Eighth-grader Latrell Allmond emerging on varsity level
Interesting back story to this...
I was talking to a prep coach on ride home from a game and he was telling me how there was a 6-foot-8, 290-pounder playing hoops in Southern Pines in the class of 2025. That Southern Pines Pinecrest High wanted him badly for football and basketball, but he ended up at The O'Neal School in town, which doesn't have football. I admit, I've never heard of the school before which means it has been a long, long while (if ever) that they've had a D-I prospect in hoops.
The next day I look at The O'Neal School's roster and I definitely don't see a 6-8, 290-pounder on it. I did see a 6-7 eighth grader on it though. I look him up on YouTube and there are clips from a month ago against North Moore. I was sold I needed to see him if possible. The irony is that he had just played minutes from me at Raleigh Trinity Academy, but I have since learned that wasn't his best performance.
However, high schools were a little jittery about the snow on Friday night, but I saw that The O'Neal School was playing at Burlington Christian Academy at 5:30 p.m. (turned out to be closer to 6 p.m.). The event at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., would have been fun in retrospect, but there is always give and take on games you choose or not choose.
I watch Latrell Allmond go through the pregame stuff and he's at least 6-6, 6-7, and has long arms and good shoulders. He hits a three, misses some jumpers and dunks easily vs. air in warmups. Then the game begins. Maybe others will see the video in different ways, but two three-pointers, two dunks and two blocks en route to 16 points and 12 rebounds for a reclassed eighth grader on the varsity, it's eye opening.
So for now, I'll say he has next in North Carolina. He's also part of Team Loaded NC on the adidas circuit.
