High-Scoring Grubb Focused On Division-I Scholarship
Following an illustrious five-year career at South Laurel in Kentucky, Jared Grubb scored and scored often en route to 2,000+ career points. Head coach Jeff Davis gave Grubb, the program’s all-time leading scorer and first-ever 2000-point scorer, a massive green light.
“It was definitely a unique experience,” said Grubb, now a lead guard at Believe Prep Academy in Athens, Tenn. under head coach (and former Winthrop star) Tyson Waterman.
“I think what stands out the most is having the trust of coach (Jeff) Davis. He gave me a lot of freedom to play my game and I owe him for that.”
With great freedom came great responsibility, even as a freshman. Grubb, also a quarterback and defensive back for South Laurel’s football team, shouldered the onus of go-to guy early and often. Leading the team entailed calling his own number and knocking down shots during critical stretches of the game. His scoring was an integral component which mirrored the team’s success.
“In my first-ever game as a starter, I was a freshman. I wound up scoring 34 points,” Grubb recalled. “That moment really propelled me for the remainder of my career. During the next few years, since I had the experience factor, I was able to be a leader. Beyond scoring, I looked to make my teammates better and facilitate.”
After committing to the University of Pikeville (KY) to play football, Grubb was having second thoughts. He was confident he had the skill-set and overall ability to play Division-I basketball, despite receiving minimal interest. During his high school career, he played against the likes of Peyton Broughton (now at Eastern Kentucky), David Sloan, and Trace Young. Though he was set to play football in college, he had never quite bid adieu to basketball. He was also open to playing both sports.
One phone call from Randy Casey changed everything. Casey, former Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches and 15th Region Coach of the Year, was coaching in the Kentucky high school ranks when Grubb was an eighth grader on varsity at South Laurel.
He had learned Grubb was interested in playing basketball in college and sold the 6-foot-1, 185-pound guard on post-graduate year to garner more exposure.
“(Casey) actually told me his own story, how he arrived at Fork Union Military Academy with no offers and had eight offers by the time his post-graduate season ended,” Grubb said. “I was intrigued. I felt I was being overlooked by a lot of programs in Kentucky.”
Grubb will shoot less and operate offense more in his post-grad season. He is flanked by Division-I talent, with unique prospects such as Damon Tobler (Winthrop, Nicholls State), Dexter Dennis (UNC Asheville, Charleston Southern, IUPUI, Southern (La.), Kymani Dunham (College of Charleston), Prince Aurosike (IUPUI), and Coty Jute (UNC Asheville, Marshall). After a pre-season that included JUCO opponents such as Walters State (TN) and Caldwell College (NC), Believe Prep will play against traditional prep powers such as Mount Zion Academy (MD), Putnam Science (CT), and countless others throughout the season.
The hyper-competitive environment, schedule, as well as the number of exposure-heavy tournaments on schedule were instrumental in helping sell Grubb on Believe. Grubb said the goal is to stockpile as many wins as possible during his brief stay in Athens, Tenn.
“Winning is always translatable to gaining scholarship offers,” Grubb said. “The more you win, the better your chances are.”