartanburg Day. Sophomore Justice Ajogbor, one of three local players on the Christ School roster, has offers from Connecticut, Tennessee, Maryland and Davidson.
.
ARDEN – Tony Freeman sat in the fifth row of the Christ School gym Wednesday night wearing a Carolina blue and white shirt with his cell phone pointed in the direction of Spartanburg Day’s Zion Williamson.
Freeman was one of hundreds who packed the gym to get a glimpse of the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Williamson, the nation’s top uncommitted basketball recruit with NBA potential.
School officials said they sold around 900 tickets for the game and printed more than a thousand programs.
“I would love to see him be a Tar Heel,” Freeman said. “But honestly tonight is really a cool chance to see a player of his caliber up close and personal. Pretty soon it won’t be so easy.”
Wednesday’s game not only gave fans a chance to see Williamson – who, despite recent official visits to Duke, Kentucky and Kansas, has yet to commit to a school – but a bright future at Christ School behind its own star, Jalen Lecque.
The excitement before the game radiated through the gym. Lecque and Williamson entered as internet sensations, their clips of electrifying dunks going viral several times over on social media. Even during warmups, Lecque gave a small sample of his dunking skills, executing a between-the-legs, one-handed jam to the delight of the student section.
Christ School student Marshall McDill led the group in its raucous cheers before and during the game. The group of nearly 100 well-dressed students, wearing suit jackets, ties and slacks, turned a regular-season high school game into a college atmosphere. Asheville native Cameron Maybin, who recently won a World Series title with the Houston Astros, even found his way into the stands.
“We’ve got two guys here who are like famous for their crazy dunks,” McDill said. “There is so much hype around this game. You can feel it in here.”
The first points of the game came from Williamson - unsurprisingly - a dunk.
The moment drew loud cheers from fans wearing a rainbow of college colors, including 14-year-old Christ School student Andrew Graham, who sported a Kentucky Wildcats jersey.
“Words cannot explain how excited I would be if Zion committed to Kentucky,” Graham said. “He’s just amazing. He has a presence about him I’ve never seen.”
While Williamson was the main attraction – he finished with a game-high 45 points – it was Christ School that took the 70-62 win behind Lecque’s 23 points.
The point guard from Brooklyn, New York, showed why he’s earned the nickname “Baby Westbrook” on social media, displaying next-level handles and a jaw-dropping vertical. Lecque is ranked as the third best overall player in North Carolina from the Class of 2019. He has 33 offers. There are likely many more to come.
"It was a high-intense game. I was nervous; everyone was nervous," Lecque said after the win.
But the focus Wednesday was on Williamson’s future. Rumors circulated that he may commit or sign during the early signing period, although that looks to be unlikely now. Wednesday marked the final day of the period.
Local and national media swarmed Williamson after the game, but the senior sidestepped interviews and headed towards the locker room.
Williamson’s stepfather, Lee Anderson, said Wednesday his stepson is “weighing all of his options heavily and not taking the decision lightly.”
Lecque said after the game he would not be surprised if Williamson stays close to home. The two communicated through text messages all week leading up to the game.
“He’ll go where he fits best; that may be his hometown,” Lecque said.
That could bode well for Clemson, which looks to be one of Williamson’s top choices. His stepfather played for the Tigers.
Lecque did not comment on his own recruitment, saying he had “all the time” to figure that out.
He’s not the only Greenie player with a Division I future. Junior center Brandon Stone has received offers from Houston, Pittsburgh and Penn State. He finished with a double-double against Spartanburg Day. Sophomore Justice Ajogbor, one of three local players on the Christ School roster, has offers from Connecticut, Tennessee, Maryland and Davidson.
