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A Closer Look: Lorne Currie

Lorne

Providence is reportedly interested in combo guard Lorne Currie from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, CA. Here’s a Closer Look at the class of 2015 guard.

Overview:

One of the more glaring deficiencies on the the 2014-15 Providence roster was a lack of guards who could create offense off the dribble. Because Kris Dunn was so dominant in this regard, and Kyron Cartwright was a serviceable point guard behind him, the Friars’ lack of guards who could both create for themselves and others went largely ignored throughout much of the past season. Still, it was a problem, especially in games in which opponents successfully pressured Dunn into turnovers (Kentucky, at Villanova, Dayton in the NCAA Tournament).

It was a problem that the coaching staff tried to address last spring by pursuing high profile 5th year transfers and elite recruits that were still on the board late, but they were ultimately left shorthanded in this area and it eventually cost them.

Cooley’s 2015 haul has netted a borderline top 100 interior player in Alex Owens, shooters like Ryan Fazekas and Ricky Council, and a combination guard in Drew Edwards, but with PC’s interest in Currie they either see a need to add creators or provide insurance in case Dunn heads to the NBA. Then again, perhaps they see an elite talent in Currie that has gone under the radar after he missed his sophomore season (academically ineligible) and then a portion of his junior year as he transferred back to Fairfax High School after a short-lived stint at St. John Bosco.

More on Currie:

Currie plays at a true national powerhouse at Fairfax High School. The school may be known more for graduating celebrities (members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Jackson Five, Slash from Guns N’ Roses, Mila Kunis, and David Arquette all went there), but they’ve also had a tremendous run under long-time coach Harvey Kitani.

Kitani has been at the school over 30 years and coached NBA talent (including former BC star Craig Smith, who was at the Heights when Cooley was an assistant) and over 100 players who eventually played in college. He’s been named National Coach of the Year and was picked to coach in the McDonald’s All American Game in 2006.

This year’s team was very good once again, with Arizona State pledge Lindsey Drew and Currie — a 6’3 guard with a terrific handle.

Currie holds offers from Fresno State and Loyola Marymount, and his stock might have taken off sooner if this wasn’t his first full season of high school basketball. On tape, he has a terrific hesitation dribble and he’s a terrific athlete, playing with his head at the rim at times.

Scout.com’s National Recruiting Analyst Josh Gershon reported in February Currie’s game had evolved and Pac-10 schools were taking notice.

Even Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers tweeted about him.

Currie was named 1st Team All City by the LA Times and is looking to improve his stock this weekend playing for Belmont Shore at the Pangos Spring Spectacular. He and teammate Horace Spencer (a top 100 power forward headed to Auburn) led Belmont to a victory on Saturday afternoon. Currie had 15 points in that game.

Providence assistant Andre Lafleur has deep ties in California (leading on Cartwright last spring) and it will be interesting to see how Currie’s stock climbs after playing in a high profile event his weekend.    

Required Reading:

Fairfax star Lorne Currie’s assignment: Connect dots from GPA to NBA

Highlights:

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

2 Comments

  1. Anthony Razza

    April 13, 2015 at 1:23 am

    Wouldn’t Dunn and Currie sound nice as our point guards, as we push for another N,C.A.A. Bid? We need another big man too!

  2. Derec Lamendola

    April 13, 2015 at 1:36 am

    CRIAG LEGHTION DEREC LAMENDOLA Enenthing ON RECDING And Enthing New About Coach Cooley And Enenthing Going ON About Him Can I HELP OUT The RECDING Class SEE We Need And COACH ED COOLEY Needs ALL BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG Man OUT Thery Enenthing About Kris Dunn

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