Special to ZAGSBLOG

At 2:02 on Monday afternoon, Namon Wright announced via Twitter that he will join Class of 2016 point guard and AAU Teammate Derryck Thornton at Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) for his senior season.

“I’m happy, it’s a blessing really,” Wright told SNY.tv. “Findlay is really going to help me with things outside of basketball, as well as on the court. They always seem to want to make kids better.”

Wright, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound 2014 combo guard out of Los Angeles, currently holds offers from Arizona, UCLA, Oregon, Florida State, Arizona State, Gonzaga, USC and Washington.

Wright is an athletic guard, with a tremendous amount of length on the defensive side. He can slash and create opportunities for his teammates, as well as shots for himself.

Another AAU teammate of Wright’s is the No. 5-ranked player in the class of 2015, Stephen Zimmerman, who can’t say enough about Wright as a teammate.

“He’s a great teammate, and is very unselfish,” Zimmerman said. “He just wants to win as a team. If he’s on the bench, he’s very vocal. It’s as if we have six on the court. He’s that involved.”

Wright knows that going to Findlay will put him under a spotlight, and he’s ready for the challenge.

“I know that going to Findlay and being in the spotlight can expose me for the good or the bad,” he said, “and I’m not going to let it expose me for the bad.”

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“I’ve decided that I will announce my college decision next Wednesday,” the 6-foot-9, 205-pound Findlay Prep forward told SNY.tv. “It’s between UCLA, Minnesota, Michigan State and Villanova.”

Schilling recently visited Villanova and Michigan State after previously seeing Minnesota and UCLA.

Findlay Prep already has seven committed seniors: Fallou Ndoye (Misssissippi St), Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington), Christian Wood (UNLV), Benas Griciunas (Auburn), Stanford Robinson (Indiana), Allerik Freeman (UCLA) and Dion Wade (Auburn).

The Pilots are the defending ESPN NHSI champs and will defend their title when the tournament runs April 4-6 at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md.

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Gavin Schilling of Findlay Prep is one of the top uncommitted power forwards in the Class of 2013. He will be contributing periodically to ZAGSBLOG during his senior season. Here’s his second entry:

I finally have my last two visit dates set.

The 6th and 7th of March I will be at Villanova for the Georgetown game. Then the 9th and 10th I will be at Michigan State for the Northwestern game.

I am excited for my last visits and even more excited to finally make my decision late in March. I am also considering Minnesota and UCLA.

As far as the season goes, we are still undefeated (32-0) and have our last 2 regular season games this week before we head out to NHSI at the beginning of April.

Stay tuned to my blog for more news on my visits!

You can follow me and my season’s progress on Twitter here.

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By BRIAN FITZSIMMONS

Special to ZAGSBLOG

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Todd Simon picked up his phone to send Michael Peck a text message before taking the court at the Blake Arena on Monday afternoon.

After Findlay Prep (Nev.) edged Montverde Academy (Fla.), 62-59, in a thrilling showdown between the best high school basketball teams in America, you’d better believe the winning coach is rushing to contact Peck again.

“Oh, yeah, we talk all the time,” smiled Simon, who took over the desert-based powerhouse for Peck after the accomplished leader was named head coach of the Idaho Stampede, the D-League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Truth be told, the 32-year-old Simon had every reason to smile, especially after watching Washington-bound guard Nigel Williams-Goss sink a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift the Pilots over Kevin Boyle’s Eagles at the 2013 Spalding Hoophall Classic.

Findlay Prep, which should maintain its top ranking in the USA Today poll, overcame a 12-point deficit in the last minute of the third quarter and a nine-point hole entering the fourth.

“This team plays with a purpose,” Simon said. “We rehearse these situations, so they have poise. We do a lot of situations in practice. I’m a big believer in that stuff. I’ll put us down 15 with three minutes left … so the guys just turn the switch on. They get exited about it.”

There’s no doubt the country’s most loaded squad has bought into Simon, whose recent win became his signature triumph as an up-and-coming name in coaching circles.

“The preparation over the years, being with Mike, was always for when we had something in place, maybe when I would get the opportunity,” said Simon, who was an associate head coach under Peck for five years. “So I felt like we’ve been prepared.”

After all, Peck had coached six McDonald’s All-Americans, six Parade All-Americans, six Jordan Brand All-Americans and six NBA players, including Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Avery Bradley (Boston), Cory Joseph (San Antonio), DeAndre Liggins (Orlando), Joel Anthony (Miami) and Louis Amundson (Indiana).

Simon last season helped Findlay go 32-1 and win the ESPN National High School Invitational. In the previous five years, the Pilots amassed a 157-8 overall record, including a 65-0 clip at home with three NHSI championships.

The current roster, which includes the ever-reliable Goss, UCLA-bound combo guard Al Freeman and Indiana commit Stanford Robinson, looks every bit as powerful as the past. That certainly bodes well for Simon, who claims he’s in it for the long haul.

“Opportunities have risen over the last four or five years, but where could I go (with more talent)? I love Las Vegas, I love this program,” he said. “I was there Day 1 and saw it when the school said we’re going to do this program. It’d be hard to leave something you’ve always held onto.”

Don’t look now, but a rookie is in the driver’s seat toward a national title.

Photo: Las Vegas Sun

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Former associate head coach Todd Simon will take over at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep for Michael Peck, who is the new head coach of the Idaho Stampede, the D-League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“It is with tremendous honor and humility that I have accepted the position as Head Coach of Findlay Prep,” Simon Tweeted.

“In being with the Findlay program since the inception, only my family has meant as much to me. I look forward to continuing the tradition. Best of luck to my closest friend and mentor Coach Michael Peck who has accepted a position with the Portland Trailblazers / Idaho Stampede.”

Findlay went 32-1 last season and won the ESPN National High School Invitational.  In the past five years, Findlay is 157-8 overall, including 65-0 at home with three NHSI championships.

The current roster includes Washington-bound guard Nigel Williams-Goss, UCLA-bound combo guard Al Freeman and Indiana commit Stanford Robinson.

The news was announced on the Stampede’s Website.

“This is a great opportunity with a wonderful organization,” Peck said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead of me.”

Peck has coached six McDonald’s All-Americans, six Parade All-Americans, six Jordan Brand All-Americans and six NBA players, including Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Avery Bradley (Boston), Cory Joseph (San Antonio), DeAndre Liggins (Orlando), Joel Anthony (Miami) and Louis Amundson (Indiana).

“Michael Peck will be a great fit for the Stampede and the Trail Blazers,” said Trail Blazers Assistant General Manager Bill Branch. “He brings a work ethic and experience that will benefit the Stampede and the continued development of our players.”

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Troy Williams of Phoebus (Va.) High will spend his senior season at vaunted powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, while fellow 2013 star Allerik Freeman with play for Findlay Prep.

“He’s a combo forward, he can play the three/four,” Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said of Williams in confirming the news. “His deficiency, if he has one, is his outside shot. He thinks he needs to make a few changes on his shot.

“He plays extremely hard, defends, offensive rebounds like crazy. Scores inside, scores mid-range. He just needs to work on his outside shot to become a little more consistent. I like the fact that he plays so hard.”

As first reported by SNY.tv, Williams, the Rivals No. 4 small forward in 2013, recently opted to expand his list and wait on his college decision.

He added Florida, Louisville, South Carolina and Georgetown to Kentucky and North Carolina, saying both his uncle, Boo Williams, and the latter two schools supported the decision to wait.

Williams will join Sindarius Thornwell, a 6-5 shooting guard from Lancaster (S.C.) ranked No. 10 at that position by Rivals, in Oak Hill’s new class.

The Warriors also return wing R.J. Currington and combo guard Ike Iroegbu.

Multiple reports say North Carolina-bound guard Nate Britt Jr. will also attend Oak Hill, but Smith said “I’m not sure on the point guard yet.”

Oak Hill will play next year in the Iolani Classic in Hawaii, an event that will also feature Findlay Prep, the reigning ESPN NHSI champions.

Smith said the Warriors will also face Jabari Parker and Chicago Simeon in the Hall of Fame Classic, and will compete in a doubleheader in Las Vegas in which Findlay is also involved.

As for Freeman, he Tweeted that he would leave Charlotte (N.C.) Olympic to spend his final year at Findlay, and Findlay assistant Todd Simon confirmed the news.

Freeman, a 6-3 shooting guard ranked No. 11 at that position in 2013 by Rivals, will be the first North Carolina native to play at Findlay Prep.

Freeman averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals at Olympic last season, helping the Trojans to a 28-2 record and a second straight appearance in the N.C. 4A Western regional tournament.

As reported by SNY.tv, Freeman recently added Duke, UCLA and Ohio State to a list that featured Kansas and Villanova.

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Lavin is on the West Coast and will be at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep Wednesday to watch senior forward Winston Shepard, sources told SNY.tv. Findlay (23-1), No. 2 in the nation, plays host to ABCD Academy.

The 6-foot-8 Shepard is the Rivals No. 10 small forward in the Class of 2012. He is coming off a 10-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist game last Friday in an 82-47 win at Lubbock (Texas) Trinity.

Shepard has previously said his top five were New Mexico, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, UNLV and UTEP, but said he would also consider Oregon and St. John’s.

While in California, Lavin also checked out some younger players at Harvard-Westlake, St. John’s Bosco, Taft and Serra.

Harvard-Westlake also features 6-8 senior power forward Zena Edosomwan.

Edosomwan lists Harvard — the school that produced Jeremy Lin — as his top choice but will need the required SAT score to get in.

If not, St. John’s may have a shot.

“He’s an incredible athlete who can run the floor with anybody in the country and finish around the rim,” Harvard-Westlake coach Greg Hilliard told SNY.tv in December.

“He’s played less basketball than a lot so his polish needs to be worked on. I think everybody sees him as a four who can run the floor, rebound and block shots and has a nice handle.

“He’s a polite, high-character kid. That’s why everybody puts him so high on the list. He’s very academic oriented.”

St. John’s is also keying in on 6-8 forward JaKarr Sampson of Brewster (N.H.) Academy, a St. John’s decommit who visits Kansas Feb. 25, and 6-9 shot-blocker Chris Obekpa of Our Savior New American.

Obekpa is considering numerous schools, including Seton Hall, which beat St. John’s, 94-64, Tuesday night, handing the Johnnies their fourth straight loss.

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Anthony Bennett’s mother, Edith, will finish up home visits in her native Canada with Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, following an afternoon meeting with West Virginia coach Bob Huggins and assistant Larry Harrison.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Bennett is considering Kentucky, UConn, Florida, Pitt, Washington, UNLV, Oregon, West Virginia and Missouri, according to Mike George of CIA Bounce.

Bennett, a Toronto native playing at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep, won’t sign until the spring and will not take any official visits until after Findlay Prep’s season.

As for which schools will get visits, George said, “Not sure. He comes home this weekend for [Canadian] Thanksgiving, so we will figure it out then.”

FREE THROWS

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin and K-State coach Frank Martin are expected Thursday at Roselle Catholic for 6-7 2013 wing Tyler Roberson. Read my feature on Roberson here….Dixon, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, Michigan coach John Beilein and Rutgers coach Mike Rice will participate in Howard Garfinkel’s “Clinic to End All Clinics” Friday at Iona. Here’s a great feature on “Garf” by the AP. For more information on the clinic, contact Garfinkel at (212) 246-3063 or (646) 275-9818.

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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.

The 6-foot-8 Canadian from CIA Bounce and Findlay Prep has the makings of a big-time college player, but he likely won’t sign until the spring period in 2012.

“As far as schools and his decision I think he wants to wait until late so he can make sure of coaching situations, other players going in, etc.,” said CIA Bounce coach Mike George. “He doesn’t want to be a kid that commits and later changes his mind.”

George said Pitt, West Virginia, UConn, Florida, Missouri, Marquette, Ohio State, Kentucky and Washington were expressing the most interest in Bennett, the No. 3 power forward in the senior class according to Rivals.

“His upside is tremendous because the better his ball-handling gets, the more unstoppable he becomes,” George said. “He shoots it so well from behind the arc and he has tremendous athletic ability. And you know he’s only scratched the surface of his ability.”

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AKRON, Ohio — Anthony Bennett has a long list of schools.

A really long list.

In this interview at the LeBron James Skills Academy, the 6-foot-7, 242-pound rising senior at Findlay Prep listed UNLV, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Kentucky, Duke, Cincinnati, PIttsburgh, West Virginia and Florida State.

He also said he’s heard from North Carolina.

“They said they’re going to come to LeBron and they’re really excited to recruit me,” he said. “I just need to know a little more about the program because I’m really not big about basketball in college. I’m going to go in this year and watch all their games.”

A native of Toronto, Bennett plans on signing in the late signing period.

“Yeah,” he said, “the spring.”

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