After numerous scrimmages and exhibitions against strong local junior college competition this fall, Westwind Prep's newly developed National High School team got off to its first initial start and beginning to the 2012-2013 season.
In the program's first season after being developed by new Westwind Prep Director of Basketball Operations Jeff De Laveaga, the National High School team took the floor in their first official basketball game of the season Friday night -taking on another new local prep program - Planet Athlete.
The National High School team will compete with the likes of national high school champion Findlay Prep (NV) this season, and will compete in close to 60 games against strong national competition.
Through his vision and tremendous work ethic, De Laveaga has organized a group of top-rated high school prospects that college coaches have flocked to the state to catch a glimpse of this fall. The program took the floor Friday evening in Anthem, Arizona - defeating an athletic group from Planet Athlete, 112-86, and in fine fashion.
Led by the play of guards, 6-foot-1 senior John Marshall (Southern Utah commit), 6-foot-2 junior Tate De Laveaga and 6-foot-2 senior Glenn Baral (pictured), Westwind Prep handled Planet Athlete's full court press defensive attack to pull away in the game's second half. Westwind Prep 6-foot-8 junior forward Zylan Cheatham continued his strong play this fall, handling several positions on the floor and turning in several NBA-like dunks in the win. Cheatham would cramp up with 10 minutes remainning in the game, and would not return for his team.
Westwind Prep's tall and very lengthy lineup of 6-foot-9 junior post Connor Macdougall (Arizona State commit), 7-foot senior post Namdi Oknokwo and 6-foot-10 senior post Miles Martin was too much for Planet Athlete to handle throughout the game as the post players had their way inside. Okonkwo blocked 10 shots in the contest and changed many more shots in helping his team win the game.
After a halftime lead of 51-39, Westwind poured it on in the game's second half - outscoring Planete Athlete 61 - 47 in the game's second half.
Planet Athlete's talented 6-foot-3 prep point guard prospect Todd Smith, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, proved that he is among the nation's top unsigned guard prospects - finishing with better than 30+ points in the loss. The ultra-talented guard prospect is already receiving high-major division-I college recruitment.
The two teams will both be in action again on Saturday evening.
