All four members of the University of Virginia men’s basketball program’s class of 2016 have at least one 4-star ranking by national recruiting outlets. They are showing why they are so highly regarded with the way they have played to start their senior seasons.
KYLE GUY, CG, Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN)
Lawrence Central’s Bears cruised to victories over Brownsburg and Carmel in its first two games. It’s third game, which was against rival Lawrence North, was a 63-62 victory in which the 6’3″, 165-pound Guy scored 22 points.
Howe dealt Lawrence Central its first loss of the season this past Friday, defeating the Bears in overtime by a score of 85-83. Guy and company rebounded with a 74-65 win over Cathedral, which features Division 1 recruit Eron Gordon, this past Saturday.
Guy is averaging 24.5 points per game in his team’s four wins. I couldn’t find statistics from the loss to Howe; however, check out a few of Guy’s highlights from that game below.
Lawrence Central has away games versus Pike (12/18) and Decatur Central (12/19) this week.
JAY HUFF, F/C, Voyager Academy (Durham, N.C.)
Leading the way in Voyager Academy’s perfect 10-0 mark so far this season is the 6’11” Huff, who is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.9 blocks per game. In a 62-40 win over River Mill Academy last Tuesday, the Virginia-bound forward/center racked up a triple-double, scoring 21 points, blocking 12 shots and pulling down 11 boards.
Two away games await the Vikings this week, including tonight’s matchup with Research Triangle and a contest on Friday, December 18, versus Ravenscroft.
DE’ANDRE HUNTER, G/F, Friends’ Central (Wynnewood, PA)
After defeating Malvern Prep in its season opener, Friends’ Central lost two home games and won two away games and now sits at 3-2 on the year.
Hunter had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the season opening win. He went over the 1,000-point mark for his high school career in the second game, a 23-point loss to Hill School. Hunter had 11 rebounds in that game as well.
On December 6, the 6’7″ senior had 24 points in a 9-point loss to Peddie School (N.J.), which outscored the Phoenix by 12 in the 4th quarter. Friends’ Central defeated Perkiomen, 61-46, on December 11 and downed Abington Friends by 29 points on December 12. Hunter had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in the latter win.
Friends’ Central hosts Pennington tonight before taking on Haverford School on December 21.
TY JEROME, PG, Iona Prep (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
What a start to the 2015/2016 for Ty Jerome. After helping the Gaels to a win over St. Francis to start the season, he scored 37 points — 32 of which came in the final three quarters — as Iona Prep defeated Queens (N.Y.) power Christ the King, 69-64, on December 4. The 6’5″ senior averaged 24 points and almost 8 rebounds per game in Iona Prep’s first three games (all wins).
Jerome shined once again versus Kennedy, knocking down 8-of-12 3-pointers as Iona Prep cruised to a 75-49 win. Jerome poured in 28 points in the win. He scored 34 points this past Friday night, but it wasn’t enough as the Gaels fell to St. John’s recruit Shamorie Ponds and Jefferson, 71-58.
Iona Prep is 4-1 heading into a December 18 matchup versus St. Raymond’s.
Also, Jerome didn’t miss the opportunity to see his future team in action at Madison Square Garden last Tuesday. There, he caught up with past Hoos Willie Dersch and Ted Jeffries.
Old school new school Hoos at MSG! Willie D @TyJerome_ D. Smith @tedjeffries42 Jeff Bloom, Ty's dad pic.twitter.com/VNMReQNxrs
— Ted Jeffries (@tedjeffries42) December 12, 2015
These four guys will only get better!!!!