Petty focused on two
The grassroots basketball season has been full of ups and downs for 2017's No. 28 ranked player, shooting guard John Petty. Now, he seems to have everything in order as he continues to re-establish himself as one of the top prospects in the senior class and focuses on a pair of SEC programs.
A product of Huntsville (Ala.) J.O. Johnson, Petty got off to a poor start this spring. He looked out of sync, disinterested and like he hadn't improved in the last year. As a result, he fell from five-star status and much of his current ranking was based primarily on hope that he could make a return to form.
Petty took notice of his poor start to the grassroots season and made sure he did something about it.
"After the start of the spring I made a goal list to just work hard and get better at everything that I wasn't doing as well as I had last year," said Petty." So I checked that goal list and really got to work on it."
Switching grassroots teams looks to have helped out as well. After a getting to know you period with Memphis based Team Penny, Petty has thrived in his last few events playing with energy, hitting shots and living up to his lofty ranking. He gives a lot of credit to his teammates.
"The difference was being surrounded by a bunch of guys and having to match their level," said Petty. "Alex Lomax, P.J. Washington, Isaiah Stokes and Parker Stewart can all play and everybody gives their all, when you put in energy you don't have to worry about whether or not you are getting it back it."
The switch in teams also allowed Petty to spend a lot of time with Penny Hardaway and Todd Day. He said that Hardaway and Day have been brutally honest with him at times and that has helped.
"It's a great tool to ask Penny and coach Todd for help," said Petty. "They always tell us everything from an NBA standpoint and they are looking at us like NBA scouts. They push us hard because they know we want to get to that level and we know they did what it takes to get to the NBA."
On the recruiting front, Petty won't call two SEC programs his final two, but the fact is Alabama and Kentucky have distanced themselves from the pack.
"I know for sure that Kentucky has been making me a priority and so has Alabama," said Petty. "We talk every day. It's those two really.
"Those are the only two that I really talk to every day and on a consistent basis."
Petty hasn't set an exact date for making his decision, but it doesn't look like he'll be taking too long.
"It's tough, I really don't know for sure what I'm going to do," said Petty. "I'm thinking late August maybe is when I will get it done."