Local recruit gets Rebels’ attention
A buzz spread through the small gym as Victor Rudd played with the basketball as if it was a yo-yo. Echoes bounced off the walls while he put on a big-time show.
Rudd made five 3-point shots and soared for a windmill dunk that was NBA worthy. By the time he walked off the court, he had 27 points — and it was just halftime.
A 6-foot-8-inch senior forward, Rudd is one reason Findlay College Prep is 28-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation in USA Today’s high school poll.
Tucked away on a secluded hilltop, the Henderson International School is where the Pilots play their home games, and it has become Rudd’s home for a year.
"I love it," he said. "We’re blowing everybody out. Everybody on this team can play. I get good workouts, we’re winning, and the school is good for me."
After his remarkable first half Sunday, Rudd finished with 35 points to lead Findlay Prep to a 111-75 victory over Stoneridge Prep (Calif.).
About 200 fans admired the performance, and UNLV coach Lon Kruger sat among them and observed.
The Rebels are in the running to sign Rudd, who has been intensely recruited by several top college programs since November.
"I’m enjoying it," Rudd said. "I’m seeing what schools are interested in me, and a lot of schools love the way I play."
Rudd listed UNLV with Arizona, Gonzaga, Marquette, Memphis, Oregon State and Providence as his choices, in no particular order. Southern California and Washington might also be in the picture.
"They all play my style of up-and-down basketball," he said.
Everything is still fuzzy, Rudd said, and he won’t make a decision until early April.
Rudd, from the area north of Los Angeles, spent his junior year at Van Nuys High but played only six games. He transferred from Sylmar, and the California Interscholastic Federation declared him ineligible.
Bill Hankins is Rudd’s guardian and AAU coach. Hankins opted to send Rudd to Findlay Prep, where his teammates include Division I signees Avery Bradley (Texas), D.J. Richardson (Illinois) and 6-10 Carlos Lopez (UNLV).
"I wanted to give him a maximum amount of exposure, and I wanted him to play with guys of similar talent," said Hankins, who has a four-year relationship with Rudd.
"I had him when he was 6-5 and couldn’t slam dunk. When I first brought him to the gym, everybody laughed at him because he was so weak for his height."
Rudd’s physical tools are no joke now. Pilots coach Michael Peck, 60-1 in his two seasons, knows he’s working with a seriously talented player.
"I just look at his ball skills at 6-8 and say there’s not a lot of 6-8 guys who have perimeter ball skills like that," Peck said. "He’s a multi-dimensional player. He’s a Stacey Augmon type where he can get out and run the floor in transition.
"Victor can put it on the floor, make 3s, slash to the basket and finish. He rebounds it well, and he can guard (every position) for us. He’s got great size and unbelievable athleticism."
Rudd is ranked by Rivals.com as the nation’s 107th-best senior, but that ranking might be more accurate if the zero is dropped from it.
"We don’t pay attention to the rankings anymore," Hankins said. "It used to bother us that Victor isn’t ranked as one of the top 10 players in the country. I’m a hard guy to impress. I was pretty impressed with his performance (Sunday)."
Hankins said Kruger is "winning a lot of points" with the attention he has paid to Rudd.
"We understand Victor is in a very good position right now with the way he’s playing," Hankins said. "I’m just going to put everything on the table for him and give him my opinion.
"I would say of all the schools he mentioned, from where I’m coming from, it’s down between UNLV and Arizona. UNLV has got a very, very good shot. UNLV is doing everything right.
"We’re not going to make a rush decision. Just be patient with us."
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.
