Heel-to-be Felton wins prep honor



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By BARRY SVRLUGA, Staff Writer

Raymond Felton, a high school guard from the tiny town of Latta, S.C., who will play basketball for North Carolina next season, was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year on Tuesday.

Felton, a 6-foot-2 point guard, led Latta High to its second straight state championship, averaging 31 points, 8.9 assists, 9.1 rebounds and 5.6 steals. He set a South Carolina high school record with 117 3-pointers this season and scored 45 points -- another record -- in the state championship game.

The other finalists were Carmelo Anthony of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.; Chris Bosh of Dallas; LeBron James of Akron, Ohio; and Duke recruit Shavlik Randolph of Raleigh Broughton.

Felton is one reason that, despite the Tar Heels' 8-20 season, there is some optimism at UNC. He is the gem of a six-player recruiting class that also includes 6-3 wing Rashad McCants of Asheville and 6-9 forward Sean May of Bloomington, Ind., both ranked among the top 15 prep players in the country.

Though Adam Boone will be a junior and has a full year of experience as the Tar Heels' starting point guard, Felton, an explosive athlete, will be given an opportunity to win the job in preseason practice.

Staff writer Barry Svrluga can be reached at 829-8944 or bsvrluga@newsobserver.com

this felton kid will lead us to the title. bet the farm on it.

I still think he ends up at South Carolina.

Kornblutt knows things.

hamE Wrote:this felton kid will lead us to the title. bet the farm on it.

Maybe. But that bi-polar maniac we have for coach won't be in charge I'll bet.