Sleeper Spotlight: Courtney Alexander II
Every year in Georgia there seems to be a player or two (or three, or four...) that emerges during the high school season. This year's focus should shift to Whitefield Academy and settle on 2015 forward Courtney Alexander II.
Alexander, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Dominion Christian, hasn't played a game yet in the Georgia High School Association yet but he could be one of the most intriguing players in the Peach State.
Don't take our word for it. Just ask Alexander's coach Tyrone Johnson, who is back at the helm at Whitefield Academy after a year's hiatus.
"He's extremely talented. His IQ is as a high as his athletic potential. He's very bouncy. He's one of those kids that seems to make the right play," Johnson said.
Eric Lockett, Whitefield's star senior who is committed to George Mason, goes against Alexander every day in practice. He's been in the trenches for a month now with Alexander and has come away impressed by his new teammate.
"He's similar to me," says Lockett, one of the most aggressive producers in the South. "He's like a big point forward and can run the court very well. I think he's working on his shot still but his athleticism is good. He knows how to play the game. If we were able to have him last year without him, the story would have a whole different ending. He's going to be a good player."
So, who is Alexander exactly?
If the name sounds familiar, yes, he is the son of the former Virginia and Fresno State star of the same name. The elder Alexander led the nation in scoring as a senior at Fresno State under Jerry Tarkanian.
Father coached the son last year at Dominion Christian, a tiny private school on the west side of Atlanta's suburbs. Few have actually seen the younger Alexander play and even fewer college coaches know much about the bouncy junior.
"He hasn't played with a big time AAU program yet and frankly he hasn't played with a big-time high school program yet," Johnson said. "It's a mystery why so many coaches don't know anything about him. His recruitment his picked up since he's come over to Whitefield but prior to that, no one knew anything about him."
Whitfield Academy, one of the top teams in Class A Private, will use Alexander all over floor this season. Alexander says that's perfectly fine with him.
"I play the three and the one my whole life," he said. "The last couple of years I've been the biggest guy on the court. I have no problem going against bigger guys and getting physical for rebounds. But I'm the most comfortable as the three.
"The first couple of years, I wasn't really out there. Now is my chance to show what I have. I have to take advantage of that."
Whitefield opens the season on Nov. 23 against Gainesville Johnson.