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SOME OF THE BEST IN BASKETBALL TAKE THE COURT
TONIGHT
Published on: 12/20/2002
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: C6
By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.
Staff Writer
Looking for highly ranked basketball players at the Chick-fil-A
Classic?
Josh Smith fits the bill. The 6-foot-7 guard/forward from Georgia is
among the top five college prospects in the nation, according to
Prepstar.
The McEachern High School (Powder Springs, Ga.) junior is the
highest rated player in the tournament. Smith averaged 21 points and
10 rebounds last season.
"Josh does everything well. He plays inside for me, but I let him
handle the ball," Indians coach David Westerfield said. "He shoots
well and he's a good passer."
Smith is not the only player in the the tournament who has garnered
national attention. Hillside High School's (Durham, N.C.) Bobby
Perry, a 6-8 swingman who signed with Kentucky, is another who is
highly ranked.
"In high school he plays inside, but he has the ability to shoot the
three," tournament director Gary Fulmer said. "Anybody going to
Kentucky tells you obviously he's a good player."
At 6-11, Landmark Christian's (Fairburn, Ga.) Randolph Morris is
rated a top 25 junior by Prepstar. Perry and Lee County's (Sanford,
N.C.) Todd Henley are top 125 seniors. Henley signed to play for
Wake Forest.
Added with the crop of in-state prospects like Silver Bluff's USC
signee Brandon Wallace (top 100) and Brookland-Cayce's Jerell
Jamison (top 250), there will be several nationally recognized
seniors playing in the tournament.
Myrtle Beach's Ramon Sessions and Calhoun County's Zam Fredrick are
top 50 juniors, making the first Classic a blue-chip tournament.
"I'm unbelievably fortunate. The senior talent is obviously
outstanding," Fulmer said. "The name Chick-fil-A had a lot to do
with getting the kids here."
All the top players will be in action tonight at Richland Northeast
High School.
McEachern's Morris Almond, who was nominated for the McDonald's
All-American game, is a top 125 senior who signed with Rice.
The attention they get this weekend will be nothing new.
"It doesn't seem to bother them," Westerfield said. "I don't think
they have a big head and if they did, I think we could work that out
of them."
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