Top recruit scores 39, and Jefferson misses key scorer in Flyin’ loss

By Kyle Nagel | Monday, January 18, 2010, 03:07 PM
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/hshuddle/entries/2010/01/18/top_recruit_scores_39_and_jeff.html


In front of Kentucky coach John Calipari, Pine Crest School’s Brandon Knight, the nation’s No. 1 recruit who remains uncommitted, scored 39 points in leading Pine Crest to a 68-61 defeat of Jefferson to the Flyin’ to the Hoop boys basketball event on Monday, Jan. 18.

Adreian Payne, the 6-10 Jefferson center and Michigan State recruit, scored 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds in the matchup between top 20 recruits. Payne is ranked No. 20 nationally by Rivals.com.

But Jefferson played its third game without injured forward Cody Latimer, who suffered a scary injury against Meadowdale on Jan. 9. Jefferson coach Art Winston said Latimer was heading up for a dunk when a Meadowdale player tripped and undercut him, causing Latimer to land awkwardly on the ground.

Latimer, a junior who picked up much of the scoring when teams focused defenses on Payne, was knocked unconscious for a few moments and sustained a concussion and a broken toe. Winston said Latimer also felt effects on his shoulder, which was already fatigued from football season.

Latimer left the Jefferson locker room with a pizza following the game and walked down the hall telling reporters he was feeling better, but a man pushed him along and said any questions about his injury should go to Winston.

Winston said Latimer would miss three to four weeks with the injuries.

Jefferson, ranked No. 7 in the state in Division IV, dropped to 8-2 with the loss.

Pine Crest, meanwhile, won its second Flyin’ to the Hoop game after topping Princeton by three points on Saturday. In two games, Knight scored a combined 75 points in bringing both big crowds and Calipari to Kettering.

Calipari had originally planned to land a helicopter on the Fairmont soccer field before fog canceled that idea Monday morning. Calipari and an assistant instead took a private jet.

But, that wasn’t without its problems, either. The weather caused the jet to be diverted from several Dayton-area landing strips, and the coaches instead landed in Cincinnati and rented a car to drive to Kettering.