Joey Baker's mom, Jennifer, dropped her fifth-grade son off on the EE Miller Recreation Heart for spring baseball apply.
Baker had different intentions. Understanding that his buddies had been working towards for the journey basketball group on the identical time, he headed to a close-by fitness center and performed hoops.
“I didn't know something about being good,” he mentioned. “I simply knew I preferred it.
Baker, now a 6-foot-7, 185-pound freshman at Fayetteville's Trinity Christian Faculty, is effectively conscious of his budding basketball abilities. Increasingly more persons are taking discover, each regionally and nationally.
Trinity Christian level guard Dennis Smith Jr. is considered one of three in-state prospects ranked among the many prime six Class of 2016 recruits within the nation by ESPN, and the group of in-state recruits from the Class of 2019 might find yourself deeper if not. higher than present seniors. Amongst Basketball Highlight's prime 50 freshmen nationally, North Carolina is house to eight of them, together with Baker.
Keep in mind the identify Wendell Moore. He's a small ahead from Charlotte. There's 6-8 ahead BJ Mack and 6-1 guard Myles Pierre, who’re additionally from Charlotte. Plus the Langley twins from the Triad, Kobe and Keyshaun, a pair of guards. Don't miss Baker, who turns 15 later this month.
“There are good guys in all places,” Baker mentioned. “Guards. Shooters. Huge males. Wings. It's deep.”
Baker was invited to Brooklyn, New York for the latest Underneath Armor “Subsequent” sport in late August, however as an alternative confirmed up at Chris Paul's CP3 camp close to Winston-Salem. Coming off a season the place he performed at the highschool varsity stage as an eighth-grader, he moved as much as Trinity Christian's beginning lineup after Christmas and averaged 5.2 factors, with a game-high 19 late within the 12 months.
With the departures of publish gamers Nykwaun Lucas and Zo Tyson, two school signees, the Crusaders might be extra reliant on Baker, particularly with Smith lacking all or at the least most of his senior 12 months whereas recovering from a torn ACL. The group's prime returning scorer is guard Mike Boykin, and Baker might be a part of a promising freshman class that features guards Keith Marshall, Greg Gantt and Daekwon Simmons.
“I didn't plan on taking part in (Baker) as a lot as he did final 12 months, however he earned it,” Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandevender mentioned. “He didn't rating rather a lot for us, however he did a whole lot of essential issues. Scoring is the very last thing that comes with a whole lot of these guys.”
A terrific-nephew of Ralph Hubbard, who performed at Boston U. from 1955-57, Baker moved from Massachusetts to Fayetteville as a younger baby. He grew up a fan of Boston Celtics and Kansas alum Paul Pierce, a 6-7 small ahead.
Baker, who might nonetheless develop a number of inches, tasks as a stretch 4 energy ahead. Vandevender believes she has the dimensions and perimeter expertise to create matchup issues in a similar way to what former Duke standout Ryan Kelly gave Trinity Christian as a highschool participant at Raleigh Ravenscroft.
Baker's mom tracked her son's development by marking the body of the kitchen door that led to their household room. The method is a little bit of a thriller although, as she wished the wooden to be white and painted over the marks.
“We are able to begin measuring once more,” she mentioned with fun, “however it barely matches by the door.”
“If I'm carrying sure footwear,” Baker mentioned, “I’ve to cover.”
Baker took his first dunk in seventh grade and his function as a varsity freshman grew final season after the HighSchoolOT.com Vacation Invitational in December. Lucas' harm hastened a change to a smaller lineup, with the 6-8 Tyson shifting from energy ahead to heart and Baker filling in.
The undisputed star of the group was Smith, who got here off the bench as a first-class rookie within the senior group in 2013. By then, he already had nationwide recognition and was being recruited by most of the prime school applications within the nation. him because the second 12 months.
“Once I performed with Junior final 12 months, Joey seems as much as him,” Vandevender mentioned. “I actually wished Junior to (play) on this group this 12 months — possibly he'll come again — to be with these freshmen and assist mentor them.”
There’s a threat of putting excessive expectations on younger gamers, each due to the burden these expectations create and the unpredictability of particular person improvement. Baker speaks confidently about his skills, however can also be grounded and acknowledges the necessity to enhance in each space.
He makes use of Smith for example and tries to observe his instance.
“He simply stays who he’s, and that's what I like about him,” Baker mentioned. “He's cool and doesn't make an enormous deal out of it, like each different child in school.
“I don't have any (scholarship) provides and I nonetheless have a whole lot of issues I want to enhance on, so I'm nervous about that.”
Author Bret Strelow will be reached at strelowb@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.
