Zips Keep Eye on Prep School Kid

[Captain Kangaroo]

Tygers' Avery headed to prep school

By Larry Phillips

News JournalMANSFIELD -- Colleges will have to wait a year to acquire the talents of Mansfield Senior basketball standout Jonathon Avery.

The 6-foot-5 third-team All-Ohioan is headed to Harmony Community Prep School in Cincinnati. Av- ery hopes to raise his college entrance test scores while honing his basketball skills.

"It's like a family-type environment and not a military-type school," Avery said. "I don't think I'll get homesick there, either."

Avery averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds as Mansfield Senior won the Ohio Cardinal Conference and reached the Division I Final Four. The willowy leaper with fine timing was the OCC and District 6 Player of the Year.

"I think (prep school) is great for him," Mansfield Senior coach Gregg Collins said. "He'll have a chance to mature physically and advance with his academics.

"He's got a number of MAC schools keeping their eye on him."

The Tygers ripped off a 24-game winning streak while compiling a 24-2 record this season. Avery shot 70 percent from the floor and was the hub of that charge.

His presence in the lane at both ends of the floor carried Mansfield Senior into the state tournament. Senior High was finally stopped by eventual state champion Canton McKinley. Avery made the all-tournament team.

He completed his career with 984 points, 676 rebounds and 144 blocked shots. Avery hopes to carry that momentum through Harmony and into college.

"I graduated from high school and I'll graduate from prep school. I'm just trying to improve my test score," Avery said. "This gives me the opportunity to get better."

Among the colleges expressing an interest in Avery are Bowling Green, Akron, Toledo, Morehead State and Stephen F. Austin.

"I don't have a favorite," Avery said.