We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at Dontavious Pettaway of Greene Central.
We’ve seen Pettaway in numerous different settings, recently writing about his abilities with Raising Young Men, where we stated, “Though Taylor delivers the perimeter shooting, Dontavious Pettaway easily provides the most versatility anyone within the program. His lack of recruitment is especially confusing, considering most skilled, athletic, 6-foot-4 wing/forwards tend to receive a ton of attention. Add in his incredibly consistent production, and it simply doesn’t make sense. Pettaway’s IQ, size, and well-rounded skillset make him somewhat of a matchup problem for various different opponents. He’s an excellent rebounder with the ability to reliably push the break and make decisions with the ball in his hands, both as a scorer and playmaker. Pettaway creates well for himself and others, and understands how to apply downhill pressure with regularity. He’s also a quality defender with a high motor, nice anticipation instincts, and the ability to actively toggle between multiple positions. Like Taylor, Pettaway should see a definite boost in his recruitment going forward. “
Since then, Pettaway and his cohorts with Raising Young Men have only continued to impress throughout the travel ball season. He’s a long, wiry, versatile wing/forward prospect with a nice motor, useful athleticism, and quality skill for his size. Pettaway can initiate the offense or operate without the ball in his hands, able to find success in both areas. He moves well as a cutter and consistently finds opportunities in transition. Pettaway is an excellent rebounder with the necessary ability to push the break in transition and make plays as a decision-maker. He can shoot the ball but prefers to battle inside and finish through contact. Pettaway also displays quality vision and the understanding of how to outwork opponents with his defensive presence. Though his recruitment doesn’t match his nonstop production, folks should expect to see Pettaway gaining traction with college coaches very soon.