Princeton Day's McKnight has Terps interest
Van Whitfield's Princeton Day Academy squad is 25-5 with the postseason just around the corner.
A major part of the Storm’s success this season is thanks to Eric McKnight, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound senior who left his Raleigh, N.C., home last summer to spend his last year of high school at the Lanham prep school.
“He’s a 4 right now, but he’s got the potential to be a 3-man because he’s so adept at putting the ball on the floor,” Whitfield said. “He can score facing the basket. He has high energy, is skilled offensively and has a freakish 7-foot wingspan. So he blocks a lot of shots.”
Whitfield was tipped off to McKnight by a good friend and AAU coach in North Carolina. McKnight was described to Whitfield as a “completely under-appreciated big” who needed to develop. His development at Princeton Day Academy, Whitfield said, has been significant.
“[He has developed] more than any player I’ve ever coached in one season,” Whitfield said. “I’ve been blessed and fortunate to coach a lot of really talented young men, but he works so hard at it. When he arrived, no one knew who he was. After some really strong, consistent performances against some of the really top talent [in the country], he has kind of emerged as one of the surprise players in the country.”
McKnight, who is ranked the No. 40 power forward in the country by ESPN.com, is receiving interest from a variety of high- and mid-major programs.
“George Washington, Virginia Commonwealth and James Madison at the mid-major level [have offered],” Whitfield said. “At the high-major level, the interest is certainly there. Missouri, Memphis, Maryland really likes him a lot, Penn State, Georgetown, Rutgers, Minnesota, California. Anyone who sees him is instantly attracted to him because he is so athletic for that size.”
Whitfield said McKnight would like to sign soon after the spring signing period begins. The Terps haven’t offered a scholarship, but Whitfield said McKnight remains on their radar.
“He’s been out to Maryland games. In fact, I’m almost certain he’ll be at the Duke game [tonight],” Whitfield said. “He was going to do an official visit, but we were supposed to go out of town but now we’re not. I think they would have offered if it was an official. But he really likes Virginia Commonwealth a great deal. He’s developed a real keen respect for their coaching staff. And he likes a lot of the other college teams that have been in touch.”
McKnight isn’t the only PDA player Maryland is tracking. Chris Thomas, a 6-foot-5 point guard from Denver, has emerged as one of the top freshmen in the country.
“He arrived and instantly became one of the best players, regardless of class, in the Washington area,” Whitfield said. “He’s a 6-5 point guard as a freshman with a skill set that you just don’t see for that grade. He has a very advanced skill set and a very advanced knowledge of the game. He’s wise beyond his years on the court and he’s doing real well in school.”
Comments
Hey Matt, Do you know what recruits were at the game last night?
Posted by: cs | March 4, 2010 8:40 AM
Does anyone else remember when Terrence Ross decomitted? It was the night of the W&M loss. What a different season it has become! I think thanks to this team of Seniors who refused to cave in that we are going to resume our place at the top of the ACC for some time...
Posted by: AA | March 4, 2010 4:54 PM