Brewster Academy basketball continues to be a direct-line to next level
WOLFEBORO, N.H. (BVM) — Settled in along the shoreline of Lake Winnipesaukee, Brewster Academy has turned into a basketball factory for young players in the small town of Wolfeboro. Brewster’s prep boys basketball program has become quite the hot spot for Division I recruiters.
With a roster headlined by 6-foot-7 guard/forward Terrence Clarke, the Bobcats landed four players on ESPN’s top 100 Class of 2020 list and seven on 247 Sports top 300 list in 2019-20.
Clarke, the No. 10 ranked prospect by ESPN and McDonald’s All-American, averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and three assists for the Bobcats. After moving up the ranks, Clarke will play at the University of Kentucky next season.
Along with the highly rated Terrence Clarke, Brewster’s 2019-20 roster featured some of the nation’s top talent in forwards; Kadary Richmond (Syracuse) and Matt Cross (University of Miami), and guards; Demarr Langford (Boston College), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (Minnesota), Marcus Dockery (Maryland), and Javohn Garcia (UMass).
Brewster has also sent 17 players to the NBA with notable names like; Donovan Mitchell, Devonte’ Graham, and Will Barton.
With a resume of some of the top basketball players in the country, Brewster coach Jason Smith has done a great job of putting his program together. Over his last 20 seasons at the helm, Smith has captured seven National Prep Championships and averaged over 30 wins per season.
Last season, the Bobcats made it to the National Prep Championship game after going 34-3.
Part of the reason that Smith has been so successful can be attributed to some of the ideas he’s implemented to get his young players to focus and block out the extra noise. One way he’s done this is by banning media platforms at home games after his negative experience with cameras along the baseline.
In an interview with Larry Vaught of Vaught’s Views, Smith described some of his thoughts on the pressure to score and perform “highlight” plays for players like Terrence Clarke.
“That’s why I do not release stats,” Smith said. “Fans do not see more than scoring and I just don’t want my guys focused on that and I don’t want a guy like Terrence putting pressure on himself to be perfect.”
With a look towards the upcoming season, the Bobcats will have the high-profile, Zaire Wade, joining them. Wade, the well-known son of NBA legend Dwyane Wade, played alongside many of the nation’s top recruits at Sierra Canyon School in California. After a season plagued by injuries with the Trailblazers, Zaire will complete his post-grad year at Brewster.
Zaire will head the Bobcats 2020-21 roster as they aim for another banner, after winning back-to-back National Prep Championships. The Bobcats were crowned co-champions in 2019-20, once the season was shut down because of COVID-19.
