By JACK LeGWIN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
LAKELAND, Fla.– After helping lead Sagemont to a perfect 33-0 season and a Class 3A FHSAA State Championship, UConn-bound junior guard Prince Ali said that he would love to head back home to play in front of his hometown crowd at the National High School Invitational, which culminates in a final at Madison Square Garden on April 5.
“It would mean a lot,” Ali, who grew up in the Bronx, told SNY.tv. “Really it would. I heard it was in the Garden, I really hope that we get invited this year.”
Ali averaged 21 points in Sagemont’s two games at the State Final Four, spreading the floor well with his ability to make long range shots, as well as using his superior athleticism to get to the rack and finishing with authority.
“We won in unbelievable fashion,” Ali said. ” Winning 33 straight games, its just an amazing feeling.”
Ali says that he is trying to convince some local players from Florida to chose UConn, and join him in Storrs in two years.
“I’m actually trying to get my boy [2015 point guard] Jonathan Jean to come and play at UConn,” Ali said. “He’s going to do what he wants and has to do though. When I chose UConn, I just felt like it was the right fir for me. Coach [Kevin] Ollie, Coach [Karl] Hobbs, just the whole group was great for me. I have a great relationship with all of the coaches, I just felt like it was the right fit for me.”
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