READING, Pa. – Zuri Pavlin will go from one extreme to another, from obscurity at tiny Manhattan private school Calhoun to the world of big-time prep basketball at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, the national champion.
This week at Hoop Group Elite Camp in Reading, Pa. is an introduction for the versatile 6-foot-6 forward.
Playing with and against a different caliber of talent than he is used to, in front of scores of college coaches, Pavlin is experiencing the other side of things. He dominated at Calhoun in basic anonymity, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists and blocked shots.
He had several Division II and III options, solid academic schools that recruited him hard. Late in the season, Brewster of the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) came along, offering Pavlin an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. One of the top prep schools in the country, Brewster sent eight players to high-major Division I schools, including JaKarr Sampson (St. John’s), Mitch McGary (Michigan) and Aaron Thomas (Florida State), this past year.
“My dream is to play Division I basketball and going to Brewster will help give me the best opportunity to do that,” he said.
The elite prep school, however, doesn’t overly rely on nationally ranked prospects, coach Jason Smith said. It has traditionally helped under-the-radar talents such as Pavlin find Division I programs after coaches flock to the school to see the transcendent talents. In fact, unheralded guard Joe Bramanti started over All-American Ty Warren, who is headed to North Carolina State, because of his defense. Bramanti arrived a little-known commodity without a Division I scholarship and wound up at Wright State of the Horizon League.
“Hopefully I’ll be doing the same thing next year,” Pavlin said. “I’m a little nervous, I have one year to show what I got. I’m up for the challenge.”
Pavlin knows his role will be extremely different at Brewster, just as it was this week at Hoop Group. He’s not going to need to score 20 points per game or handle the ball.
“I’ll do all the little intangible things, anything to help my team win,” he said. “It’s a big transition.”
Smith hasn’t actually seen Pavlin play, but he has received glowing reviews from numerous basketball sources. On his visit, Pavlin said all the right things. Several college coaches at Hoop Group have told Smith they like him, including one Division II coach who would love to have him, but thinks he’s Division I material.
“A lot of coaches have been impressed and want to see more,” Smith said.
Pavlin attended Hoop Group, in part, for the exposure, but more to get ready for Brewster. He doesn’t plan on playing any AAU basketball; instead he will train with renowned trainer Jerry Powell and lift weights the rest of the summer.
“The competition is going to be unbelievable,” he said.