Talented Cali Guard Surprisingly Operating in Stealth Mode

Ron Bailey, Publisher

September 7, 2007 – If a high school student-athlete that had scholarship offers from Kentucky, New Mexico State, Fresno State, UNLV, and Texas A&M, was 6’4” and 190 pounds, attended one of the most talent –laden prep school programs in the country and could flat out score, most would assume he would be not only be the subject of message board debate, but the feature of many articles as well. In today’s hyper-intense world of college recruiting coverage that should be a no-brainer, right?

Wrong, as stealth recruits sometimes exist. In this case, the person is senior shooting guard Lavance ‘Boogie’ Pennington, a San Bernardino, California native, attending Genesis One Prep in Mendenhall, MS.

Adding to his peculiar situation is the fact Pennington dropped around 24 points per game at Genesis One last year, and played this summer with the Inland-Reebok travel team organization, along side his cousin, the heavily recruited and followed Malcolm Lee (who will be headed to UCLA next year).

Lavance Pennington has been slept on. That will not last for long. (Photo courtesy of Rembert)

When asked why his name is not presently more widely known by recuitniks nationally, Lavance opined “Last year at Genesis One at the Nationals (the Christian school national championship tournament)”, he did get noticed, but the momentum was stunted this summer “probably because I didn’t go to all the big camps”; though he had secured invitations to both the National Basketball Player Association’s Top 100 Camp and Reebok U, circumstances existed precluding his involvement in either confab. Resultantly, many writers, who rely on such events to learn of players, were not exposed to him, despite his Inland-Reebok travel team participation.

J.R. Rembert, Director and coach of the D-1 Stars boys travel team organization is also baffled as to why Boogie is underappreciated, but knows after next week’s IS8 Tournament action with his team in Queens, NY, that will change.

“He can jump, is strong with his right hand, and can score” gushed Rembert, of Pennington’s skill set. “I’ve seen him score 20 points in a row, in a five minute span”.

In Rembert’s view, despite Levance “having a good jumper”, the D-1 Star’s leader is unwilling “to say he’s a great shooter…He’s a scorer, not a shooter”. Pressed to compare Pennington to a past baller of note, Rembert identified none other than Baltimore’s own “Gerald Brown, in high school, where he walked into the gym and you knew 50 (points) was coming”.

Boogie developed his skills in part working with and against his cousin, Lee, himself a prodigious scorer, as he shared the two “grew up together”, with sessions at San Bernardino’s “John Hall and Bobby Bonds in Riverside” frequently occurring. The Inland Empire tandem has played together since they were both around 11 or 12 years old.

Going forward, Pennington continues to improve and understand what needs to be focused upon. “I’d say, my left hand dribble” replied the proud California guy, when answering a query as to what he should concentrate bettering. Also add Boogie’s defense, which he defined as “cool, but I can work on it a little”.

Presently, Lavance does not have a favorite school, expressed “No hesitancy” in traveling away from the Left Coast for college as he stated “I’ll go anywhere”, and plans to make his decision “Hopefully by the end of the year”.

It would seem an opening may exist for a high major program in need of scoring punch from the perimeter. Schools should not be caught behind the curve on Lavance ‘Boogie’ Pennington, like the basketball recruiting reporting world has been.

You can bet i95Ballerz.com will not be. Check back for updates.