Napa-based Prolific Prep Academy, coming off two wins at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky last week, will continue its 2015-16 season on Saturday when it faces Elite Education Prep of Los Angeles at 7 p.m. at Justin-Siena High School’s Clark Gym.
It’s the first time that Prolific Prep, which is No. 5 in the MaxPreps.com Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings, will play a game at Justin-Siena. Each of the 13 players on the Prolific Prep team attends Justin-Siena.
“We’re so thankful for the support that Justin-Siena has shown to our program,” head coach Billy McKnight said Tuesday. “I think it’s just going to be fantastic for our guys to be able to get in front of the kids that they got to school with and they’ve developed relationships with.
“It should be a really fun night.”
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“It’s great to have a home game there. We want to be a part of Justin-Siena,” said Jeremy Russotti, the founder of Prolific Prep.
Prolific Prep won both of its games in Benton, Kentucky last week.
Josh Jackson, a senior from Detroit who has a five-star rating as a 6-foot-7 shooting guard by the NorCalPreps.com scouting report, had 34 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, six steals and four blocks, leading Prolific Prep over Huntington Prep of West Virginia, 84-77, in double overtime.
“He was amazing,” said Russotti.
Pierre Crockrell Jr., a 6-foot freshman shooting guard from Tacoma, Washington, was named as the game’s most valuable player following Prolific Prep’s 70-54 win over Advanced Prep International of Dallas. Crockrell was 5-of-5 on 3-pointers and scored 21 points to go along with seven assists.
“He put on an absolute show,” said Russotti. “He basically vaulted himself to become one of the best point guards in the country right now. He’s really good.”
“The fact that he can do what he’s doing as a freshman is incredible,” said McKnight. “Pierre put on just a phenomenal performance, not just offensively, but defensively.”
Amadou Sow, a 6-8 sophomore power forward from Bamako, Mali, scored 12 points on 6 of 6 shooting.
The teams ahead of Prolific Prep (9-1) in the MaxPreps rankings, which were announced on Monday, are No. 1 Montverde Academy of Florida (6-0), No. 2 La Lumiere of LaPorte, Indiana (8-0), No. 3 Chino Hills, Calif. (5-0), and No. 4 Atascocita of Humble, Texas (13-0).
“Right now we’re really finding that program pride,” said Russotti. “Everybody is playing for the name on the jersey right now. Guys are really, really buying into the program and, of course, the leader, who is Billy McKnight. He is a genius of a coach. He is the best coach that I have ever been around. Our guys are starting to realize that he’s a leader and he’s really, really good. And if we follow what he says, good things happen.”
All Justin-Siena students with ID cards will get free admission to Prolific Prep game against Elite Education Prep, a post-graduate school.
McKnight is very happy with the team’s overall play and attitude. Prolific Prep is No. 11 in the MaxPreps.com Freeman Rankings.
“It’s a really enjoyable style to watch – you see that team play,” said McKnight. “These guys really enjoy each other’s company. They’re super competitive kids. We’ve got guys that just flat out hate to lose.
“They’ve done a great job of understanding the system that I’ve taught them and paying attention to details and taking what we practice and actually putting it into the game situations. They’ve got the will to execute and they’re very disciplined when they’re on the court. They’re just doing a fantastic job.”
Last month, Devon Daniels and Vance Jackson of Prolific Prep signed national letters-of-intent.
Daniels, a 6-foot-6 guard, signed with the University of Utah. Jackson, a 6-9 forward, signed with the University of Connecticut.
Daniels is from Battle Creek, Michigan and transferred here from Kalamazoo Central in Michigan. Jackson is from Los Angeles and transferred here from St. John Bosco of Bellflower, Calif.
Prolific Prep will host The Crush in the Napa Valley, Jan. 29-31, at Napa Valley College.