Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons Break For Exams With 6-1 Record
12/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2004
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Game 8
#1 Wake Forest (6-1) at Temple (2-3)
Dec. 13, 2004 / 7 pm / Philadelphia, PA / Liacouras Center (10,206) / ESPN2
Television: ESPN2. Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Rick Majerus (color) call the action. Phil Dean produces.
Radio: Wake Forest/ISP Radio Network. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action. Chris Ferris is the producer/engineer.
Records: Wake Forest is 6-1 following a 90-73 win over visiting Richmond Dec. 4. Temple is 2-3 after a 53-52 win over Villanova Dec. 4. The Owls play Penn (Dec. 8) and at Alabama (Dec. 11) before hosting the Deacons.
Rankings: Wake Forest is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll and No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Temple is not ranked.
Coaches: Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy `72) is 73-30 (.709) in his fourth season with the Demon Deacons, 238-108 (.688) in his 12th season overall. Temple coach John Chaney (Bethune-Cookman `55) is 485-217 in 23 seasons with the Owls, 710-286 in 33 seasons overall.
Series: Series tied, 10-10.
Officials: Announced on game day.
Deacons Break For Final Exams; Return To Action Dec. 13 At Temple
After playing one of the nation's most difficult early-season schedules, Wake Forest gets a chance to catch its breath next week, allowing the Demon Deacons to focus on final exams.
Wake Forest, 6-1, bounced back from its first loss of the season -- 91-73 at 5th-ranked Illinois Dec. 1 -- by beating visiting Richmond, 90-73, Saturday afternoon. Juniors Justin Gray (22 points) and Eric Williams (21 points) led the Deacons, while senior Jamaal Levy tied a school record with 10 offensive rebounds.
The Demon Deacons return to action Dec. 13 with a road game at Temple, followed by a Dec. 15 home game against Elon.
Temple, 2-3, beat cross-city rival Villanova 53-52 on Saturday. The Owls have two games -- Dec. 8 vs. Penn and Dec. 11 at Alabama -- before hosting the Deacons in Philadelphia.
Elon, 2-5, defeated former Deacon Rusty LaRue's Greensboro College team, 66-50, on Saturday. The Phoenix play host to Buffalo Dec. 7 before traveling to Joel Coliseum.
Today's Tip-Off
- Wake Forest's early-season schedule has been difficult, to say the least. The Demon Deacons have played two nationally-ranked teams -- Illinois and Arizona -- and six of Wake's seven opponents have winning records.
- When Wake Forest plays at Temple Dec. 13, it will mark the 21st meeting between the two teams and it will break an all-time 10-10 tie in the series.
- Elon (WFU's Dec. 15 opponent) has several connections with Wake Forest, including Phoenix head coach Ernie Nestor, a longtime former Deacon assistant coach. Elon assistant coach Jim Fitzpatrick played at Wake.
Deacs Rebound From Loss, Win 90-73
Eric Williams had a season-high 21 points and Justin Gray added 22 Dec. 4 to lift the Demon Deacons past Richmond 90-73, helping them rebound from a lopsided loss at Illinois.
Jamaal Levy added a terrific all-around effort - including 10 offensive rebounds to tie a school record - for the Demon Deacons (6-1). The Demon Deacons head into nine-day break for final exams on a good note. They never trailed Richmond, shooting 53 percent and playing improved defense against the Spiders
The Demon Deacons played better defensively against Richmond. The Spiders shot just 39 percent, including a 3-for-14 stretch early in the second half that helped the Demon Deacons build a comfortable lead. Wake Forest had little trouble on offense, shooting 60 percent in the second half and going 22-for-31 from the line.
Williams was key after the break, scoring 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting. The 6-foot-9 center is listed at 290 pounds on the roster, but said he is down to about 265 and has worked to improve his conditioning to play in the up-tempo attack.
Levy Ties Record For Offensive Rebounds
Wake Forest senior Jamaal Levy tied a Wake Forest school record Dec. 4 against Richmond by grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.
Offensive rebounds have been a part of game statistics since 1986-87. Loren Woods, who grabbed 10 offensive boards against Richmond on Nov. 29, 1997, is the only other Deacon to reach double digits.
One unusual thing about Levy's performance is that while he had 10 offensive rebounds, he had zero boards on the defensive end.
Most Offensive Rebounds (since 1986-87)
OReb Player Cl. Opponent Site Date 10 Jamaal Levy Sr. Richmond H Dec. 4, 2004 10 Loren Woods Fr. Richmond H Nov. 29, 1997 9 Josh Howard So. (1) N. Carolina H Feb. 6, 2001 9 Tim Duncan Fr. (17) Ga. Tech H Jan. 19, 1994 9 Rodney Rogers Jr. (23) FSU (ot) H Jan. 9, 1993 9 Derrick Hicks Sr. (23) FSU (ot) H Jan. 9, 1993
More From Saturday's Win vs. Richmond
- Two Wake Forest players scored 20 points in the same game (Justin Gray 22, Eric Williams 21) for the first time this season. The last time that happened came on March 2, 2004 against Virginia when Chris Paul scored 21 points and Justin Gray added 20 points.
- The Deacons used the same starting lineup for the seventh straight game (Paul-Gray-Williams-Danelius-Levy).
- Vytas Danelius scored his 800th career point.
- Jamaal Levy grabbed double-figure rebounds for the fourth time this season and for the 20th time in his career.
- Justin Gray made at least two three-point field goals in 14 of his last 15 games.
- Eric Williams scored a season-high 21 points (previously 18 points -- two times). He also had career-highs for free throws made (9) and attempted (11).
The Last Wake Forest-Temple Meeting
Josh Howard, Vytas Danelius and Eric Williams all had double-doubles as Wake Forest held off Temple 83-76 in the last meeting between the two teams on Dec. 1, 2002.
The three Deacon double-doubles marked the most in a game by a Wake Forest team in 25 years.
Wake Forest led by 14 at the half (42-28), then held off a second-half Owl rally for the win.
Williams, then a freshman, led the Deacons with 19 points. Danelius had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Then-sophomore Taron Downey did not start, but played 36 minutes off the bench and scored 14 points. David Hawkins made four three-point field goals en route to 20 points to lead Temple.
Wake Forest In Non-ACC Road Games
Wake Forest will try to snap a two-game losing streak in non-conference road games. The Deacons lost at No. 5 Illinois Dec. 1. In their previous non-league road game, the Deacons fell at Texas on Jan. 13, 2004.
Wake Forest-Temple Series History
- The all-time series is tied, 10-10.
- Wake Forest has won the last three meetings, including an 83-76 win over the Owls in Winston-Salem on Dec. 1, 2002.
- The Deacons are 5-3 all-time against Temple in games played in Philadelphia. Wake Forest won the last meeting in Philly, 73-65, on Dec. 21, 2000.
- The Wake Forest-Temple series began in the 1930s and the two teams have met at least once for each of the last eight decades.
- The last three meetings -- all Wake Forest wins -- have been decided by a total of 20 points.
- The Demon Deacons will play an Atlantic 10 Conference opponent for the third time this season. Wake has previously defeated George Washington (97-76 in the season opener) and Richmond (90-73 on Dec. 4).
- Wake Forest is 78-60 all-time against teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
- Deacon coach Skip Prosser is 5-5 all-time versus Temple, including a 4-5 mark while coaching in the A-10 for Xavier.
- St. Joseph's, an Atlantic 10 team, knocked Wake Forest out of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Deacon-Owl Connections
- Wake Forest and Temple combine to have five Oak Hill (VA) Academy graduates. Deacons Justin Gray and Richard Joyce, and Temple's Wilbur Allen, Dion Dacons and Antywayne Robinson all played for Oak Hill.
- Wake's Gray and Temple's Robinson are both from Charlotte. Gray went to West Charlotte High School and Robinson attended Butler HS before transferring to Oak Hill. Temple's Dacon is originally from Statesville, NC.
Rebounding Key For The Deacs
Two years ago Wake Forest won the ACC regular season championship. It was no coincidence that the Demon Deacons led the nation that season in rebounding. Dominating the boards is vital to WFU's success.
While it may be a stretch to say that Wake has dominated the boards this season, it is fair to say that the Deacons have been very good on the glass. Consider:
- Wake Forest owns a +6.4 rebound margin. Only Georgia Tech (+9.5) owns a better rebound margin in the ACC.
- The Deacons have not been out-rebounded in any game this season. In Wake's only loss, the Deacons tied Illinois with 37 rebounds each. WFU has out-rebounded its other six opponents.
- Although its early, Wake's current rebound margin would be the fifth-highest in school history.
- Wake Forest's rebounding this season has been a team effort. Senior Jamaal Levy (9.1 rpg) ranks fifth in the ACC, junior Eric Williams (6.0) is 15th and Wake's smallest player -- 6-0 sophomore Chris Paul (4.9 rpg) -- ranks 23rd.
11 Deacon Opponents Ranked In Top 25
Notes on the 2004-05 Demon Deacon schedule:
- Eleven Wake Forest opponents are ranked this week in the ESPN/USA Today top 25 -- (3) Illinois, (4) Georgia Tech, (10) Duke, (11) North Carolina, (12) Maryland, (13) NC State, (15) Texas, (20) Arizona, (24) Cincinnati and (25) Virginia.
- Three other Deacon opponents -- Providence, New Mexico and George Washington -- are receiving votes for one or both polls.
- Beginning Jan. 2, 11 out of Wake's final 18 games will come against teams currently ranked in the top 25.
- Four of Wake Forest's final 12 regular season games come against two 2004 Final Four teams -- Duke and Georgia Tech.
No Gray Area: Justin Is Tough
Two things that are certain about junior guard Justin Gray -- he's tough and he can score.
Gray (16.6 ppg) leads Wake Forest in scoring for the second straight year and he has scored more than 20 points in three of his last four games.
But it is Gray's toughness that is becoming well-known. On Nov. 24 against Providence, Gray took an elbow to the head, opening up a gash just below the eyebrow. He received five stitches and returned to the game to make 5-of-8 three-point field goals en route to 21 points.
In his freshman season, an elbow from Duke's Dahntay Jones broke Gray's jaw. He sat out a month, had his jaw wired shut and lost 19 pounds on a diet of soup and milkshakes. When he returned to action 30 days later wearing a protective mask, he scored 18 points in a win over 8th-ranked Duke in a gutty performance.
More on Gray:
- Gray has scored 934 points in just 61 career games, putting him in position to be the 42nd 1,000-point scorer in school history.
- He has made at least one three-point field goal in 27 consecutive games.
- With 152 career three-point field goals, he ranks fifth in Wake Forest history.
- Gray ranks sixth in the ACC in three-point percentage, seven in three-point field goals per game, eighth in scoring and ninth in steals.
- He was named MVP of the Preseason NIT.
- Gray was the ACC Player of the Week Jan. 29.
Closing In On A Grand
Five Wake Forest players have a shot at reaching 1,000 career points this season -- Justin Gray (934 career points), Taron Downey (844), Vytas Danelius (801), Eric Williams (761) and Jamaal Levy (683). With 41 1,000-point scorers in its history, Wake Forest ranks ninth among all Division I schools.
Deacons No. 1 -- For Now
For the first time in the history of Wake Forest basketball, the Demon Deacons earned a No. 1 national ranking Nov. 22. Wake Forest was ranked No. 1 in both major polls -- Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today -- for the second straight week last week.
A few notes on Wake Forest and the national polls:
- Wake Forest has been ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll 11 times, but until Nov. 22, never No. 1. The Demon Deacons were ranked No. 2 10 weeks (non-consecutive) during the 1996-97 season and Wake was No. 2 in this year's AP preseason poll.
- Only Maryland (23 weeks at No. 2) and Louisville (16 weeks at No. 2) had been ranked No. 2 more often than Wake Forest without ever obtaining the No. 1 spot.
- Wake Forest is ranked in the AP top 25 for the 36th consecutive week and for the 227th week overall.
- This marks the 31st different week that Wake Forest has been ranked in the AP top five.
- Since the start of the 2001-02 season, Duke is the only other ACC team to earn a No. 1 ranking, which the Blue Devils have done often.
Nestor Returns To Old Stomping Ground
Elon head coach Ernie Nestor spent two separate terms (1979-1985, 1993-2001) at Wake Forest as an assistant coach. He spent his last eight campaigns on the Demon Deacons staff under Dave Odom, helping the team to postseason appearances in all eight of his years there. In his time from 1993-2001, Wake Forest captured the 1995 and 1996 ACC championships, advanced to the 1996 NCAA regional final and claimed the 2000 NIT championship.
Whom Will She Cheer For?
Wake Forest basketball office administrative assistant Mary Ann Justus faces a dilemma when the Deacons host Elon Dec. 15.
Does she cheer for Wake Forest, the school which she has served for nine years? Or, does she cheer for Elon, where her son Joel is an assistant coach?
Mary Ann has been in the position before. Three years ago Joel played for UNC-Wilmington when the Seahawks played Wake Forest in the first round of the Preseason NIT.
The Justus family has many ties to Wake Forest. John Justus -- Mary Ann's husband and Joel's father -- was the sports information director at WFU from 1983 to 1999 and he currently works for ISP, Wake Forest's marketing partner. Joel Justus was one of several kids on the cover of the 1986-87 Wake Forest media guide featuring Muggsy Bogues.
More Deacon-Phoenix Connections
- Wake Forest director of basketball operations Tim Fuller, a former Deacon player, was an assistant coach at Elon the last two seasons (2002-03 and 2003-04).
- Elon assistant coach Jim Fitzpatrick played two seasons at Wake Forest (1998-99 and 1999-00), helping the Deacons win the 2000 NIT championship. Fitzpatrick and Fuller were teammates at Wake Forest.
- Elon assistant coach Mike Preston previously served four years on the coaching staff at Hargrave Military Academy. Wake Forest junior Trent Strickland previously played at Hargrave, as did Elon sophomore Ryan Jones.
- Wake Forest freshman Cameron Stanley and Elon freshmen Simon Harris and Josh Haymond were all teammates last year at Raleigh Millbrook High School.
Wake Forest-Elon Series History
- Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 32-6.
- The Deacons and Phoenix will meet for the fourth straight season. Prior to meeting in 2001-02, the two teams had not met since the 1950-51 season.
- Wake Forest has won the last 20 meetings. The last time Elon beat the Deacons came during the 1921-22 season.
- The Deacons and Phoenix first met in the 1912-13 season.
- Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser is 3-0 all-time versus Elon with all of those games coming while coaching the Deacons.
- Wake Forest was once a member of the Southern Conference. While membership in that league has changed many times over the years, the Deacons have played 201 games against current SoCon teams, earning a 161-40 record.
"E-Rex" Consistently Good So Far
Junior center Eric Williams, who has battled inconsistency during his career, has arguably been Wake Forest's most consistent player thus far this season. More on "E-Rex":
- Williams is the only Deacon to score in double figures in every game this season.
- He ranks second on the team and 13th in the ACC in scoring (15.4 ppg).
- His rebound average is up to 6.0 per game, ranking 15th in the ACC.
- In the Dec. 4 game against Richmond, he had career-highs for free throws made (9) and attempts (11) and tied a career-best with three blocked shots.
- Williams' free throw shooting has improved. He is shooting 66.7 percent from the line, ranking him tied for 12th in the ACC.
- Williams is shooting a sizzling 63.5 percent from the field (40-of-63), ranking second in the ACC.
- Plagued with foul trouble his entire career, Williams has not fouled out of a game this season and is averaging just 2.6 fouls per game.
Deacs Play With 10 Scholarship Players
Sophomore Jeremy Ingram will transfer at the end of the semester and Cameron Stanley, Wake Forest's only freshman, will likely redshirt this season. That leaves the Deacons with 10 scholarship players and three walk-ons.
Levy: One Of Nation's Best Defenders
Senior forward Jamaal Levy will not lead the team in scoring and he will not grab the majority of headlines. But the 6-9 Panama native is vital to Wake Forest's success.
- Levy is averaging a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game, which ranks fifth in the ACC.
- He ranks among the ACC leaders in steals (2.14 spg) and in blocked shots (1.29 bpg).
- Levy ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds (4.57 pg) and ninth in defensive rebounds (4.57).
- Only three players in the ACC -- Miami's Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite and Duke's J.J. Redick -- average more minutes per game than Levy (32.29).
- Levy, who earned a spot on the Preseason NIT All-Tournament team, is widely considered one of the nation's best defenders and one of the ACC's top rebounders.
- On Dec. 4, Levy tied a school record with 10 offensive rebounds against Richmond.
Gray Passes LaRue In Record Books
Junior Justin Gray made his 152nd career three-point field goal Dec. 4 against Richmond, moving him pass former Deacon Rusty LaRue for fifth place on Wake Forest's all-time three-pointers list.
Gray may not move up that list any more this season -- he trails fourth-place Tony Rutland by 96 three-pointers -- but he has a chance to become the all-time leader before he graduates. Randolph Childress, who canned 329 career three-pointers, holds the school record.
Levy May Get Two Milestones Dec. 13
Senior Jamaal Levy should reach two career milestones when Wake Forest plays at Temple Dec. 13th.
He will play in his 100th career game and Levy is just four rebounds shy of his 600th career rebound. When he reaches the 600-rebound mark, he will join a list of 21 former Deacons.
Levy should also make his 60th consecutive start at Temple.
Two National TV Appearances This Week
Wake Forest may not play a game this week, but the Deacons will be featured on two national television programs.
Deacon junior Justin Gray will serve as the correspondent for Rome Is Burning this week. The Jim Rome-hosted show airs Thursday night on ESPN.
On Friday, Deacon sophomore Chris Paul will be the subject of a feature on BET.
Small Enrollment, Huge Crowds
Wake Forest has an undergraduate enrollment of just 4,037 (6,444 when graduate students are added to the mix), so one might think there would be plenty of empty seats in the 14,665-seat Lawrence Joel Coliseum for Deacon home games.
However, near-capacity crowds are the norm at Wake Forest home games.
Last year an average of 13,197 fans attended Deacon home games and that number should be even higher this year based on season ticket sales. Based on last year's numbers, Wake Forest's attendance was 204.8 percent of its total enrollment last year. No other ACC school had a percentage higher than 80.1 percent last year.
Deacons Tough At The Joel
Wake Forest has always enjoyed success within the friendly confines of Lawrence Joel Coliseum, winning at an 81.9 percent clip. In recent years, that percentage is even higher. In Skip Prosser's four seasons with the Deacons, Wake is 45-6 (.882), including a perfect 16-0 mark in 2002-03.
The Deacons have not lost a home non-conference game since Feb. 9, 2002 -- a 103-94 loss to sixth-ranked Cincinnati in Prosser's first season with the Deacons. Under Prosser, Wake is 26-1 at home against non-ACC competition.
Wake Forest has won 42 of its last 43 home games against non-conference opponents.
WFU's all-time record in Joel Coliseum is 190-42.
Chris Paul Preseason All-America
Wake Forest sophomore Chris Paul was the leading vote-getter for the Associated Press preseason All-American Team announced Nov. 9. Paul was joined on the first team by Kansas' Wayne Simien, NC State's Julius Hodge, Syracuse's Hakim Warrick and Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts.
Chris Paul ACC Preseason Player Of Year
Wake Forest sophomore Chris Paul edged out NC State's Julius Hodge for pre-season ACC Player of the Year honors by a 38-to-35 count. North Carolina's Marvin Williams was the media's clear cut choice as the preseason ACC Rookie of the Year, receiving 60 of 87 ballots cast. Paul and Hodge joined North Carolina's Rashad McCants and Sean May and Duke's J.J. Redick on the preseason All-ACC team.
Senior Class A Diverse Group
Wake Forest's three seniors hail from three different countries. Vytas Danelius (Lithuania), Jamaal Levy (Panama) and Taron Downey (Oxford, NC) form a diverse trio that probably doesn't receive the recognition it deserves.
All three were recruited by then-coach Dave Odom, and re-recruited by current head coach Skip Prosser. Danelius, Downey and Levy have combined to play in 299 games. Wake Forest has won 73 games during their careers.
Stanley May Redshirt In 2004-05
Cameron Stanley, the only freshman on the Demon Deacon roster, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last December and may redshirt this season. Stanley has practiced with the team all season, but is still trying to get completely comfortable with the knee.
Deacons First In ACC Preseason Poll
Wake Forest was the top pick in the media's preseason poll conducted Oct. 31 at the 43rd annual Atlantic Coast Conference Operation Basketball. The Deacons received 65 of a possible 91 votes for 965 points. North Carolina was second with 13 first place votes and 866 points, followed by Georgia Tech with 836 points and Duke with 746.
Ingram Will Transfer
Jeremy Ingram, a sophomore guard on the Wake Forest basketball team, will transfer to another school at the end of the fall semester, head coach Skip Prosser announced Nov. 2.
Ingram, a 6-3 Kinston (NC) native, played in eight games last season. He averaged 1.6 points and 0.8 rebounds per game.
"Jeremy Ingram is a very good basketball player and more importantly, an outstanding young man," Prosser said. "He will be an asset to whatever school he chooses and we wish him the very best."
Miscellaneous Notes
- Wake Forest, after capturing the Preseason NIT title in November, is 7-1 all-time in that tournament.
- The Deacons are 28-1 in their last 29 games played in the month of November, including a streak of 10 straight wins.
- Wake Forest has won 11 straight season openers and the Deacons are 71-28 all-time in season openers.
- The Deacons have won 16 consecutive home openers. The last time the Deacons lost their first home game of the season came on Nov. 28, 1988 -- the last season WFU played in old Memorial Coliseum. That loss came against Richmond, 74-61.
The First And The Last
Wake Forest played the first game this season involving an ACC school -- Nov. 15 vs. George Washington -- and will play in the last game of the ACC regular season -- March 6 at NC State.
New Floor, New Uniforms
Lawrence Joel Coliseum, the home of Demon Deacon basketball, has a new playing floor this season. The new floor replaces the original surface, which had been in place since the facility opened in 1989. Also new this year are the Wake Forest uniforms. The Deacons will sport new Nike Elite uniforms with versions in white, gold and black.
Three Sign National Letters Of Intent
Three talented high school seniors - two from North Carolina and one from New Mexico - signed letters of intent to play basketball at Wake Forest beginning next season, head coach Skip Prosser announced. Harvey Hale (Albuquerque, NM/Rio Grande HS), Kevin Swinton (Greensboro, NC/Dudley HS) and David Weaver (Black Mountain, NC/Owen HS) will make up the Deacon freshman class. The three signees, all highly-rated nationally, will give Wake Forest help in at least three positions.
"We really think this is a solid class that will help us compete at the highest level," Prosser said. "Every school in the ACC has outstanding recruiting classes almost every season and again, this class will help us compete within the league. All three young men are potentially terrific basketball players, they are outstanding students, good people and come from quality high school programs."
Hale, 6-3 and 190 pounds, is considered the top prep prospect in New Mexico and is rated in the top 150 nationally by Rivals.com. He averaged 19.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game as a junior. Hale, who also plays for the Arizona/New Mexico Pump n' Run AAU team, chose the Deacons over Arkansas, Arizona State, DePaul, SMU and Stanford. He is coached at Rio Grande High School by Ron Garcia.
"Harvey (Hale) is a combo guard who we feel will help fill the void created by the impending loss of Taron Downey," Prosser said. "Harvey is not the pure shooter that Taron is, but he is longer and is potentially an even better defender. He has a knack for scoring and he leads one of the best high school teams in New Mexico.
Swinton, 6-7 and 230 pounds, is one of the top forwards in the nation. He averaged 22.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Dudley. Swinton is ranked as the 20th-best power forward nationally by Rivals and the 47th-best prospect overall by Hoopmasters. A member of the 2004 USA South Team at the Olympic sports festival, Swinton also plays for the North Carolina Gaters AAU team. Swinton plays for coach David Price at Dudley.
"Kevin is a product of one of the most prestigious high school programs in North Carolina," Prosser said. "He is strong, very athletic and he is a winner."
Weaver, 6-10 and 210 pounds, is ranked No. 27 among power forwards nationally by Rivals and in the top 85 overall by Hoopmasters. Hoop Scoop ranked Weaver as the fifth-best post player at the Nike camp. Weaver averaged 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He also produced a lofty grade-point-average of 3.93. Weaver, who also runs track at Owen, is teammates with Swinton on the North Carolina Gaters AAU team. Weaver played for coach Roger Schnepp at Owen.
