By ADAM ZAGORIA
Duke is jumping into the Trendon Watford Sweepstakes.
The Blue Devils have been in touch with Watford for several weeks now, and assistant coaches Nate James and Chris Carrawell were expected to watch the 6-foot-9 Watford on Thursday morning when Mountain Brook (29-3) plays Montgomery’s Robert E. Lee (29-3) at 10:30 a.m. in the Alabama 7A semifinal. The 7A state championship is on Saturday.
“They’re showing high interest,” said Ernest Watford, Trendon’s father.
Duke currently has three Class of 2019 commits in point guard Boogie Ellis, wing Wendell Moore and big man Vernon Carey. They remain in the mix for late-signing forward Matthew Hurt.
A McDonald’s All-American, Watford had trimmed his list to four schools — Alabama, Indiana, LSU and Memphis. He has already taken officials to LSU and Memphis.
Alabama head coach Avery Johnson, LSU coach Will Wade and Memphis coach Penny Hardaway were all expected Thursday as well. “A real superstar makes everyone around him better, and understands what it takes for team success, and that’s what he has done,” Bucky McMillan, Mountain Brook’s coach, told AL.com this week.Memphis’ Penny Hardaway and Alabama’s Avery Johnson were among the coaches on hand today for 2019 @Trendon_2 pic.twitter.com/oBw1pqU4ef
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 28, 2019
Photo: Watford family Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter And Like ZAGS on FacebookThe Spartans @Trendon_2 celebrates his team’s win in this celebration shot presented by @CadenceBank! Congratulations, @mntbrookhoops! They’re on to the 7A #StateFinals championship game! ➡️ Will they win their 3rd straight title? #StateFinals #7ABoys #Ball4ItAll @LegacyArena pic.twitter.com/SGFnkqACzA
— AHSAA State Finals (@AHSAA_hoops) February 28, 2019
