A sign of the times

Eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood makes verbal commitment to play basketball at Kentucky


 

 

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers MAKING IT LOOK EASY- Lake Sherwood resident Michael Avery, 15, who attends Ascension Lutheran School in Thousand Oaks, expects to play for the University of Kentucky beginning in 2012.

Last week Michael Avery decided what college he’s going to attend. Now all he has to do is choose a high school.

Avery, a 15-year-old eighthgrader who attends Ascension Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, made a verbal commitment to play basketball at the University of Kentucky beginning in the fall of 2012.

"This is something that’s been a dream of mine for a while," said Avery, a Lake Sherwood resident.

"I’ve always wanted to play college basketball and receive a free education; it just came true a little earlier than I thought. I’m going to enjoy this journey, but at the same time I wish four years could go by and I could be at Kentucky right now."

Avery said he’s not sure where he’ll be this fall when he begins high school, but said that Crespi and Culver Academy in Indiana are some of his top choices.

It was while Avery was deciding on a high school that he received a big break regarding his college future.

"It was sort of a miracle the way it happened," Avery’s father, Howard, said. "He was interviewing for the Culver Academy in Indiana when the basketball coach asked Michael if he wanted to play in the Indiana Elite, with the freshman team. Of course, Michael said yes."

While Avery was playing, Kentucky head coach Billy Gillispie, at the Elite tournament evaluating talent, first noticed the 6-foot-4 guard.

"A man came up to me in the stands and told me that Gillispie really liked my kid," Howard Avery said. "I thought the guy was pulling my leg, but I decided later in the week to give the coach a call. After he didn’t answer I tried to text him. Still, there was no answer.

"I decided to give him a third try by calling him again, and this time Gillispie answered. He told me that he wasn’t allowed to say anything to Michael except ‘Hi’ due to college recruiting rules.

"He did tell me, however, that Kentucky was interested in giving him a full scholarship right at that moment. I told him, ‘You’re joking, right?’"

Although Howard talked over the situation with his wife, Lori, it was clear right away what Michael wanted to do.

"I wanted to agree to it immediately," Michael Avery said. "I grew up always liking Kentucky. I liked a lot of other colleges, but as soon as I heard Kentucky wanted me, they rose to the top of my list."

Ascension Lutheran isn’t the only team Avery plays for.

Aside from receiving personal training lessons from ex-BYU star Chris Nikchevich and ex-Phoenix Suns player Rod Foster on a weekly basis, Avery also plays for the Belmont Shore basketball club.

While competing for the Belmont squad, Avery has made many friends, one of them being Harvard-Westlake senior Renaldo Woolridge. This fall, Woolridge will attend the University of Tennessee-Kentucky’s biggest rival.

"When I called him up he said he didn’t approve," Michael Avery said with a laugh. "Since Kentucky is a rival of Tennessee’s, he said he’d rather have me playing with him.

"He gave me good advice when I talked to him. He told me to keep working hard and don’t let other people’s opinions get in my way," Michael Avery said.

Since Avery made the verbal commitment, many in the sporting community have expressed concern. They say Avery is too young and won’t be able to handle the pressure and will likely have a target on his back every time he steps on the floor.

"I believe there will be less pressure on him now," Howard Avery said. "I would think a kid in his senior year that doesn’t have to worry about his performance on the basketball court, SAT scores and AP scores would have less pressure.

"We realize as parents our goals are different than Michael’s. For us, it’s all about education. I can’t see how any parent would pass up this opportunity for their kid," Howard Avery said.

As far as drawing extra attention on the court, Avery said it’s nothing new to him. The guard said he’s been a focal point for opposing teams since he was able to dunk- at age 13.

"I’m always going to go out and play 100 percent in a game, regardless of whether I have a target on my back or not," he said. "I mean, you never know who might be watching you."


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *