SOME BEMOAN the shortage of athletic talent within the West Virginia high school ranks.
When it comes to basketball, however, the Mountain State has what most consider the nation's No. 1 sophomore basketball talent.
We have the next LeBron James.
See, Andrew Wiggins is universally considered the top soph - by far - and plays for a team just 45 minutes from Charleston. And, for those not prep hoops junkies, he also plays for the nation's No. 5 team, according to the latest USA Today rankings.
You may have guessed by now that Wiggins plays for Huntington Prep, which doesn't visit your local consolidated high school often and instead plays a national schedule. This Saturday, for instance, the Express visits No. 3 St. Anthony (N.J.) and legendary coach Bob Hurley.
Prep coach Rob Fulford jump-started the program by bringing in five Canadians. Among them was Wiggins, who averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as a freshman in Toronto. Since then, he's become an Internet sensation. Now playing against the nation's best, the 6-foot-7 small forward is averaging 23.6 points and seven rebounds.
"He's almost 6-8," Fulford said. "In pinches he plays point guard. He's special. One of those kids that doesn't come around very often."
How special?
"I hate to put pressure on the kid," said the coach. "He's already so hyped. I caught wind that HBO is planning a documentary on him. But he's humble. He doesn't let stuff get to his head. I hope it stays that way."
Understand that Wiggins registers his numbers on a team loaded with Division I prospects. Huntington Prep teammates Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic are heading to Missouri. JaVontae Hawkins is heading to South Florida. Junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes has multiple offers from some of the nation's highest-profile hoops factories.
There's also West Virginia signee Elijah Macon, a four-star power forward from Columbus, Ohio, who is averaging 13.2 points and eight rebounds.
Not impressed with those numbers?
"There are so many scorers on this team," Fulford said. "Remember, it's 13 points for the fifth-ranked team in the country. He could be playing in West Virginia [high school ball] and averaging 45. He will be an impact player. Those guys up there [at WVU] better strap it on because he will take a spot."
Fulford makes a point about the level of competition. Mountaineer redshirt freshman Kevin Noreen was averaging 2.2 points before breaking his ankle. Last season, in seven games, he averaged 2.6. In Minnesota, he averaged 38.6 points and 16.5 rebounds.
"Elijah is doing well," Fulford said. "It took some time in the first month and a half to understand [with Wiggins, etc.] it wasn't going to be like it was. Plus, he had to crack down academically. When he came here, he didn't really have good study habits.
"He's doing a good job now. He gets frustrated at times because we don't let kids coast here. That's the good thing about St. Joe's. It's not easy. But there is individual help and he takes advantage. He doesn't have a choice."
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Huntington Prep hotbed for top-shelf hoops talent
SOME BEMOAN the shortage of athletic talent within the West Virginia high school ranks.
When it comes to basketball, however, the Mountain State has what most consider the nation's No. 1 sophomore basketball talent.
We have the next LeBron James.
See, Andrew Wiggins is universally considered the top soph - by far - and plays for a team just 45 minutes from Charleston. And, for those not prep hoops junkies, he also plays for the nation's No. 5 team, according to the latest USA Today rankings.
You may have guessed by now that Wiggins plays for Huntington Prep, which doesn't visit your local consolidated high school often and instead plays a national schedule. This Saturday, for instance, the Express visits No. 3 St. Anthony (N.J.) and legendary coach Bob Hurley.
Prep coach Rob Fulford jump-started the program by bringing in five Canadians. Among them was Wiggins, who averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as a freshman in Toronto. Since then, he's become an Internet sensation. Now playing against the nation's best, the 6-foot-7 small forward is averaging 23.6 points and seven rebounds.
"He's almost 6-8," Fulford said. "In pinches he plays point guard. He's special. One of those kids that doesn't come around very often."
How special?
"I hate to put pressure on the kid," said the coach. "He's already so hyped. I caught wind that HBO is planning a documentary on him. But he's humble. He doesn't let stuff get to his head. I hope it stays that way."
Understand that Wiggins registers his numbers on a team loaded with Division I prospects. Huntington Prep teammates Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic are heading to Missouri. JaVontae Hawkins is heading to South Florida. Junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes has multiple offers from some of the nation's highest-profile hoops factories.
There's also West Virginia signee Elijah Macon, a four-star power forward from Columbus, Ohio, who is averaging 13.2 points and eight rebounds.
Not impressed with those numbers?
"There are so many scorers on this team," Fulford said. "Remember, it's 13 points for the fifth-ranked team in the country. He could be playing in West Virginia [high school ball] and averaging 45. He will be an impact player. Those guys up there [at WVU] better strap it on because he will take a spot."
Fulford makes a point about the level of competition. Mountaineer redshirt freshman Kevin Noreen was averaging 2.2 points before breaking his ankle. Last season, in seven games, he averaged 2.6. In Minnesota, he averaged 38.6 points and 16.5 rebounds.
"Elijah is doing well," Fulford said. "It took some time in the first month and a half to understand [with Wiggins, etc.] it wasn't going to be like it was. Plus, he had to crack down academically. When he came here, he didn't really have good study habits.
"He's doing a good job now. He gets frustrated at times because we don't let kids coast here. That's the good thing about St. Joe's. It's not easy. But there is individual help and he takes advantage. He doesn't have a choice."
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SOME BEMOAN the shortage of athletic talent within the West Virginia high school ranks.
When it comes to basketball, however, the Mountain State has what most consider the nation's No. 1 sophomore basketball talent.
We have the next LeBron James.
See, Andrew Wiggins is universally considered the top soph - by far - and plays for a team just 45 minutes from Charleston. And, for those not prep hoops junkies, he also plays for the nation's No. 5 team, according to the latest USA Today rankings.
You may have guessed by now that Wiggins plays for Huntington Prep, which doesn't visit your local consolidated high school often and instead plays a national schedule. This Saturday, for instance, the Express visits No. 3 St. Anthony (N.J.) and legendary coach Bob Hurley.
Prep coach Rob Fulford jump-started the program by bringing in five Canadians. Among them was Wiggins, who averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as a freshman in Toronto. Since then, he's become an Internet sensation. Now playing against the nation's best, the 6-foot-7 small forward is averaging 23.6 points and seven rebounds.
"He's almost 6-8," Fulford said. "In pinches he plays point guard. He's special. One of those kids that doesn't come around very often."
How special?
"I hate to put pressure on the kid," said the coach. "He's already so hyped. I caught wind that HBO is planning a documentary on him. But he's humble. He doesn't let stuff get to his head. I hope it stays that way."
Understand that Wiggins registers his numbers on a team loaded with Division I prospects. Huntington Prep teammates Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic are heading to Missouri. JaVontae Hawkins is heading to South Florida. Junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes has multiple offers from some of the nation's highest-profile hoops factories.
There's also West Virginia signee Elijah Macon, a four-star power forward from Columbus, Ohio, who is averaging 13.2 points and eight rebounds.
Not impressed with those numbers?
"There are so many scorers on this team," Fulford said. "Remember, it's 13 points for the fifth-ranked team in the country. He could be playing in West Virginia [high school ball] and averaging 45. He will be an impact player. Those guys up there [at WVU] better strap it on because he will take a spot."
Fulford makes a point about the level of competition. Mountaineer redshirt freshman Kevin Noreen was averaging 2.2 points before breaking his ankle. Last season, in seven games, he averaged 2.6. In Minnesota, he averaged 38.6 points and 16.5 rebounds.
"Elijah is doing well," Fulford said. "It took some time in the first month and a half to understand [with Wiggins, etc.] it wasn't going to be like it was. Plus, he had to crack down academically. When he came here, he didn't really have good study habits.
"He's doing a good job now. He gets frustrated at times because we don't let kids coast here. That's the good thing about St. Joe's. It's not easy. But there is individual help and he takes advantage. He doesn't have a choice."
If you're unaware, those at Huntington Prep attend St. Joseph High during the day. But back to those numbers.
"You have to understand," Fulford said, "Elijah is playing with a future [NBA] lottery pick. Xavier has offers from Connecticut, Kansas and Louisville. Kentucky is on him, although [UK coach John Calipari] hasn't offered yet."
As for Wiggins, WVU is involved. Fulford, however, said it's too early to get a bead on the sophomore's college intentions.
"He doesn't pay attention to all that stuff," said the coach. "He's still young. He went to UK. He went to West Virginia a couple of times. But he doesn't say much about it. I can't give you a gauge. Right now, he'd rather go home and play 'Call of Duty.' "
For those seeking an up-close glimpse of Huntington Prep, the Express will be in Charleston on Feb. 23 to play the University of Charleston junior varsity team. Straight ahead, though, is the team's showdown with St. Anthony.
"We watched film [Monday] night for four hours," Fulford said. "If we take care of the ball and match their intensity, I like our chances."
Fulford has been doing the most with his chances, first at Mountain State Academy and now at Huntington Prep. He has the Express No. 5 nationally. He has the nation's top sophomore on the roster.
"For the first couple of years, we were trying to get our name out," Fulford said. "We were trying to develop our brand.
"I think we've done a great job."
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at twitter.com/MitchVingle.
Article Preview
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Huntington Prep hotbed for top-shelf hoops talent
SOME BEMOAN the shortage of athletic talent within the West Virginia high school ranks.
When it comes to basketball, however, the Mountain State has what most consider the nation's No. 1 sophomore basketball talent.
We have the next LeBron James.
See, Andrew Wiggins is universally considered the top soph - by far - and plays for a team just 45 minutes from Charleston. And, for those not prep hoops junkies, he also plays for the nation's No. 5 team, according to the latest USA Today rankings.
You may have guessed by now that Wiggins plays for Huntington Prep, which doesn't visit your local consolidated high school often and instead plays a national schedule. This Saturday, for instance, the Express visits No. 3 St. Anthony (N.J.) and legendary coach Bob Hurley.
Prep coach Rob Fulford jump-started the program by bringing in five Canadians. Among them was Wiggins, who averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as a freshman in Toronto. Since then, he's become an Internet sensation. Now playing against the nation's best, the 6-foot-7 small forward is averaging 23.6 points and seven rebounds.
"He's almost 6-8," Fulford said. "In pinches he plays point guard. He's special. One of those kids that doesn't come around very often."
How special?
"I hate to put pressure on the kid," said the coach. "He's already so hyped. I caught wind that HBO is planning a documentary on him. But he's humble. He doesn't let stuff get to his head. I hope it stays that way."
Understand that Wiggins registers his numbers on a team loaded with Division I prospects. Huntington Prep teammates Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic are heading to Missouri. JaVontae Hawkins is heading to South Florida. Junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes has multiple offers from some of the nation's highest-profile hoops factories.
There's also West Virginia signee Elijah Macon, a four-star power forward from Columbus, Ohio, who is averaging 13.2 points and eight rebounds.
Not impressed with those numbers?
"There are so many scorers on this team," Fulford said. "Remember, it's 13 points for the fifth-ranked team in the country. He could be playing in West Virginia [high school ball] and averaging 45. He will be an impact player. Those guys up there [at WVU] better strap it on because he will take a spot."
Fulford makes a point about the level of competition. Mountaineer redshirt freshman Kevin Noreen was averaging 2.2 points before breaking his ankle. Last season, in seven games, he averaged 2.6. In Minnesota, he averaged 38.6 points and 16.5 rebounds.
"Elijah is doing well," Fulford said. "It took some time in the first month and a half to understand [with Wiggins, etc.] it wasn't going to be like it was. Plus, he had to crack down academically. When he came here, he didn't really have good study habits.
"He's doing a good job now. He gets frustrated at times because we don't let kids coast here. That's the good thing about St. Joe's. It's not easy. But there is individual help and he takes advantage. He doesn't have a choice."
