NEW YORK — Playing two high-profile games in two different cities within 24 hours is nothing for UConn commit Alterique Gilbert. apparently.
After scoring seven points in the McDonalds All-American Game in Chicago on Wednesday, Gilbert dropped a team-high 20 points to lead No. 13 Miller Grove (GA) past No. 5 Findlay Prep (NV) 67-65 in the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School Nationals quarterfinals at Christ the King High School on Thursday.
“I left the hotel around 3:30am, the flight left around 5:30 and I got to the hotel about 10:30,” Gilbert said. “I took an hour nap and came right here.”
The busy travel schedule may have sapped Gilbert of some energy, as the senior went long stretches without scoring throughout the game. But he came up big when it mattered, growing miniscule Miller Grove leads with five straight points to end the first half and back-to-back deep, rainbow threes midway through the fourth quarter.
It was teammates Colin Young and Aaron Augustin, however, who buried go-ahead shots with 55 seconds and 11 seconds left, respectively, to advance to the tournament semifinals on Friday, where they will play No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (VA) at 5pm.
“Our legacy in Georgia is cemented,” said Miller Grove coach Sharman White of his program, winners of seven of the last eight state titles.” We’re trying to cement our legacy in the country.”
Miller Grove’s win is even more impressive considering the level of talent on the court for Findlay Prep, winners of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 Dick’s Nationals events. Impressive in the loss was LSU commit Skylar Mays, who said playing against a player of Gilbert’s caliber was the motivation behind his game-high 21-point effort.
“We always want play against the best guys,” Mays said. “When you play guys like that, you have to try to play your best game.”
Undecided juniors P.J. Washington and Markus Howard also dominated at times, as the former recorded an impressive 15-point, 13-rebound double-double while the latter went for 13 points without turning the ball over.
Howard, a four-star point guard said he is considering reclassifying to 2017 but not actively thinking about it, listed his top four as Arizona State, Baylor, Marquette and Central Arkansas, where his brother Jordan averaged 20 points per game as a sophomore this season.
“Hopefully soon,” Howard, ranked 32nd in ESPN’s 2017 Top 60, told SNY when asked what his timeline for a decision is. “I really want to talk it over with my family but hopefully soon.”
When asked who’s recruiting him hardest, the 19th-ranked Washington said North Carolina and Texas has been in contact with him the most lately, with Kentucky not far behind.
“Coach KP talks to me every day,” the power forward said of Wildcats assistant coach Kenny Payne.
He also holds offers from Michigan State, Florida, UCLA, California and Arizona, and plans to visit schools over the summer.
“I’ve been cheering them on,” Washington said of North Carolina’s run to the Final Four. “They’re looking really good.”
Regarding the NCAA’s investigation into potential systematic academics fraud at UNC, he said it will “not at all” impact his decision.
In the day’s earlier quarterfinal matchups, Oak Hill throttled No. 15 Wasatch Academy (UT) 81-64, No. 2 Montverde Academy (FL) topped No. 14 Providence Day (NC) 70-54 and No. 11 La Lumiere High School (IN) edged No. 9 St. Benedict’s (NJ).
Friday’s Miller Grove-Oak Hill matchup will play the winner of La Lumiere-Montverde for the Dick’s Nationals crown at Madison Square Garden on Saturday at noon.
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