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Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) a year ago, and the Pilots got a glimpse of it last December in a loss to Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.
In that contest, Montrose junior guard
Allonzo Trier rallied his team from a 20-point deficit by pouring in 38 points – including 24 in the second half. It may have been the game and performance of the year in high school basketball.
In a strange twist of fate over the summer, Trier opted to spend his senior year at Findlay Prep. The Pilots now had an elite-level scorer to add to a talented, athletic returning cast.
Early results suggest that the move will be a positive one for both sides.
See the entire preseason national Top 25
Guard/forward Justin Jackson
Photo by Jann Hendry
Findlay Prep is 4-0 with gaudy point totals of 133, 124 and 119. Trier is averaging 37.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, including a 50-point outburst over the weekend in a win over Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix).
"I think what gets overlooked with him is his ability to create for others," first-year Findlay Prep head coach Andy Johnson said of Trier last month.
That ability should be on display this season given the talent of his teammates. Every player on the roster has Division I potential and most already have multiple offers in hand.
Trier's running mate in the backcourt will be junior point guard
Derryck Thornton Jr, a Top 10-caliber prospect being pursued by Duke, Kentucky and Michigan.
The Pilots are loaded at the wing and forward spots with 6-foot-8 senior
Horace Spencer III, 6-8 junior
Justin Jackson and 6-8 sophomore
PJ Washington, a recent transfer from Prime Prep in Dallas.
When they need to go really big, 6-11 junior
Jayce Johnson and 6-9 senior
Khalea Turner are tall options.
Findlay Prep has finished in MaxPreps' final Top 25 each of the past seven years, but haven't been crowned the mythical national champ since the 2008-09 season.
View gallery of Findlay Prep from preseason photo shoot"We set out every year to try to compete and win the national championship," Johnson said. "That's the standard we set and our guys are working hard and doing the right things to try and achieve that."
Findlay Prep's last five years:2013-14 – 31-5, No. 13 final national ranking
2012-13 – 35-1, No. 3 final national ranking
2011-12 – 32-1, No. 2 final national ranking
2010-11 – 28-4, No. 20 final national ranking
2009-10 – 32-2, No. 5 final national ranking
