No secret in grassroots basketball that St Benedict Prep produces top basketball talent. Located in Newark, New Jersey Head coach Mark Taylor, assistant coach Bob Farell and Art Pierson, have done another masterful coaching job at St. Benedict Prep.
Hoops Hype Canada casught up with Art Pierson the assistant at St.Benedicts who is ranked the # 1 prep basketball team in New York State and was # 2 in the country in 2012-13.
Last year led by none other then Brampton, Ontario point guard Tyler Ennis. Who was accompanied by fellow Canadians Isaiah Watkins, Denzell Taylor and Tyrell Bellot Green. So is Pierson suprised with Ennis? A freshman for Syracuse who facilitates the current 17-0 Orangemen ranked at the top of the NCAA ranks.
Syracuse Orangemen diper dandy Tyler Ennis
“Tyler to me looks the same way at Syracuse like he did at St.Benedicts. What I mean by that, you go from playing in a gym at St. Benedict’s in front of 50-100 people then to a gym with twenty thousand and he doesn’t get rattled. That’s Tyler. He’s a special, special young man and we are very, very proud of him.” Art Pierson shared via telephone.
The Toronto Star recently wrote a piece with a story Mark Taylor shared. It was two years ago, in Ennis’s junior year at St. Benedict’s preparatory school in Newark, N.J.. An opposing player stripped Ennis of the ball and scored. On his way back up court, the player clapped in Ennis’s face.
Ennis didn’t say a word — didn’t even react — his former coach recalled.
“Tyler speaks for himself, what he’s doing at Syracuse is no surprise to us. I spent alot of time with Tyler and it was a joy. Academically he was sound, athletically he was sound, and his demeanour on the floor has not changed.” Pierson added.
Ennis here as senior at St.Benedicts
When asked to compare Ennis to past point guards Pierson has coached, including Duke’s Jayson Williams the New York native assisstant to Mark Taylor offered this,
“2 different games. But Tyler will definitely be a lottery pick. Maybe even this year and so was Jayson Williams.”
Ennis was the first Canadian Pierson had the privilage to coach, then came Isaiah Watkins, Tyrell Bellot Green, Denzell Taylor and now this year Kamar McKnight. Asked for what the Canadian ballers all have in common and Pierson responded,
“I met Tyler two years ago, we had Denzell Taylor (ODU) Isaiah Watkins (Duquense) Tyrell Bellot Green (Juco), and now Kamar McKnight. For the five that we’ve had were very very pleased with. They come over and they’re willing to work. To do whatever it needs and takes.” sounds like some tunnel vision for the next level. Canadians playing competitive New York high school basketball and recieving compliments. You gotta love it.