Already-talented Grace Prep adds two top players

By WILLIAM WILKERSON

Special to the Star-Telegram

ARLINGTON — In determining the potential on a high school basketball roster, all one really needs is to inquire about the players’ plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas break.

If their answers involve lugging an oversized gym bag around the country at marquee tournaments featuring top-tier talent from other states, odds are their potential will outshine those who spend the holidays stuffing a turkey and drinking eggnog.

Arlington Grace Prep, which added two of the nation’s premier players, has warranted invites from the first DFW Metroplex Hoops Thanksgiving Hoopfest (Nov. 27-28), the prestigious Marshall County Hoop Fest in Benton, Ky. (Dec. 4-5), the Scott Bagg Tournament (Dec. 10-12) and the Tampa Bay Hoops Classic (Dec. 27-31).

"We are already getting calls for tournaments next year," Grace Prep coach Ray Forsett said.

The invites are easy to understand.

Seven-foot sophomore Isaiah Austin and 6-3 junior guard Jamal Branch join a talented roster at Grace Prep, which has reached the past three TAPPS state championship games. The Lions, 31-7 last season, lost to Houston Westbury Christian in the 4A championship.

Austin, nephew of former NBA center Isaac Austin, is already touted as a future top-five NBA draft pick. ESPNU and Rivals rank him among the nation’s top prospects for 2012. He’s been 16 for less than a month. What’s a boy to do?

"It’s pressure to put numbers on the board," Austin said. "Other than that, you just live a normal life like everybody else."

The phone calls Forsett continuously receives from the top college programs in the country suggest Austin’s days of normalcy are already numbered.

"I’m asked every day about him," said the brother of Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett. "North Carolina, Georgetown, Baylor, A&M, Texas, Kentucky. Everybody wants him.

"I tell them that he is still a young kid and is still growing. He has crazy potential. He doesn’t know how good he can be. Once he realizes that, it’s going to be over. He is almost compared to what Kevin Garnett was in high school. He is a guard inside that 7-foot body."

Austin likens his game to Hakeem Olajuwon because of his blocking ability and agile movement throughout the court. He is in his first season at Grace Prep after transferring from Mansfield Legacy.

"My mom wanted me to go somewhere that challenged me academically," Austin said.

"We looked at a lot of schools and chose to come here. I’ve heard great things about Grace Prep and how they’ve gone to state, and I want to help them win it."

The post player with a silky smooth jumper and fly swatters for hands is hardly the only key addition. Branch transferred from Humble Atascocita after his dad found a new job in the area.

The Texas A&M commit, rated No. 21 overall by Rivals.com in 2011 and No. 16 by ESPNU, also considered Duncanville and Prestonwood Christian Academy.

"My dad stressed education the most and A&M said this would be a good school to come to because of the education system," Branch said.

Austin and Branch haven’t been able to play much together because Branch quarterbacks the Lions’ playoff football team. Once chemistry is developed, though, opponents might be wishing for turkey stuffing duty and that glass of eggnog.

"If we click like we know we can we are going to win, no doubt," Austin said.

With pieces such as seniors R.J. McCray, Josh Thornton, Josh Duke, Jordan Simmons, and 6-7 sophomore Nick Banyard already in place, Forsett has reason to set lofty goals.

"I’m prepared to take some bumps," he said. "But I think we can be top 10 in the country, easy. Next year I am looking to be top 5."

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