A phone call from his favorite player helped convince Memphis Central High School standout Jarnell Stokes that his basketball future lies elsewhere.
Stokes, the top prospect in the Shelby-Metro area in the class of the 2012, said Monday he is leaving Central and will attend Oak Hill Academy this year.
The prep school, located in the small town of Mouth of Wilson, Va., has a legendary basketball program that has produced NBA stars ranging from Rod Strickland and Jerry Stackhouse to Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.
And it was a call from Anthony, the New York Knicks All-Star, that helped make Stokes' decision easier.
"I guess (Oak Hill coach) Steve Smith told him to call me," Stokes said. "He knew he was my favorite player and he told me it was a great move for me, but that it would be a commitment. It was basically what I had already heard, except I was amazed to just hear it from him."
The power forward is ranked first in the state in the class of 2012 and is 10th nationally according to Rivals.com.
"Of course, I'll be focused on basketball," he said. "There's nothing else to focus on (at Oak Hill). They play a national schedule and they've got great tradition there. Every day will be competition, even in practice. You've got to bring your A-game everyday.
"They say when you go to a school like Oak Hill and you go to college, you're a sophomore already. So this is a big step this summer - something I've looked forward to for months."
One of Stokes' new teammates is 6-5 senior wing Damien Wilson, who has committed to Memphis. The 6-8, 250-pound Stokes lists Memphis, Tennessee, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky and Arkansas as his top six schools but says he is wide-open.
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Comments » 14
eduardo writes:
gee wonder where he told him to go to college???? the rich get richer while we are slapped around for having a legitimate bball team for the last 6 yrs.! go figure!
VolzsFan writes:
no doorknob, he meant that other than school there is nothing to do but ball. There is nothing to do there socially. Geeez.
By the way, he was committed to Pearl privately. Now they have to recruit him again.
tennrich1 writes:
You are correct. He was UT bound but now I think its Arkansas or Memphis...hope I'm wrong and he lands in our lap....I know some family members and high school staff...that's there feelings as well...
asmith writes:
would love to land this recruit. maybe get some connections into oak hill.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say prolly wants to get all the Tiger high fans out of his ear.
Bones never lie.
thevoice writes:
Have a feeling this kind of boy is not the typical BB player 'Zo looks for to enter his program. Just a hunch.
VolGrad writes:
Ahhhh. How typical of you to engage in such generalizations: now the pot calls the kettle black. You hypocrite! :D Strive On! LOL!!!
born2ride writes:
Stokes was going to sign with the Vols. Pearl and Forbes had him locked up. Martin does not have a chance and we are out.
With Pearl gone Memphis is the team to beat. Stokes will be playing at Oak Hill with Damien Wilson who has already signed with Memphis.
Arkansas has a small shot with Mike Anderson. He was recruiting Stokes at Missouri before he jumped ship again.
Kentucky is always a possibility. No team can compete with World Wide Wes and Calipari. They pay more $$$ and are a farm team for the NBA.
JMO
Colliervol writes:
KNS surrogate. Not even a good fake anymore.
Colliervol writes:
If you think Tennessee is that, then you've obviously never spent one second in Los Angeles. Talk about a pit. I go out there 3 or 4 times a year on business and it is absolutely the worst place in the country that I go to. (I always get the feeling I'm going to be a drive-by victim at any moment.) When I get back home, I thank my lucky stars every time that I DON'T live anywhere close to that place. As a matter of fact, the entire state of California could drop off in the ocean and nobody in the country would miss it. Looks to me like it's already become part of Mexico anyway so they might as well just go ahead and re-draw the border.
easleychuck writes:
This is just another reminder how things like AAU and 'private basketball institutions' have polluted high school basketball.
And that has really made the college game and NBA play much better, not.
FLAVOLS writes:
This is an Alabubba troll - Troll On!
Jlove writes:
It's hard for a African-American Man because society has place a lable on them. I find it strange that you could twist Rich get richer while we are slapped around. If you read on this kid instead of hating on his Glory you would know that this kid came up like any average black kid but the only thing that separate him from others is the the Passion and love ,hard work and determination for the game of BB. This kid didn't sit on what he wanted he Grab what he wanted and that's success and what makes it more enjoyable is he had a FATHER in his life that pushed him harder than he probably would pushed himself...That my friend makes a difference. So be more positive about about the blessing that other receive and know that what God allow to happen I one life it can also happen in yours. So start setting yourself up for blessing and be more determine about your goals cause if you can see it you can achieve it....
Jlove writes:
It's hard for a African-American Man because society has place a lable on them. I find it strange that you could twist Rich get richer while we are slapped around. If you read on this kid instead of hating on his Glory you would know that this kid came up like any average black kid but the only thing that separate him from others is the the Passion and love ,hard work and determination for the game of BB. This kid didn't sit on what he wanted he Grab what he wanted and that's success and what makes it more enjoyable is he had a FATHER in his life that pushed him harder than he probably would pushed himself...That my friend makes a difference. So be more positive about about the blessing that other receive and know that what God allow to happen in one life it can also happen in yours. So start setting yourself up for blessing and be more determine about your goals cause if you can see it you can achieve it....What's illegal about persevering........
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