We continue our 2013-14 team previews with an in-depth look at Oak Hill Academy, the famous boarding school in Southwest Virginia that has led the charge over the last 25 years in taking high school basketball to the next level. Throughout October, we’ll preview many of the top teams from across the country as a countdown to the release of our preseason 2013-14 Student Sports FAB 50.
Note: All information that follows came from a questionnaire that was sent to and returned by the school’s head coach. If you would like your school to be profiled, please return the questionnaire that was mailed out earlier this month or it can be filled out online.
The information can also be emailed to editor Ronnie Flores: ronnie@studentsports.com. StudentSportsBasketball.com thanks the programs that have submitted information.
Team Name: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Head Coach: Steve Smith (893-59)
2012-13 Record: 33-6, 22-3 (J.V.)
Final Ranking: No. 23 (FAB 50) No. 3 (East Region)
Returning Starters: 1
Returning Lettermen: 2
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: G Caleb Martin 6-6 2014 (No. 56 Hoop Scoop Top 100, N.C. State commit) F Cody Martin 6-6 2014 (No. 65 Hoop Scoop Top 100, N.C. State commit), G Shelton Mitchell 6-4 2014 (No. 76 Hoop Scoop Top 100, Wake Forest commit).
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: B.J. Stith 6-5 2014 (No. 74 Hoop Scoop Top 100, Virginia Commit, son of Bryant Stith), F Rokas Gustys 6-9 2014 (High major prospect), F Khadim Sy 6-9 2016, C Rodney Miller 6-11 2016, F Trevor Manual 6-9 2015.
Coach’s General Outlook: I really like the depth of this year’s team. In fact, 11 of the 12 players on my roster will play Division I ball. What I also really like is we have senior guards. When I have experienced guards, we usually play well against tough competition. I do have some concerns about our frontcourt because of its youth, but not its talent. Plus we have a lot of bigs that can rotate in. I believe we are a solid top 10 team.
Events Scheduled To Play In: Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.) vs. Whitehaven (Memphis) and vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), Chick-fil-A Classic (Columbia, S.C.), Hoophall West (Phoenix) vs. Yates (Houston) and vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Ma.) vs. Whitney Young (Chicago), Penny Hardaway Hoopfest (Memphis) vs. Hamilton (Memphis) and vs. Houston (Memphis).
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Whitney Young (Chicago), Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Yates (Houston), Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.).
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: For over two decades, Oak Hill was the standard by which all national level teams were judged by. Plenty of competition has emerged in recent years, but the Warriors have still won two FAB 50 crowns in the past seven seasons (2007, 2012). Last year’s team was small by Oak Hill standards and failed to crack the national top 20 for the first time since the 1987-1988 season, the first year of the National Prep Poll (precursor to the Student Sports FAB 50). Despite five losses during its regular season, Oak Hill Academy still took eventual FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) to overtime in the NHSI quarterfinals and on paper this team is much bigger and deeper. In fact, this team has the talent to lead Oak Hill to its first NHSI title and Smith’s eighth FAB 50 mythical national title. There are four Top 100 2014 players with perimeter skills and four players over 6-foot-9 that can get the job done. Coach Smith is especially high on Rokas Gustys, who gained valuable experience last year. Terrence Phillips, a 5-11 2015 guard, can spell both guard spots and provides a spark defensively. Many programs have emulated the Warriors and coach Smith deserves credit for keeping his program relevant for nearly 30 years.
Fast Fact: Phillips is the younger brother of former Oak Hill guard Brandon Jennings, the 2007-08 Mr. Basketball USA choice and Oak Hill’s only consensus national player of the year. Oak Hill Academy has recorded seven No. 1 FAB 50 finishes (1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012). The first time the famed program was nationally ranked came at the conclusion of the 1979-1980 season. Glenn Mayers led the team to its first unbeaten season (36-0) and a No. 9 ranking by Basketball Weekly.
Send corrections or comments to ronnie@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment that others can check out.
RELATED: FAB 50 Consideration Form
2013-2014 Team Previews
Desert Pines (Las Vegas) CLICK HERE
Rainier Beach (Seattle) CLICK HERE
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) CLICK HERE
Damien (La Verne, Calif.) CLICK HERE
Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville, Ind.) CLICK HERE
Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) CLICK HERE
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