Dupree McBrayer, the fast-rising, left-handed guard from The Patrick School in Elizabeth, N.J., plans to spend a year at prep school before enrolling in college beginning in 2015.
“I decided to go [to prep school] because I think an extra year of development [will help] for my body and for my game, too,” the 6-foot-4, 165-pound guard told SNY.tv by phone Wednesday. “I still have weaker parts of my game.”
McBrayer, who played very well for New Heights at the Pitt Jam Fest last weekend, said he’s undecided on where to attend prep school and will huddle with his mother, his mentor and Patrick School coach Chris Chevannes before picking one.
“He just needs to develop his body and if he can develop his body I firmly believe that he has a tremendous, tremendous upside,” said Chevannes, who believes McBrayer should prep next year.
“I think he’s better off prepping for a year and developing his body.”
Meantime, Seton Hall, Minnesota and Pittsburgh have all offered him and are recruiting him hard. McBrayer said all three schools are recruiting him for 2015.
“All three of those schools are recruiting me pretty hard right now,” he said. “They’re going to wait until 2015.”
Seton Hall associate head coach Shaheen Holloway played at St. Patrick and is from the same area in Queens where McBrayer is from.
“I talk to him almost all the time,” McBrayer said.
Seton Hall has four guards for next season in sophomores Jaren Sina and Sterling Gibbs and incoming frosh Isaiah Whitehead and Khadeen Carrington. If Whitehead ends up being one-and-done, or someone leaves, McBrayer could slide into that spot.
Minnesota assistant Kimani Young is also from New York and has been recruiting McBrayer.
“I was talking to Kimani because he’s from Queens, too,” he said. “I also talk to coach [Richard] Pitino.”
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon has also been “very, very hot for him,” Chevannes said.
“All I know is about Coach Dixon,” McBrayer said. “I just spoke to him one time.”
McBrayer considers himself a natural point guard who can play both guard spots.
He scored 19 points this past season in a win over Roselle Catholic and then poured in a game-high 25-points as The Patrick School won the Union County championship with a 62-54 victory over Linden in March.
Photo: NJ.com
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