Published Jan 24, 2006
Latta love for Page
Justin Young
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Recruiting Analyst
Game nights in sleepy Latta, S.C. haven't been this quiet since a kid named Raymond Felton ran the show at the local high school. Just thank sophomore Lashay Page.
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1,500 people call Latta home. It's so small that the city doesn't even have a Southern landmark, a Waffle House, amongst it's local businesses. Page is quick to say there is a Huddle House and two stop lights. But even on game nights, the Huddle House isn't very busy.
"The games are packed," Page says. "They may be open but they probably don't have too much business."
The fine folks of Latta are packed into the high school gym to see Page, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard. Just a sophomore, Page is a varsity veteran. A year removed from Felton's graduation from Latta High, Page joined the high school team as a baby-faced seventh grader and brought his big boy game to the big stage in small town South Carolina.
"I didn't know what I was doing," Page admitted. "I was just running around all wild out there. It was a lot of pressure but I didn't pay any attention to it."
Since then, he's been the main attraction for the rural towns in eastern S.C. Page, now a sophomore, is starting at the point and averaging 31 points and five assists a game for Latta (10-6), a team with six freshmen on the roster.
Page said Clemson and South Carolina have made it out to see him this year and Florida, Florida State, Georgetown, Kentucky and Wake Forest are all showing an interest. The class of 2008 prospect has been a regular at South Carolina games this year and likes on ACC school in particular.
"I like the way Wake Forest plays," Page said. "Their style of play fits me and it's a small school like mine. I like that."
Felton left Latta for North Carolina but North Carolina hasn't made it back to the Palmetto State town yet to see Page. Felton does keep in touch with his protégé as much as he can.
"He helps me out a lot," Page said. "He has a lot of experience and knows what I'm going through. He tells me to get my teammates involved and play defense because everyone knows I can score."
Page said he's looking forward to suiting up with the South Carolina Ravens this spring and summer for the AAU circuit. So is the Huddle House. It is ready for some steady business again.