Former Apple Valley High School basketball standout Gary Trent Jr. announced he will play next season at Duke.
Trent, who is spending his senior season of high school at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, made the televised announcement on ESPNU Thursday night. He is considered the top shooting guard available for the Class of 2017, and he had reportedly narrowed his final college choices to Duke, Michigan State and UCLA.
"I picked Duke because of Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski]," Trent wrote on his blog for USA Today following his announcement. "He's a brand himself and his track record is amazing. He's the winningest coach of all-time and I truly believe that he can do nothing but improve and benefit my life in every way, shape and form."
Trent, who played varsity as an eighth-grader at Apple Valley, averaged nearly 27 points per game last season for the Eagles. Over the summer, he announced he would leave for Nevada, playing at a program known for being a national powerhouse in basketball. His father, former Timberwolves player Gary Trent Sr., told the Star Tribune that Trent Jr. wanted to "play against elite competition every day in practice and every night in games."
Trent is following the college path of former Apple Valley teammate Tyus Jones, who played at Duke for Krzyzewski in 2014-15, leading the Blue Devils to a national championship as a freshman before declaring for the NBA draft and being selected by the Wolves.
STAFF REPORTS
