NAME TO KNOW:
6’2” Junior Alexander Petrie (St. Christopher’s – VA)
PLAYER: Alexander Petrie
TWITTER: @apetrie_99
CLASS: 2017
HEIGHT and WEIGHT: 6’2” 190lbs
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: St. Christopher’s School (Richmond, VA)
HIGH SCHOOL STATISTICS: 17 Points, 4 Assists, & 3 Rebounds per game (40% from 3-point range)
AAU PROGRAM: Team Loaded Virginia (16U)
GPA: 3.4
THOUGHTS ON PETRIE:
Over the past decade, Richmond, Virginia has been known to produce some of the Commonwealth’s most highly regarded players. Whether it’s the VHSL, or the VISAA, people can expect the competition in the 804 to be flat-out electric. When our Phenom Hoop Report team began branching out into Virginia a few years back, we immediately became intrigued. We were shocked to see the unreal amount of talent that the Old Dominion State had to offer.
When the VISAA State Tournament rolled around late last February, we instantly knew it would be the perfect opportunity to get a full-on evaluation of a few kids we had questions about. The second we stepped foot into Virginia State University for the first VISAA D1 Semifinal game between Cape Henry Collegiate and St. Christopher’s, one player immediately caught our attention; Alexander Petrie.
Right from the start, Petrie came out guns blazing. Bucket after bucket, dish after dish, the Saints shifty PG seemed absolutely unstoppable. Petrie is the type of player that gets the job done at all levels. He has limitless range, ferocious ball handling ability, and an insanely gifted basketball IQ. We were shocked to see a kid of his age possess such an incredible amount of raw talent on the offensive side of the floor. Whenever the defense double-teamed and things became hectic, Petrie regrouped, scanned the floor, and continuously found an open man. He was smart, confident, and eager to make his name known.
Defensively, Petrie was just as impressive. After watching Rice commit Marcus Evans battle in the earlier rounds, we initially thought Petrie would struggle, but after a few possessions, it was easy to tell this young gun wasn’t going to go down without a fight. He played tight on-ball defense, forced several turnovers, and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Evans might have had the size advantage, and he may have been a tad bit quicker, but Petrie had the heart and determination. He literally blew us off our feet.
After a long, hard-fought battle, the St. Christopher’s Saints ended up losing 75-61 in one of the most intense playoff games we have ever witnessed. Petrie finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and a PHR Virginia Top 80 Camp invite following his heroic efforts he displayed throughout the tournament. Over the course of the summer, Petrie received interest from several high-major D1 programs, and caught the attention of many scouts around the area. If he can slightly improve his stamina and work on a few additional pieces to his overall game, Petrie has the potential to be a star in the coming years. But keep in mind; he’s only a junior. Look for Saints HC Hamill Jones to have Petrie and his squad competing for a title this year.