26 Apr 2020

Lopez reclassifying to 2021 & heading to Mount Zion Prep

Miami Schoolhouse Prep All-State guard Anthony Lopez Jr. announced Sunday he is reclassifying to 2021 and heading to Mount Zion Prep in Maryland for a grad-year.

The 6-foot-4 Lopez averaged 20.8 points per game in leading Schoolhouse Prep (20-9) to a berth at the Boys State Basketball Tournament in Lakeland. He was named to the first team of the Class 2A All-State squad.

Asked why Mount Zion Prep, his father Anthony Lopez Sr. said: “Schedule, history of getting kids to D-I schools. How they recruited him … great rep among college coaches.”

Lopez is a native of New York City. He spent just one year at SHP. The talented combo guard has tremendous upside. He is a difficult guard and an excellent finisher.

At the state tournament, Lopez canned 6 of 11 field-goal attempts and finished with 15 points in a 56-54 overtime loss to Jacksonville Impact Christian in the semifinals.

New Hampshire, Maryland-Eastern Shore and McNeese were among the schools that had offered Lopez.

MERCEDES ANNOUNCES FOR CHICAGO JUCO

Boyd Anderson High 2020 point guard Martin Mercedes committed to Chicago JuCo Olive-Harvey College on Sunday afternoon.

The 5-10 Mercedes, who transferred to BA from Miami Palmetto for his senior year, averaged 14.3 points, 4 assists and 2 steals per game.

“I decided on my commitment to Olive-Harvey College because I felt as if the head coach, Brandon Moore, and I shared the same values,” Mercedes said. “I was very amazed with how he came off when it came to the importance of family and the one thing that is important to me is just that. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Coach Moore has made it possible for me to see the help that I could provide for us. He made it possible to be sure that I will succeed whether it would be on court or off. That was more than enough to make a decision.”

If you have high school or travel basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com