By ZACH SMART
ORLANDO, Fla. — Class of 2024 6-foot point guard Tahaad Pettiford scored 18 points, including 13 during the game’s first 16 minutes, pioneering the New Heights Lightning to a pulsating victory over Team Takeover at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Sunday.
The shifty left-handed guard, he of the vaunted first step, carved his way to the rim early and often.
He was able to finish through contact while playing at a tremendous pace before a suddenly hostile crowd at the tail end of the EYBL Session 1. Pettiford turned in several fireball passes to astonishingly open bigs.
“I didn’t really play that well the last game, so you know I wanted to come out hot in this one,” said the Hudson Catholic (NJ) guard of his scalding early scoring spree, which enabled the Lightning to get jump-started.
“We really wanted to come out hot and set our tone in this last game (of the EYBL Session 1).”
Pettiford and the Lightning weathered a late Takeover spurt, tightening up defensively following a few suspect lapses.
“Defense, that’s what helped us win that game,” explained Pettiford.
“We started to really lock in and play defense and that’s what willed us to the win.”
Plenty of Division 1 coaches are starting to really lock in on Pettiford.
Creighton, as Pettiford explained, has been in the most consistent contact with him.
Creighton assistant coaches Alan Huss and Ryan Miller were both on hand throughout the jam-packed event.
Beyond Creighton, Pettiford said he is hearing from Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Bryant frequently. He said at a recent USA Basketball junior mini-camp in New Orleans he hopes to visit Baylor, USC and UCLA.
He’s intrigued by Seton Hall and new head coach Shaheen Holloway, who returns to his alma mater after making history with an unprecedented NCAA tournament run with St. Peter’s.
“I like that move a lot,” said Pettiford of Holloway’s hiring.
“He contacted me and let me know about it. They’re starting to recruit me heavily. So, we’ll see how that goes for the future.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
