Deion Sanders co-founded Prime Prep Academy, a Dallas based charter school in 2012, with the intent of giving student athletes access to top-notch athletic training and teams.
Since day one Prime Prep has had prime athletes suit up for the Spartans and this year is no different.
T-Ferg
The Spartans are led by 6-7 junior Terrance Ferguson ’16. The shooting guard, who compares his game to his idol Kevin Durant, might grow a few more inches according to doctors while having a similar outside shot and frame like Durant.
Ferguson, who is a top ten ranked junior nationally, played for the U.S. team at the FIBA U17 World Championships last summer where he averaged 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists while winning the gold medal.
Prime Prep’s record in the past two years with Ferguson is 67-7. Prime’s coach Ray Forsett believes that he is the next big-time player.
Ferguson has offers from Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Texas among others. Currently Ferguson’s top three schools are Baylor, Louisville and Arizona in that order. With Baylor and Louisville the coaches are key and at Arizona the fan base is an attraction.
But Prime Prep is by no means a one-player team thanks to some transfers.
Two Houston Transfers
6-1 senior Josh Bradford ’15, who transferred from Alief Elsik high school in Houston, TX, is a left-handed point guard capable of breaking down defenses with his ball handling. The D1 recruit does well in transition and loves to attack the basket.
Another transfer from the Houston area is 6-4 senior Marquis Waller ’15, a shooting guard who has a knack for grabbing rebounds. Waller can play the point if necessary and plays a good defensive game.
Mark Vital ‘16
Four-star 6-6 junior forward Mark Vital transferred from Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles, LA. Vital has committed to Baylor.
Corinthian Ramsey ‘15
Ramsey is a 5-10 senior point guard who transferred from Mansfield Summit High in Arlington, TX. Corinthian Ramsey is a three-star recruit with offers from Arkansas State and Louisana-Lafayette.
First Round Opponent
Prime Prep will play Windward (Los Angeles, CA) at 8:35 pm in the first round of the National Division at Torrey Pines on December 26.
Prime Prep Not In Their Prime Administratively
While there has been athletic success at Prime Prep there has also been significant issues regarding the academic integrity of the charter school. The New York Times published an article on August 10 reviewing the saga that local media have been following.
In July the Texas Education Agency revoked Prime Prep’s charter status because of academic issues and on August 22 the initial appeal was denied. Prime Prep has one final appeal with the State Office of Administration Hearings and a decision will be announced on January 27, 2015.
If Prime Prep loses it’s charter status and therefore state funding then the school would likely close because most of the funding for the school comes from the state. One option that has been reported is that Prime Prep is looking into merging with another school.
Prime Prep Spartans at a Glance
Location: Dallas, TX
Established: 2012
Type: Charter school
Head Coach: Ray Forsett
Last 2 Seasons: 67-7
Key Players
# 5: 6-7 Terrence Ferguson ‘16
# 1: 6-6 Mark Vital ‘16 (transfer from Lake Charles, LA), Baylor commit
# 2: 5-10 Corinthian Ramsey ’15 (transfer from Arlington, TX)
# 3: 6-1 Josh Bradford ’15 (transfer from Houston, TX)
# 4: 6-4 Marquis Waller ’15 (transfer from Houston, TX)