Huntington St. Joseph Prep head coach Arkell Bruce thinks he has the best frontcourt in high school basketball.
Photo by Randy Sartin
Arkell Bruce (First year)
2013-14 record: 28-5, No. 11 final national ranking
KEY RETURNERSMiles Bridges (6-7, Jr., F)
Thomas Bryant (6-11, Sr., F/C)
Levi Cook (6-10, Sr., C)
Ivan Gandia (6-1, Jr., G)
IMPACT NEWCOMERSRonshad Allen-Shabazz (6-3, Sr., G) – Appalachian State verbal commitment
Karim Ezzeddine (6-9, So., F)
Curtis Jones (6-3, Jr., G)
Jonothan Kabongo (6-3, Fr., G)
Ted Kapita (6-8, Sr., F)
IRISH STORYLINES* Bruce takes over for Rob Fulford, who was hired as an assistant at Missouri. While he may be new to the first chair, he isn't new to the program. "Coach Fulford and I started the program together but he moved on and now it's my turn. I have my own visions for the program but he definitely helped put us on solid footing."
* The Irish are loaded in the frontcourt with Bryant, Cook and Kapita. Bryant and Kapita are Top 50 senior prospects nationally while Cook is a longstanding West Virginia Mountaineer pledge. "Nobody has better bigs than we do," Bruce said. "We've got a group that's going to be tough to compete with."
* Prep's roster is well-seasoned in the realm of high-level, sub-collegiate basketball. The team took a trip to Dubai in June for a tournament that featured Lone Peak, Montverde Academy and Simeon, and a handful of Irish players compete on the Nike EYBL circuit. "I think it's helped our guys develop an understanding that they have to bring it every night out."
KEY DATESDec. 6 – vs.
Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) at Marshall County Hoopfest
Jan. 3 – vs.
Whitney Young (Chicago) at Cancer Research Classic
Jan. 10 – vs.
Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) at McCracken County Hoops Festival
Jan. 18 – vs.
Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan. 23 – vs.
Simeon (Chicago) at Penny Hardaway Classic
