From NOVA To NCA, Haymon Has Done It

Ron Bailey, Publisher

February 22, 2007 – As a senior forward at National Christian Acadmy (Fort Washington, MD), Antonio Haymon has proven himself a formidable offensive threat, also capable of rebounding and defending - all traits he exhibited before crossing the Potomac last year.

A resident of Springfield, VA, Haymon was a force in Northern Virginia basketball, known for attacking the rim yet being able to hit jumpers, before transferring to National, last year. “I was kind of a four (power forward)” he recounted recently. “I was pretty dominant over there”.

Though he was getting college looks despite playing power forward and standing 6’5”, and weighting 210 pounds, Haymon “realized for major college basketball, I’d have to be a three (small forward)”.

Upon enrolling at National, and during the summer, Haymon focused on transforming his game, as he stated, “I worked on my skills – dribbles, pull ups, shooting, everything”.

National’s coach, Trevor Brown, is pleased with Antonio’s progress. “Actually, that has been going good” said Brown of Haymon’s migration to more of a classic small forward. “He had a lot of the skills, but he was in Northern Virginia, and the level of play and athlete is not like we compete against”.

Resultantly, it took some time for Haymon to adjust, but now he’s hitting full stride. Brown noted “He’s leading us in scoring” at 15 points a game, an also supplies three rebounds and about one assist per contest.

“He’s just a (all around) scorer” continued Brown. “He can get from point A to point B, slashing using two to three dribbles to get to the basket. He can score from mid-range and around the basket”.

Haymon (left), is seen here defending future NCSU forward, Tracey Smith, during the 4th Annual NCA Classic. Antonio did well in the highly competitive event, making the All-Classic team. Click here for coverage.

National’s coach also believes Haymon can be a “tough defender”, and a recent roster move further proved that thought. “He has picked up (defensively) because I subbed him” shared Brown with a laugh, who went on to note “We (as a team) have been focusing on rebounding and playing defense”.

Antonio understands why Brown has leaned on him to increase his defensive effort. “It’s because I’m pretty athletic” said Haymon. “I have to play on both ends of the floor, at all times”.

By doing so, Brown stated schools like “Providence, Stony Brook, Tennessee Tech, Ball State, Marshall”, as well as “Cincinnati” have expressed interest in Haymon: Tennessee Tech and Stony Brook have both offered.

According to the coach, the chosen institution will be “a good fit, basketball wise and with academic support”.

Brown then shared some of his strategy when helping young people make their college choice. “I try to send my kids to programs that are developing them where we were developing them”, he said, and as such Haymon will attend an institution where he will play the three and continue his academic progress.

Both are natural desires, given the time Antonio has put in not only practicing, but studying, the latter a must at National, as Haymon indicated “It’s a grade first school”.

Stay tuned for recruitment updates on Antonio Haymon. He will undoubtedly land somewhere, and do what he has been known to do on the court – wreck havoc in whatever way is necessary.