Leroy ‘Truck’ Fludd, a forward at Boys and Girls High School, is trying to make some ‘noise’ somewhere during this off season so he may be able to land at a decent college. He would like just to be able to get some time at the next level.
Fludd and his high school teammates, along with his rivals in the Public Schools Athletic League, recently finished competing for the Juice All-Stars team in the IS 8 League, contested on schedule in Queens.
“I’m still waiting,” said the 6’6” Fludd after he finished playing in the Spring High School Classic Playoff semi-final game when he scored 19 points for his team in south Jamaica.
“Every time I go on to the court I play hard. I still have to work on my skills, including the jump shot and ball handling. I’m not too far away from signing.”
He did not specify which college he would like to continue his basketball and academic careers.
Fludd is a senior at Boys and Girls located in Brooklyn. At his school, he was one of the premier players in the PSAL. He had transferred from Grady High School also in the public schools system after his freshman season and has done very well on the court.
Meantime, during this off season, he is playing in a league and tournament so that he could be in the limelight to be recruited for a college. He certainly impressed the recruiters from both the senior and junior colleges last week at the Spring High School Classic, featuring some top players, especially those not yet committed to college. He was certainly knocking those shots into the basket.
Fludd was one of the 15 players on the Juice team of Brooklyn coached by ‘Tiny’ Morton, who is the varsity coach at a very successful Lincoln High School of Brooklyn team, which produced such players as Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, both of whom made it into the National Basketball Association.
“Playing in this league gives us experience (to move up to the next level),” said Felix Balamou, who played for Team Flight in the IS 8 League and played his high school ball at Our Savior New American in Centereach, Long Island. “I saw that I have to still work on my skills.”
Ask Chris Obekpa about playing in the IS 8 League whose games were also contested at the Variety gymnasium in Long Island City. Obekpa, the league’s outstanding player in the League, has nothing but praise for the competition in the circuit.
He would like to walk on to a college, and hopefully something will come up. He felt great in receiving the outstanding player of the year award in the league.
Obekpa would like to walk on to a college team. It is hoped that something would come up in the near future.
Many recruiters packed the IS 8 Gymnasium for a semi-final and then the championship game of the Spring HS Classic for 19 and younger high school players. While some 50 teams entered the league, some squads were even turned down from competing in the league as there were not any more spots to fill. Games were played on small courts at two sites. Basketball is always fun and exciting.
“The best players play here (in this league),” said a tournament spokesman. “The bottom line is if you show up here you can play anywhere.”
It took over time before Team Flight, led by 33 points turned in by Jordan Washington, a junior at Pathways College Prep High School, to defeat the Rens, 91-83, in overtime before a SRO crowd. Team Flight played a little hungrier than their opponent and showed it on the court.
The championship game was very intense with some great plays, especially on offense. The purpose of the league is not the outcome on the court, but for the players to be seen by the recruiters, as these high school players want to get that scholarship to a college.
