Top-20 showdown: Sunrise Christian tops University School
National top-10 Sunrise Christian, out of Bel Aire, Kan., traveled to Davie, Fla., to take on national No. 20 University School on Friday night. Here are 5 Takeaways from the showdown, which was televised by ESPN2: Costly loss for U-School…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNational top-10 Sunrise Christian, out of Bel Aire, Kan., traveled to Davie, Fla., to take on national No. 20 University School on Friday night. Here are 5 Takeaways from the showdown, which was televised by ESPN2:
Costly loss for U-School
Sunrise Christian dealt University School a costly blow in a 70-62 verdict in South Florida. The loss may doom the Sharks’ chances of returning to GEICO Nationals. Last year, University School won the FHSAA Class 5A state championship en route to making the finals of GEICO Nationals in New York City.
While Sunrise runs it record to 15-3, University School fell to 15-4. The Sharks have lost to Philly Imhotep Charter, IMG Academy, Sierra Canyon (Calif.) and Sunrise. University School will have a very short turnaround. The Sharks must travel up Interstate 95 for an outdoor battle in Cape Canaveral vs. Chaminade-Madonna at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Turner, Carey special
Sunrise Christian 2019 Jordan Turner and University School’s 6-10 Vernon Carey Jr. were special Friday night. Both poured in 26 points and were dominant on the offensive end. Turner is headed to Baylor, while Carey will play at Duke.
Turner did his damage from the 3-point line and slashing to the basket. He hit three 3-pointers. “Six-foot-8, kind of looks like a Baylor wing,” Sunrise coach Luke Barnwell said. “Super long, can play that zone for them. Can really shoot it.”
Carey took it to 7-footer N’Faly Dante, slamming home four dunks and getting to the free-throw line often (9 makes) for his 26.
Sherfield huge in 4th quarter
Sunrise Christian led 29-25 at the half and 46-39 going to the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes had to keep holding off U-School runs. 6-3 2019 Grant Sherfield saved his best for the final quarter. Sherfield, who was committed to UCLA until coach Steve Alford was let go, scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Every time University School would make a run, Sherfield seemed to weave his way to the basket for two to squash the rally. Vandy 6-4 2019 signee Austin Crowley added 14 points for Sunrise. The Buffaloes start four seniors along with the talented Dante, one of the top prospects in 2020.
Of the junior big Dante, Barnwell said, “He is being recruited by kind of everybody: Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Oregon, Minnesota. You name them, they’re coming. He is kind of our anchor defensively and then we run a lot of stuff to get him the ball as much as we can.”
Oregon in the house
An assistant from the Oregon staff — I believe it was Mike Mennenga — was on hand to scout the action. Louisville was also supposed to be at the game, according to University School officials, but the coach ran into flight problems.
17 for (2022) Howard
University School freshman Jett Howard fired in 17 points in the loss. He connected on three deep 3-pointers and has made a nice leap in recent weeks. The ninth-grader has been pushed into more playing time since his brother — 2020 Jace Howard — suffered a hairline fracture over the holidays at the Les Schwab Invitational. Jace is expected to miss a couple more weeks. U-School 2020 play-maker Scottie Barnes was held to 10 points.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.