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Pinkston leads New Heights into Adidas quarters
By Marc Raimondi July 25, 2009
NORTH LAS VEGAS – Jayvaughn Pinkston has one singular goal for the next 12 months.
“Try to make the McDonald’s game,” the Bishop Loughlin rising senior said.
Leading his New Heights AAU team to the Adidas Super 64 championship this weekend is at the top of his list of things that will help him get there. So far, everything is going as planned.
Pinkston led New Heights to two victories at Rancho HS on Saturday, the latter a 70-69 win against defending tournament champion Grassroots Canada, which features Texas-bound Tristan Thompson of St. Benedict (N.J.) Prep. New Heights will meet Minnesota Pump ‘N’ Run in the quarterfinals Sunday morning at 9 a.m. back at Rancho.
“Jayvaughn’s been carrying us all week,” New Heights coach Kimani Young said.
Guys like Devon Collier, Ashton Pankey, Corey Edwards and Harold McBride are having fine tournaments, but Pinkston has shown a second gear. In a 76-54 rout of Full Package Elite on Saturday morning, the well-built, 6-foot-5 forward drew a double team near the block, made a fake to his right and blew by both defenders to his left for an easy layup.
“I think he’s been showing some growth,” Young said. “I think he’s kind of been the bully of his class for three years. He’s showing that his skill set is improving. His outside shot is improving. His decision-making is improving. His composure is improving.”
In other words, this is not the same Pinkston that dominated for Loughlin the past two seasons. He’s more polished and complete offensively, a scary notion for the CHSAA ‘AA’ league. Pinkston is being recruited by St. John’s, Marquettte, Villanova, Arizona, Miami, Rutgers and Seton Hall, among others.
“He’s been a bully for so long,” Young said. “He’s understanding that at the next level, everybody’s a bully. He’s gotta find ways to be effective. He’s a smart player. He’s got a smart basketball I.Q.”
His game isn’t the only thing Pinkston has been working on this summer – nor the most important. He missed the Reebok All-American Camp early this month in Philadelphia because he was in summer school. Pinkston missed a chunk of the Lions’ stretch run this past winter due to academic ineligibility. That’s not something he wants to happen again.
Pinkston said summer school is complete and he did well. He’s clearly celebrating that fact by running amok on the Reebok Summer Championships.
“Everything’s coming along good,” Pinkston said.
All rumors of him leaving Loughlin, he also said, have been greatly exaggerated. The buzz around the city this off-season had Pinkston going everywhere from Lincoln to Oak Hill. He simply shakes his head.
“I just laugh at it,” Pinkston said.
He gets serious when speaking about the McDonald’s All-American Game, though. Being selected is something Pinkston has wanted for a long time. After winning the Adidas Super 64, he said he needs to perform well at the Five Star Basketball Camp and then have a big season at Loughlin.
“When I’m watching [the McDonald’s All-American Game] on ESPN the other kids that have come along, kids that I’ve watched, it inspires me to play,” Pinkston said. “I want to play in that game.”
Much like a defender thinking about taking a charge, it’s wise to stay out of Pinkston’s way.
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com
“Try to make the McDonald’s game,” the Bishop Loughlin rising senior said.
Leading his New Heights AAU team to the Adidas Super 64 championship this weekend is at the top of his list of things that will help him get there. So far, everything is going as planned.
Pinkston led New Heights to two victories at Rancho HS on Saturday, the latter a 70-69 win against defending tournament champion Grassroots Canada, which features Texas-bound Tristan Thompson of St. Benedict (N.J.) Prep. New Heights will meet Minnesota Pump ‘N’ Run in the quarterfinals Sunday morning at 9 a.m. back at Rancho.
“Jayvaughn’s been carrying us all week,” New Heights coach Kimani Young said.
Guys like Devon Collier, Ashton Pankey, Corey Edwards and Harold McBride are having fine tournaments, but Pinkston has shown a second gear. In a 76-54 rout of Full Package Elite on Saturday morning, the well-built, 6-foot-5 forward drew a double team near the block, made a fake to his right and blew by both defenders to his left for an easy layup.
“I think he’s been showing some growth,” Young said. “I think he’s kind of been the bully of his class for three years. He’s showing that his skill set is improving. His outside shot is improving. His decision-making is improving. His composure is improving.”
In other words, this is not the same Pinkston that dominated for Loughlin the past two seasons. He’s more polished and complete offensively, a scary notion for the CHSAA ‘AA’ league. Pinkston is being recruited by St. John’s, Marquettte, Villanova, Arizona, Miami, Rutgers and Seton Hall, among others.
“He’s been a bully for so long,” Young said. “He’s understanding that at the next level, everybody’s a bully. He’s gotta find ways to be effective. He’s a smart player. He’s got a smart basketball I.Q.”
His game isn’t the only thing Pinkston has been working on this summer – nor the most important. He missed the Reebok All-American Camp early this month in Philadelphia because he was in summer school. Pinkston missed a chunk of the Lions’ stretch run this past winter due to academic ineligibility. That’s not something he wants to happen again.
Pinkston said summer school is complete and he did well. He’s clearly celebrating that fact by running amok on the Reebok Summer Championships.
“Everything’s coming along good,” Pinkston said.
All rumors of him leaving Loughlin, he also said, have been greatly exaggerated. The buzz around the city this off-season had Pinkston going everywhere from Lincoln to Oak Hill. He simply shakes his head.
“I just laugh at it,” Pinkston said.
He gets serious when speaking about the McDonald’s All-American Game, though. Being selected is something Pinkston has wanted for a long time. After winning the Adidas Super 64, he said he needs to perform well at the Five Star Basketball Camp and then have a big season at Loughlin.
“When I’m watching [the McDonald’s All-American Game] on ESPN the other kids that have come along, kids that I’ve watched, it inspires me to play,” Pinkston said. “I want to play in that game.”
Much like a defender thinking about taking a charge, it’s wise to stay out of Pinkston’s way.
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com