We continue our 2013-14 team previews with an in-depth look at Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), a program looking to win its first FAB 50 title since 2008-09. 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: Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)
Head Coach: Jerome “JYD” Williams (1st season)
2012-13 Record: 35-1
Final Ranking: No. 3 (FAB 50) No. 1 (West Region)
Returning Starters: 0
Returning Lettermen: 1
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: SG Rashad Vaughn 6-5 2014 (No. 9 Hoop Scoop Top 100), SF Kelly Oubre Jr. 6-7 2014 (No. 21 Hoop Scoop Top 100), PF Craig Victor III 6-8 2014 (No. 42 Hoop Scoop Top 100, Arizona commit).
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: PF Horace Spencer 6-8 2015 (No. 27 Hoop Scoop Top 100), PG Derryck Thornton Jr. 6-1 2016 (CalHiSports.com all-state freshman at Sierra Canyon), PF Jonah Bolden 6-8 2014 (No. 69 Hoop Scoop Top 100).
Coach’s General Outlook: We have a very deep and athletic team. Even though coach (Todd) Simon is gone, we will still employ a lot of the same concepts. We’ll look to press a bit more this year and a few things in the half court will be a bit different. We’ll play Findlay Prep basketball: we’ll defend, run and look to keep the turnovers down. One thing the coaching staff would like to see is an improvement defensively. We have a lot of new players and they have to learn the system defensively.
Events Scheduled To Play In: Tsumura Basketball Invitational (Langley, Canada), Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas), Mike Miller Classic (Mitchell, S.D.) vs. De La Salle (Minneapolis, Minn.), Meritas Rancho Solano Showcase (Scottsdale, Ariz.) vs. Pinnacle (Phoenix) vs. Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), Flyin’ To The Hoop Invitational (Dayton, Ohio) vs. Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio), Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.) vs. Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.).
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), De La Salle (Minneapolis, Minn.), Pinnacle (Phoenix), Desert Pines (Las Vegas).
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: Ever since they’ve been eligible for the FAB 50 in 2008-09, the Pilots have been thick in the No. 1 race. The only “bad” loss we can recall is the first round of the 2011 NHSI to Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.). This team has an abundance of talent; almost an overwhelming amount. It will be a matter of finding the right combinations and finding an on-court leader. There is only one returning player on the roster (6-4 2014 guard Lucas Antunez) and a new head coach, so the Pilots are going to have to learn fast and jell quickly. For many teams, playing and potentially beating Findlay Prep would make their season so the Pilots get opponents’ “A” game. There is a bunch of new faces, but again, the group is supremely talented and the players have begun to buy in, according to associate head coach Andy Johnson. It should be another fine season and a fourth NHSI title is a distinct possibility.
Fast Fact: Findlay Prep has never lost a home game (82-0) and never has lost West of the Mississippi. The Pilots have produced seven McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-Americans in the past five seasons. Anthony Bennett, who helped Findlay Prep win the 2012 NHSI and finish No. 2 in the country, was the first pick of the 2013 NBA Draft.
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
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) CLICK HERE
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) CLICK HERE
Math, Civics & Sciences Charter (Philadelphia) CLICK HERE
Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) CLICK HERE
Etiwanda (Etiwanda, Calif.) CLICK HERE
St. Rita (Chicago) CLICK HERE
Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) CLICK HERE
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) CLICK HERE
Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) CLICK HERE
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) CLICK HERE
White Station (Memphis) CLICK HERE
Leave a Reply