Prep Powerhouse: Trinity Christian
Heath Vandevender started the basketball program at Trinity Christian in Fayetteville from scratch 14 years ago with Chuck Webster. 307 wins and three NCISAA state titles including two runner-up finishes over that span of 14 years is what a powerhouse…
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Continue ReadingHeath Vandevender started the basketball program at Trinity Christian in Fayetteville from scratch 14 years ago with Chuck Webster.
307 wins and three NCISAA state titles including two runner-up finishes over that span of 14 years is what a powerhouse looks like. “307-129 record, we have sent around 40 kids to college including five in this last 2016 class.” Vandevender said.
“Damontre Harris was our first guy. Kwe Parker Parker his freshmen and sophomore years and Mike Thorne Jr at one point were some of the ranked players that have came through Trinity Christian.” Kwe Parker is now a freshman at Tennessee, Harris is playing professionally in Turkey and Thorne is playing at Illinois.
His most heralded recruit is NC State freshman Dennis Smith. Arguably the best PG in the 2016 class should start from day one in Raleigh. “Kwe Parker was ranked in the top 25 their freshmen year and Dennis was not. His goal was to be the best PG in the class and win state titles. He worked extremely hard every year and achieved those goals. He is the most competitive kid I have ever coached! He simply wants to win and be the best.”
Rising sophomore Joey Baker is the next Trinity Christian player to be in the same category as Parker, Smith, Harris and Thorne. Baker, a 6-foot-6, wing is ranked number three in the PrepHoopsNC 2019 rankings. Texas, Tennessee, Western Carolina, Charlotte and Clemson have already offered scholarships to the sophomore. “I think we will have one of the best front lines in the state with Ethan Herring, Joey Baker and Greg Gantt.”