Gary Trent Jr. (Photo: 247Sports)
HOUSTON – One of the younger players who participated this weekend in the Nike EYBL session was Gary Trent Jr., son of the former NBA player with the same name.
The main difference between the Trents, is that the younger Trent is an outstanding outside shooter, who also has a good overall feel of the game.
“He was more of a big man,” said Trent, who represented the Howard Pulley Panthers at the third session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, which concluded its 40-team, three-day run on Sunday. “It’s funny that he could produce a guard, but he’s doing a great job.”
Said the elder Trent: “My son is a different type of player. I had no moves. Everything was to the rim and dunk.”
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Trent, a member of the class of 2017, is one of the younger players on the circuit. Trent had a 43-point scoring performance in Friday’s first game for Howard Pulley, which went 2-2 over the weekend and is comprised of mainly players in Minnesota. The 6-5, 200-pounder had two 33-point games on Saturday. In Sunday’s 60-56 loss to NJ Playaz, Trent scored 13 points.
In the 43-point game, Trent was 8 of 12 on 3-pointers and added six rebounds.
Through 12 games of the EYBL, Trent is the leading scorer at 23.9 points per game and he was the leading scorer for the weekend in Houston at 30.5 points per game.
Trent described his strengths as a basketball player as “being able to score from anywhere on the floor. Being able to play on the offensive end and lock up the best defender and having an overall game.”
The elder Trent was selected as the 11th overall selection in the 1995 NBA draft by Milwaukee, and then traded to Portland. He said his son is much more than a shooter.
“People want to label him as a shooter,” Trent said. “But he’s a scorer that can shoot the ball well. He can get to the rim anytime he wants. He has step-back moves anywhere in the mid-range and he can shoot the NBA 3.”
Trent is involved in all of his son’s player development. From posting inside, to perimeter moves.
“Anything that you see Kobe (Bryant) or (LeBron) James do from a perimeter standpoint, my son is capable of that,” the elder Trent said. “And what you see Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan or myself do in the post, he has that.
“We leave no stone untouched because to me, MVP is most versatile player.”
Trent’s talents are being appreciated. Last week Ohio State offered a scholarship. Michigan State has also offered. Duke has been in contact, and Kentucky has attended several games.
Trent is wide open on his college destination. His father played at Ohio University before embarking on a nine-year NBA career and three-year stint overseas as a power forward.
The elder Trent has been a big influence on Trent, and understands what’s in store for his son based on his experiences.
“He’s been through the recruiting process,” the younger Trent said. “He knows what it takes to get to the next level. That says something about how hard he works and he instilled that in me, and I want to keep it going.”