02-10-2012, 08:52 AM
As the high school basketball regular season winds down, it wonât be long before some folks start to hand out regional and statewide accolades.
The name Jaysean Paige probably wonât ring many bells, but the Perry County Central senior is one of the stateâs best players in any class.
Paige, a transfer from Jamestown, N.Y., is averaging 21.3 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Commodores (20-4), whose lone loss to a Kentucky team before Thursday nightâs 14th Region battle at Knott County Central was at Scott County in mid-December.
âHeâs an awfully good player,â Perry Central coach Allan Hatcher said. âHe loves to compete and is a tough kid. Heâs made (the transition) real smooth. He reached out for these other guys. Heâs initiated positive ways to make this thing work.â
The 6-foot-1 Paige came to Hazard with a lofty reputation. As a junior at Jamestown High School last season he averaged 26 points and helped the Red Raiders reach the Class 2-A state championship game. He was named Player of the Year in Western New York.
Paige and his family moved to Perry County during the offseason, and he originally was ruled ineligible by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, but that ruling was overturned on appeal in December. He has played in 20 of the Commodoresâ 24 games.
âI was a little disappointed when I first moved, but now itâs really good,â he said. âI thought I wouldnât fit in, but I did. Itâs been a lot of fun. It was kind of hard to come from where I played into here, but I think I have adjusted to all of the players and itâs been good.â
Paige, who is shooting 57.2 percent from the field, scored 32 points with 13-of-17 shooting against Ashland Blazer in the Joe B. Hall Prep Classic last month at Montgomery County High.
Hatcherâs team, which also features eighth-grade sensation Braxton Beverly, won the 14th Region title last season. Now Paige has made the Commodores even stronger.
âHe doesnât get shook,â Hatcher said. âYou can tell heâs been through some tough basketball and some tough games. Heâs very, very mature.â
Paige is being recruited by Morehead State, Marshall, Tennessee Tech, Northern Kentucky and other Ohio Valley Conference schools.
âA lot of people are interested in him,â Hatcher said. âHe has offers on the table if he makes the grades, and heâs working on that.â
But for now, Paige wants to help Perry Central get back to the Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena.
âMy teammates and coaches have talked about how important it is,â he said. âI canât wait to help them get back there.
http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...al?Avis=B2
The name Jaysean Paige probably wonât ring many bells, but the Perry County Central senior is one of the stateâs best players in any class.
Paige, a transfer from Jamestown, N.Y., is averaging 21.3 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Commodores (20-4), whose lone loss to a Kentucky team before Thursday nightâs 14th Region battle at Knott County Central was at Scott County in mid-December.
âHeâs an awfully good player,â Perry Central coach Allan Hatcher said. âHe loves to compete and is a tough kid. Heâs made (the transition) real smooth. He reached out for these other guys. Heâs initiated positive ways to make this thing work.â
The 6-foot-1 Paige came to Hazard with a lofty reputation. As a junior at Jamestown High School last season he averaged 26 points and helped the Red Raiders reach the Class 2-A state championship game. He was named Player of the Year in Western New York.
Paige and his family moved to Perry County during the offseason, and he originally was ruled ineligible by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, but that ruling was overturned on appeal in December. He has played in 20 of the Commodoresâ 24 games.
âI was a little disappointed when I first moved, but now itâs really good,â he said. âI thought I wouldnât fit in, but I did. Itâs been a lot of fun. It was kind of hard to come from where I played into here, but I think I have adjusted to all of the players and itâs been good.â
Paige, who is shooting 57.2 percent from the field, scored 32 points with 13-of-17 shooting against Ashland Blazer in the Joe B. Hall Prep Classic last month at Montgomery County High.
Hatcherâs team, which also features eighth-grade sensation Braxton Beverly, won the 14th Region title last season. Now Paige has made the Commodores even stronger.
âHe doesnât get shook,â Hatcher said. âYou can tell heâs been through some tough basketball and some tough games. Heâs very, very mature.â
Paige is being recruited by Morehead State, Marshall, Tennessee Tech, Northern Kentucky and other Ohio Valley Conference schools.
âA lot of people are interested in him,â Hatcher said. âHe has offers on the table if he makes the grades, and heâs working on that.â
But for now, Paige wants to help Perry Central get back to the Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena.
âMy teammates and coaches have talked about how important it is,â he said. âI canât wait to help them get back there.
http://saxo.highschoolsports.net/article...al?Avis=B2
