Prep School Guard Paulino Commits to Texas
Kenton Paulino, a slippery 6-2, 160 pound shooting/combo guard from Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Me., has orally committed to the University of Texas.
Paulino committed to the Longhorns shortly after completing his official visit to Austin this past weekend, which began on Friday and ended Sunday.
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"Before I had visited Texas, I thought it was the country," Paulino said on Sunday evening. "But after I saw it, it was just what I liked."
"When I talked with the [Longhorn] players, they encouraged me to come," Paulino continued. "I was real cool with the players, and everybody there said I would be a perfect fit."
Paulino is a city kid who hails from Los Angeles and attended Fremont H.S. prior to enrolling at MCI this fall.
He gained notoriety on the summer circuit in July playing with Rich Isaacs' H Squad program. A high scoring combo guard, Paulino had serious interest this fall from Providence, San Diego and Seton Hall before casting his lot with Texas.
Paulino said he plans to sign with the Longhorns during the NCAA early letter of intent period, which begins on Wednesday the 14th and runs through the 21st.
"They see me as a combo, because they have T.J. Ford there and he is the point guard," Paulino said.
Ford is a freshman who arrived at UT this fall after earning McDonald's All-American honors at Willowridge H.S. in Houston, Tex.
Paulino should be one of the better guards in the rugged New England prep school ranks this winter. He enjoyed a terrific opening weekend for MCI when the prep school power recently kicked off the 2001-2002 season, according to Head Coach Karl Henrikson.
However, Paulino missed a few games this weekend while taking his official trip to Austin, and may also miss a few more due to some academic shortcomings in a class at MCI this fall.
Paulino is enrolled at MCI in order to boost both his core GPA and test score. According to NCAA freshman eligibility standards, an incoming student-athlete must carry a minimum of a 2.5 core GPA in 13 courses and an 820 SAT/17 ACT score.
The sliding scale allows for a student to qualify with as low as a 2.0 core GPA, but such a GPA would require a minimum of a 21 on the ACT or 1010 on the SAT.
Last year at Fremont H.S., Paulino tore up the public school ranks, averaging 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block per contest.
What makes Paulino such a dangerous threat are his offensive skills. He can score in so many different ways, whether it means sliterhing past a defender on his way to the basket or knocking down the jumper off the dribble.
While he possesses an adequate handle, Paulino does not have the mentality of a true point guard. However, his size may dictate that he be able to play the point at the college level and beyond, so it's safest right now to call him a combo guard.
The Insiders Report/Rivalshoops.com will see MCI in action several times this winter, so stay tuned to this site for updates as the high school basketball season kicks into high gear.