120403NextCats.jpg

Russell getting a lot of attention at Montverde

 Posted by at 6:11 PM on April 18, 2013  No Responses »
Apr 182013
 
D'Angelo Russell is considered one of the best players in the class of 2014, but the Louisville native doesn't have a scholarship offer from Kentucky.

D’Angelo Russell is considered one of the best players in the class of 2014, but the Louisville native doesn’t have a scholarship offer from Kentucky.

Montverde Academy Coach Kevin Boyle will lose a lot off the team that just won a national championship, but that won’t temper expectations for next season.

McDonald’s All-Americans Dakari Johnson and Kasey Hill will be among the Montverde stars heading off to college. That means expanded roles for such players as D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons.

Russell has been a popular kid in the past few weeks. The Louisville native played well at the National High School Invitational two weeks ago, helping lead Montverde to a national title. The effort did not go unnoticed. Last week, the 2014 shooting guard picked up a scholarship offer from North Carolina. Scout.com’s Evan Daniels reported Thursday that Florida had also offered Russell.

Boyle told the Herald-Leader earlier this week that coaches from Louisville — another program that has offered Russell — are expected to visit the Florida school next week for a meeting with the hometown star.

Continue reading »

Share

CRC notebook: Russell working on ‘Top-10 intensity’

 Posted by at 10:58 PM on January 6, 2013  No Responses »
Jan 062013
 

D’Angelo Russell is considered one of the best players in the class of 2014, but the Louisville native doesn’t have a scholarship offer from Kentucky.

WHEELING, W.Va. — D’Angelo Russell is already a five-star prospect in the class of 2014, but there’s still plenty the Louisville native can work on.

Just ask his coach at Montverde Academy, the always-demanding Kevin Boyle.

“He’s definitely a top-10 talent in the country,” Boyle said. “And now if he can match that with top-10 intensity, then he’s going to be a big-time player at a big-time school. And he’s going in the right direction.”

Boyle has been on Russell to work harder and play smarter ever since they both arrived at Montverde in 2011.

Russell’s teammates say the coach gets on his case the most.

Boyle’s message to his starting shooting guard: “You’re an outstanding player, but if you took the top 100 NBA players that are 6-4 to 6-7, a lot of them are more athletic than you. Most of them. … You can still be better, but you have to be fundamental as hell. You have to be tough as hell.”

Continue reading »

Share

2015 star Simmons leaving Australia for Montverde

 Posted by at 1:44 PM on January 2, 2013  No Responses »
Jan 022013
 

Ben Simmons, who is possibly the best prospect in the class of 2015, will transfer from his native Australia to Montverde Academy in Florida.

Simmons tweeted the news late Tuesday night.

The versatile 6-foot-8 forward dominated the Pangos All-American Camp over the summer, drawing rave reviews from recruiting analysts in attendance:

“If he makes the move to the United States, he has the look of a five-star prospect,” said Scout.com’s Evan Daniels.

“He looks like he will be one of the premier prospects in the class of 2015,” said Rivals.com’s Eric Bossi.

Continue reading »

Share