UA-bound Lavender still loyal to his Mesa school, but can't wait to be a Cat
01/16/2008 04:58 PM Tyler Hansen
Just got off the phone with Mesa Mountain View High School senior Brendon Lavender. He won’t put on a UA jersey for another 10 months, but I think I already have a new favorite Wildcat.
Lavender, a 6-foot-5-inch combo guard, comes to Tucson on Monday for the MLK Basketball Classic at McKale Center. It is a one-day event featuring 10 teams and five games.
His Mountain View squad, the reigning Class 5A-I state champion, will play Tucson at 6 p.m. The game will be televised live on Cox Cable Channel 7.
I talked with Lavender for a feature involving various MLK players that will publish on Monday. The star player was full of energy and a lot of fun to talk to.
I asked him what he remembered most about Martin Luther King Jr. from his lessons in school.
“Is this a quiz? Are you quizzing me?” he said, laughing.
Lavender said life can be somewhat stressful as the Toros’ best player, because every team wants to take out the defending champs.
He raved about Tucson High after seeing them last month at the Arizona Basketball Challenge (ABC) held at his school.
“They are really good,” he said. “They have probably one of the best team defenses I’ve seen all year. They are really aggressive.”
Lavender has played at McKale before during summer club ball and for elite camps. His future rests in Tucson and with the UA, but — for now — his allegiance to the East Valley still wins out.
“I never really thought of (Tucson and the Phoenix area) as being a rivalry, but I’m always ready to bring it and get up no matter who we’re playing,” Lavender said. “We’ll be ready for Tucson.”
Asked if he’ll be able to quickly switch his Phoenix-area loyalties to Tucson full time next season, he didn’t hesitate:
“Yup. So excited to go to the U of A.”
Here is a link to YouTube.com that has highlight videos of Lavender:
This kid sounds like a nice guy. I saw his clips on You TUbe and he’s got some real skills. He might not get the awards that Jennings gets but I bet he will be a solid player for UofA in his career here.
Tyler do you have to have Cox for that game on T.V. or can I gt it on satellite?
— DAVE 01/16/2008 06:19 PM #
Dave,
You need to have Cox Cable to view the game. Sometimes Comcast will pick up on big games, but as of tonight, I have only heard that Cox will be airing the channel.
Tickets are only $5 if you can make it down to McKale. It’ll be worth the trip and cash.
— Tyler Hansen 01/16/2008 08:17 PM #
As the Assistant Director of the MLK Basketball Classic, I want to thank you, Tyler, for a great article.
On behalf of the planning committee, we appreciate your support of this meaningful event. While we’re playing the 5th Annual MLK Basketball Classic at ASU Wells Fargo Arena on the same day, I have to tip my hat to Herman House, Tucson High Assistant Principal, and the remainder of the MLK Basketball Classic – Tucson planning committee for their 2nd Annual event.
I hope Tucson comes out in force to see Brendan Lavendar, those being honored for the support of diversity, and the other schools.
If anyone has any questions on the event (ASU/UA), please feel free to contact me at marc.beasley@cox.net.
Marc A. Beasley, Assistant Director
MLK Basketball Classic
JUCO MLK Basketball Classic
Arizona Basketball Challenge
— Marc A. Beasley 01/18/2008 10:14 AM #
I went to the MLK Basketball Classic last year because my daughter is in the Tucson High band, and they played during the THMS-Salpointe game. It was a great event—very well run. It’s more than worth the money, even when there aren’t any recruits playing.
— Kim 01/19/2008 02:08 PM #
Tyler do you have to have Cox for that game on T.V. or can I gt it on satellite?
— DAVE 01/16/2008 06:19 PM #
You need to have Cox Cable to view the game. Sometimes Comcast will pick up on big games, but as of tonight, I have only heard that Cox will be airing the channel.
Tickets are only $5 if you can make it down to McKale. It’ll be worth the trip and cash.
— Tyler Hansen 01/16/2008 08:17 PM #
On behalf of the planning committee, we appreciate your support of this meaningful event. While we’re playing the 5th Annual MLK Basketball Classic at ASU Wells Fargo Arena on the same day, I have to tip my hat to Herman House, Tucson High Assistant Principal, and the remainder of the MLK Basketball Classic – Tucson planning committee for their 2nd Annual event.
I hope Tucson comes out in force to see Brendan Lavendar, those being honored for the support of diversity, and the other schools.
If anyone has any questions on the event (ASU/UA), please feel free to contact me at marc.beasley@cox.net.
Marc A. Beasley, Assistant Director
MLK Basketball Classic
JUCO MLK Basketball Classic
Arizona Basketball Challenge
— Marc A. Beasley 01/18/2008 10:14 AM #
— Kim 01/19/2008 02:08 PM #