Not happy with the road his recruiting was taking, former Grace Academy basketball standout Brandon Herman decided to take the road less traveled.
The 6-foot-1 guard recently chose to take his talents to Charis Prep School in Wilson, N.C. Charis was the National Prep School runners-up a year ago, while winning titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Herman averaged 27.4 points per game for the Golden Eagles, who finished 24-7 and were Class A state runners-up after falling to 82-77 to Clarksville Academy in double-overtime. He’s believed to be the first Chattanooga-area player to opt to play in prep school since former Brainerd standout Harris Walker played for Hargrave Military Academy in 1998-1999.
Herman turned down offers from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Eastern Kentucky University and UNC-Wilmington to attend the school.
“I just wanted to go somewhere where I can continue to get better,” he said. “I think it’s a good opportunity to play some of the top players in the nation, and I’m excited about it.”
It will give him a chance to hone his skills as a point guard – the position he’s projected to play in college. He finished with over 2,400 points in his high school career.
Coach (Carlos) Peralta puts a lot of players in Division I – especially point guards, and if I can come out of next year a better player than I was last, I think I’ll be alright. I can play more of a point guard role because I’ll be with better teammates and won’t have to score as many points.”
Peralta noted that Herman will be entering into a top-flight program.
“We specialize in helping young men realize the effort and work ethic it takes to play at the collegiate level,” he said. “We look forward to helping him achieve his potential.”