Devin Booker

Devin Booker

Booker at Kentucky's 2014 Blue-White scrimmage
No. 1 – Kentucky Wildcats
Position Guard
League Southeastern Conference
Personal information
Born October 30, 1996
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school Moss Point (Moss Point, Mississippi)
College Kentucky (2014–2015)
Career highlights and awards
  • McDonald's All-American (2014)

Devin Booker (born October 30, 1996) is an American college basketball player for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Booker attended Moss Point High School in Moss Point, Mississippi. He played in the 2014 McDonald's All-American Game.[1] Booker committed to the University of Kentucky to play college basketball.[2][3]

His father Melvin Booker played basketball at the University of Missouri and in the NBA and other professional leagues.[4][5]

Early life

Booker is the son of Veronica Gutierrez and Melvin Booker, who was named the 1994 Big Eight Player of the Year while a point guard at Missouri.[6][7] His parents met while his father was playing basketball for the Continental Basketball Association's Grand Rapids Hoops in Gutierrez's hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.[8] Booker was born October 30, 1996, and was raised in Michigan by his mother while his father pursued a professional basketball career internationally.[7] He visited his father regularly during the summer.[8]

High school

Sophomore

After playing for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity basketball teams during his freshman year at Grandville High School in Michigan, Booker moved to Mississippi to live with his father after the latter's retirement from professional basketball.[8] He enrolled at Moss Point High School, where his father was hired as an assistant coach, in August 2011.[7][8][9] In his team's fifth game of the season – a 52–32 loss to Gulfport High School – Booker scored more points (17) than the rest of his teammates combined (15).[10] In December, he hit a buzzer beater from just beyond half court to beat Harrison Central High School, improving Moss Point's record to 4–6 on the year.[11] By early January, Press-Register sportswriter Creg Stephenson opined, "Sophomore guard Devin Booker has developed into one of the top players on the coast in his first season with the [Moss Point] Tigers' varsity, averaging 22.7 points per game."[12]

In the Laurel MLK Shootout, Booker scored 54 points against Northeast Jones High School, falling nine shy of Litterial Green's Moss Point record for most points in a game, set in 1988.[13] He followed up that performance with 32 points – including a game-winning three-pointer – against Murrah High School and was named ESPNHS.com Southeast Player of the Week.[8] At that time, his father told reporters that Booker was drawing interest from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida, Alabama, Georgetown, Michigan and Missouri.[8]

Booker was limited to just 14 points, with no field goals in the second half, in a 57–55 win over Gautier High School in the opening round of the Division 7-5A tournament.[14] In the champtionship game against Pascagoula High School, Booker was held to single-digit scoring (8) for only the second time in the season as Moss Point lost 48–32, setting up an away game with defending state champion Wayne County High School in the first round of the South State playoffs.[15] Wayne County focused their defense on Booker, holding him to a single, first-quarter free throw, en route to a 57–37 victory that ended Moss Point's season.[16] For the year, Booker averaged 22.8 points per game and was named the South Mississippi Player of the Year by the Sun Herald, becoming only the second sophomore so honored.[17] In the announcement, the paper reported that Booker held scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgetown, Michigan and South Alabama.[17]

Booker at the 2014 McDonald's All-American Boys Game

In the summer following his sophomore year, played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League and participated in the Elite 100 Camp, the LeBron James King's Academy Camp, and the Kevin Durant Nike Skills Camp.[13] These commitments caused him to miss the inaugural South Mississippi All-Star Basketball Showcase in May.[18]

Junior

With most of Moss Point's experienced players graduating, Booker switched to point guard for his junior year.[13] In an early December game, Booker outscored the entire Ocean Springs High School team 40–39 through three quarters en route to a 48-point finish as Moss Point won 100–55.[19] After the game, a Sun Herald reporter wrote of Booker, "He's extremely athletic, can shoot the lights out and plays with a high degree of energy no matter if he's on offense or defense. Booker uses his quickness and long wingspan to deny pass after pass. And when he gets his hands on a steal, he knows exactly what to do with it."[19] He followed up this performance with a 30 points, including 7 three-pointers, in a win over 54–37 win over Laurel High School in the second annual Melvin Booker Shootout, named for his father.[20] The following week, Booker left a game against Harrison Central High School in the third quarter with a sprained MCL; he had scored just 9 points, but grabbed 7 rebounds.[21]

Booker's injury proved minor, and did not hamper him in Moss Point's next game, where he scored 26 points in a 52–48 loss to Davidson High School in the Jackie Laird Christmas Classic at Biloxi High School.[22][23] On the second day of the Classic, Booker scored a season-high 49 points in an 80–65 win over Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, a performance that added Duke to the list of schools recruiting him.[22][24] In early January, Moss Point went 1–2 in the Poplar Bluff showdown in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, defeating Memphis' Kirby High School but lost to Maplewood Richmond Heights High School and host Poplar Bluff High School.[22] University of Missouri fans attended en masse to cheer for Booker, who averages 30.2 points over Moss Point's three games, hoping to entice him to play for the Tigers.[22]

Booker scored a game-high 32 points in a 58–56 loss to Gulfport High School, the top-ranked team in Mississippi, in Moss Point's final game before divisional play, dropping the team's record to 6–11.[25] Moss Point went 3–3 in Division 7-5A, finishing the divisional season with a 51–40 over Gautier High School.[26] Booker, who struggled with his outside shot due to a wrap on his injured right wrist, hit all 17 of his free throws en route to a game-high 30 points in the win.[26] Moss Point closed out the regular season with a 67–65 loss to Division 5-6A champion Hattiesburg High School, despite 43 points from Booker.[27]

The following week, Moss Point faced a rematch with Gautier in the first round of the Division 7-5A tournament with a spot in the state tournament on the line.[26] Moss Point fell 54–51 in double overtime, ending the team's season at 12–16.[28] Booker scored 35 points in the loss, including 17 free throws.[29] For the year, he averaged 29.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while carrying a 3.81 grade point average.[30] He was named to the Division 7-5A All-Division team and was the division's MVP.[31] In March, he was named the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year for 2013, and in April, he became the second player ever to win the Sun Herald Player of the Year Award in consecutive seasons.[7][32]

By the end of Moss Point's season, Booker held scholarship offers from Duke, North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, and Mississippi State.[33] Rivals.com ranked him a four-star prospect and the 30th best player overall in the class of 2014; ESPN tabbed him as the 18th best player overall.[33] Recruiting analyst Evan Daniels called Booker "one of the best shooters" in the country.[7] In April, Booker began playing for the Alabama Challenge on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit.[34] After watching Booker play for the first time in the league's opening weekend, Kentucky coach John Calipari offered Booker a scholarship.[35]

At the South Mississippi All-Star event in May, Booker scored 23 points to lead his East team over the West team 101–70 in the underclassman game.[36] During the summer, he participated in the Kevin Durant Skills Academy, the LeBron James Skills Academy, the CP3 Elite Guard Camp, and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp.[34] His fellow participants in the NBPA camp voted him to the camp's 10-man all-star team.[37] Booker also participated against international competition at the Nike Global Challenge.[34] At the 2013 Under Armor Elite 24 showcase, he won the three-point shooting contest.[38] In August 2013, Booker narrowed his list of potential college choices to Florida, Missouri, Michigan, Michigan State, and Kentucky.[39] He took an official visit to Kentucky on the weekend of September 9 to watch an alumni exhibition game; fellow 2014 prospects Jahlil Okafor and Tyler Ulis also attended.[40]

Near the beginning of October, his high school coach said Booker would announce his college choice on October 31 after taking official visits to Michigan and Missouri; he also stated that Booker was no longer considering Florida.[41] Booker stated that ESPN had offered him the chance to make his announcement on live television, but he declined, saying he didn't want the pressure of such an event and that he wanted to keep the date flexible to allow his family from Michigan to attend.[42] At an October 31 ceremony at his high school gymnasium, Booker announced he had chosen Kentucky, citing the program's history and his affinity for Coach John Calipari as primary factors in his decision.[39][43] He, Ulis, Karl Towns, and Trey Lyles all signed National Letters of Intent to play for Kentucky on November 13, the first day of the official signing period.[44]

Senior

In December, Booker's Moss Point team traveled to the Marshall County Hoop Fest in Marshall County, Kentucky, to play Louisville's Ballard High School, the top-rated high school team in the state.[45] Booker led his team in points (40), rebounds (9), and assists (2) while shooting 50% from the field and 20-for-24 from the free throw line, but his team lost the game.[45] Two games later, he scored a season-high 45 points in a 78–67 loss to Alabama's McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in the Melvin Booker Shootout, an event named for his father.[46] Although Moss Point lost all three games it played in the late-December HighSchoolOT.com Invitational, Booker's 111 total points over those three games fell just four short of Donald Williams' 1991 record for the event.[47]

Booker's 38-point performance in a January 31 win against Pass Christian High School made him Moss Point's all-time career scoring leader with 2,263 points, surpassing the 2006 mark of 2,251 set by David Booker (no relation).[48] Moss Point won Mississippi's Region 8-4A regular season and tournament championships before ending their season with a 61–56 to McComb High School in the Class 4A South State Finals.[27] Booker scored 42 points in the loss, including 26 in the fourth quarter.[49] He averaged 30.9 points per game in his senior season and finished his three-year career at Moss Point with 2,518 points.[27] After the season, he was named to the USA Today All-USA third team.[50]

In the 2014 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game, Booker had a game-high 31 points and was named MVP of the Mississippi team, but the his team lost to the Alabama team 90–83.[51] Booker's 31 points tied Othella Harrington's 1992 performance for the most ever scored by a Mississippi player in the event.[52] Booker joined future Kentucky teammates Ulis and Lyles on the West team in the 2014 McDonald's All-American Game, while Towns suited up for the East.[53] He scored a three-point basket in each half and finished with 8 points as the West won 105–102.[54] In March, all four were selected for the Jordan Brand Classic, with Booker and Ulis on the West team and Towns and Lyles playing for the East.[55] In May, Booker participated in the South Mississippi All-Star Basketball Showcase leading the Home team with 43 points – including a three-pointer to send the game into overtime – in a 114–106 win against the Away team.[56] He was named the game's MVP.[56]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Devin Booker
G		 Moss Point, Mississippi Moss Point 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oct 31, 2013 
Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 28, 6 (SG)   Rivals: 29  ESPN: 18, 1(MO), 3 (SG)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College

In Kentucky's first exhibition game against the University of Pikeville, Booker was the team's second leading scorer with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including two three-pointers; he also had 3 assists.[57]

After a standout 15-point, 6-rebound, 7-assist game against Boston University, Booker posted a career-high 18 points in a November 23 win against Montana State.[58][59] He led the team in scoring, shooting 6-of-8 from the field with 3 three-pointers.[59] In Kentucky's next game against Texas-Arlington, Booker bested his career-high with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including five made three-pointers, in a 92–44 win.[60]

On April 9, 2015 Booker along with Kentucky teammates Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Trey Lyles, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein declared to enter their names into the 2015 NBA Draft.

References

  1. ↑ Moss Point's Devin Booker honored for McDonald's All-American Game selection with special reception
  2. ↑ Kentucky Wildcats land Devin Booker
  3. ↑ Mississippi guard Booker commits to Kentucky
  4. ↑ Meet the Cats: Kentucky's Devin Booker benefits from belief in dad
  5. ↑ Devin Booker set to enter his dad's old stomping grounds at Missouri
  6. ↑ "Devin Booker Bio". UKAthletics.com. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Roberts, Ben (April 28, 2013). "Junior Booker shows he can handle pressure - Shooting guard impresses Cal". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Stephenson, Creg (January 20, 2012). "Moss Point's Devin Booker has the name and the game". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ Roberts, Ben (October 4, 2013). "Booker calm amid recruiting storm". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B4.
  10. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (November 22, 2011). "Moss Point can't keep up with Gulfport". Press-Register. p. B01.
  11. ↑ "Tigers win on buzzer-beater". Press-Register. December 16, 2011. p. B04.
  12. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (January 10, 2012). "Panthers' season revs up". Press-Register. p. B02.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Stephenson, Creg (November 7, 2012). "Moss Point's Devin Booker begins junior season squarely in basketball spotlight". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  14. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (February 7, 2012). "Byrd, McGill step up in Moss Point victory". Press-Register. p. B01.
  15. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (February 11, 2012). "Panther pride". Press-Register. p. B01.
  16. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (February 15, 2012). "Wayne County's defense ends Moss Point's season". Press-Register. p. B01.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Jones, James (April 8, 2012). "Booker, Miller take boys basketball honors - Moss Point, Gulfport among the Coast’s best". Sun Herald.
  18. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (May 10, 2012). "Showcase to spotlight area players". Press-Register. p. B01.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Booker had memorable week". Sun Herald. December 9, 2012. p. 6.
  20. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (December 8, 2012). "Melvin Booker Shootout: Pascagoula, Moss Point both win". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Boys Basketball: Harrison Central 59, Moss Point 52". The Mississippi Press. December 14, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Magee, Patrick (January 3, 2013). "Booker, Moss Point make strong showing in Missouri". The Sun Herald. p. 5.
  23. ↑ Magee, Patrick (December 22, 2012). "Davidson slows down Booker, Moss Point". Sun Herald. p. 1.
  24. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (December 24, 2012). "Recruiting: 2014 Michigan target Devin Booker scores 49 points in prep game, Duke now reportedly involved". MLive. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  25. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (January 13, 2013). "Gulfport rallies". The Press-Register. p. 006M.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Magee, Patrick (February 6, 2013). "Booker leads Moss Point past Gautier". Sun Herald. p. 5.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Magee, Patrick (February 9, 2013). "Booker's 43 points not enough as Hattiesburg prevails". Sun Herald. p. 1.
  28. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (February 19, 2013). "Moss Point's Devin Booker begins recruiting trek this weekend with visits to North Carolina, Duke". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  29. ↑ Magee, Patrick (February 13, 2013). "Gators prevail in OT – Gators' Rutledge puts team on back in OT to bounce Tigers from playoffs". Sun Herald. p. 1.
  30. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (March 21, 2013). "Basketball: Moss Point's Devin Booker named Mississippi's Gatorade Player of the Year". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  31. ↑ Magee, Patrick (February 12, 2013). "Panthers seal pair of postseason hoops bids". The Sun Herald. p. 1.
  32. ↑ Jones, James (April 7, 2013). "Booker repeats as Sun Herald Player of the Year – Hardy wins second coach of the year award". The Sun Herald. p. 3.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Palmer, Tod (October 29, 2013). "Top Mizzou hoops target Devin Booker to announce college choice on Thursday". Kansas City Star.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Stephenson, Creg (August 6, 2013). "Moss Point basketball star Devin Booker back on Coast, ready for recruiting homestretch, senior year". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  35. ↑ Roberts, Ben (April 28, 2013). "Junior Booker shows he can handle pressure - Shooting guard impresses Cal". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  36. ↑ Roley, Veto (May 29, 2013). "Booker, Reed shine at South Mississippi classic". The Sun Herald.
  37. ↑ "Nation's elite hoops players think ACC will get even better with expansion". The Daily Progress. June 15, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Under Armour Elite 24 Highlights". Global Basketball. August 25, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Stephenson, Creg (October 31, 2013). "Basketball recruiting: Moss Point's Devin Booker verbally commits to Kentucky". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  40. ↑ Roberts, Ben (September 9, 2013). "Alumni game also a tool for recruiting - Many top prospects to attend". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
  41. ↑ "Briefs". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 3, 2013. p. C2.
  42. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (October 21, 2013). "Basketball recruiting: Moss Point's Devin Booker has completed visits, but still mulling college decision". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  43. ↑ Roberts, Ben (November 1, 2013). "The next big shot - Wildcats get one coveted shooting guard but lose another to Indiana". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  44. ↑ Roberts, Ben (November 14, 2013). "Four sign; top target to announce Friday - is californian johnson picking too early?". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C2.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Roberts, Ben (December 9, 2013). "Warm 'homecoming' - Booker scores 40 in Ky. tournament". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
  46. ↑ Stephensen, Creg (December 14, 2013). "Point overcome McGill-Toolen in 78-67 loss in Melvin Booker Shootout". The Mississippi Press Web Edition. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  47. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (January 2, 2014). "Basketball: Moss Point's Devin Booker closing in on 2,000 career points, school scoring record". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  48. ↑ Stephensen, Creg (January 31, 2014). "Basketball: Devin Booker sets Moss Point career scoring record in 75-53 victory over Pass Christian". The Mississippi Press Web Edition. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Basketball: Moss Point's season ends with 61-56 loss to McComb despite Devin Booker's 42 points". The Mississippi Press Web Edition. February 28, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Basketball: Moss Point's Devin Booker makes USA Today All-USA third team". The Mississippi Press Web Edition. April 9, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  51. ↑ Jones, James (March 22, 2014). "Devin Booker, Christa Reed shine as Mississippi, Alabama splits All-Star Basketball Games". Sun Herald.
  52. ↑ Stephenson, Creg (March 23, 2014). "Early lead propels Alabama past Mississippi". Press-Register. p. 25A.
  53. ↑ Roberts, Ben (January 30, 2014). "Cats place 5 on McDonald's teams - 4 male signees, 1 female signee on list". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C4.
  54. ↑ "Moss Point's Devin Booker scores eight points as West wins McDonald's All-American Game, 105-102". The Mississippi Press Web Edition. April 2, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  55. ↑ Roberts, Ben (March 11, 2014). "All of UK's 2014 signees on Jordan Brand roster". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B5.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 "Kentucky signee Devin Booker of Moss Point scores 43, named MVP of All-Star Showcase". The Mississippi Press Web Edition. May 31, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  57. ↑ Rockwell, Curtis (November 4, 2014). "College basketball: Moss Point's Devin Booker impressive in first Rupp Arena apperance [sic]". The Mississippi Press. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  58. ↑ "No. 1 Kentucky rolls: Moss Point's Devin Booker shines with 15 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds". The Mississippi Press. The Associated Press. November 21, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 "Moss Point's Devin Booker scores 18 points as No. 1 Kentucky beats Montana State 86-28". The Mississippi Press. The Associated Press. November 23, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Moss Point's Devin Booker gets 19 points, including 5 3-pointers, as No. 1 Kentucky romps". The Mississippi Press. The Associated Press. November 25, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.

External links