High Majors Flocking to Durant

2006 prospect Kevin Durant out of National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland is catching the attention of several high major schools. And it only looks like more and more schools will pursue this inside/outside threat, ranked No. 22 in the Rivals50 for the class of 2006.

“Kevin is a combo forward who can put in on the floor, shoot the three, or go inside and score around the basket,” said Trevor Brown, the head coach of the 6-foot-9, 190-pound combo forward. “Offensively, you know he just turned 15, I have not seen many players that have the skills that he has. Defense is where he needs work.”

Durant’s defensive weakness certainly does not stem from a lack of effort. On the contrary, Coach Brown repeatedly emphasized Durant’s tremendous work ethic. Rather, it is his speedy growth and lack of strength that is holding him back on the defensive end.

“He is becoming more athletic as he gets stronger,” said Coach Brown. “He needs more strength to guard a four man in college, and he needs better foot speed to guard a three man in college. He is working at it and getting a lot better. Since he has been here, he has grown four inches. He is probably going to end up 6'11.”

Nothing about Durant, however, is holding him back offensively. On the year he is averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds.

“He has an incredible knack for scoring,” said Coach Brown. “He has a nice shot and big hand that help him score inside. I have seen a lot of the top ranked big men in his class like Macklin and Caracter, and the thing that Kevin can do that they can’t is he can score at will. He has so many different ways of scoring.”

So what schools are recruiting this 6-foot-9 15 year old?

“Louisville, Georgia Tech, Connecticut, Kansas,” began Coach Brown. “Florida just called the other day, Michigan was supposed to come see him Tuesday, but it snowed and we weren’t in school. Those are the ones that come to mind. All of them are talking about getting up here to see him in the next couple weeks.”