Centennial Knights Alumni Playing in College (... and the Pros ...)
Centennial has a great basketball history that started shortly after the doors opened and continue today with an active Junior Program and a High School program that competes each year with teams in the highly talented Atlanta area. If you are not familiar with the history of Centennial Basketball and the legacy that the former teams and players have created - take some time to read the stories of these former players. There are stories of some tremendous talent as well as stories of tremendous determination, hard work, and commitment required to make it to the next level (in basketball and in life) Many have gone on to help their new schools create new stories at the collegiate level as well.
Note to current and future Centennial players - If you read through these short basketball biographies - it will become apparent that these brief stories show a level of hard work and commitment to overcome adversities required to be successful in life. Not everyone can be an All American out of high school. But many dreams can be achieved through dedication and hard work over an extended period of time. True for sports. True for academics. True for life.
The following is a listing of Centennial Basketball alumni that have gone on to play in college and the pros. If we are missing anyone or if you have an update for one of the players - please e-mail centennial.knights.basketball@gmail.com with the updated info.
"Hey Lorenzo - I think that that this might be bigger than the Centennial Gym!"
Former Centennial Basketball teammates Rob Johnson (Norfolk State #1) and Lorenzo Brown (NC State #2) face each other in NCAA Division I regular season competition. Both players would receive awards in their respective conference and both players would help their teams reach the NCAA tournament making them the first Centennial players to play in March Madness (but not the last....). Interested in learning more?...keep reading the stories below...
Class of 2001 - Steve Taylor
Grambling University - D1
Steves was Centennial's first D1 basketball signee.
Class 2004 - Joshua Edwards
King University DII (2005-2008)
Class 2005 – Jack Richey
Shorter College DIII
2005-2006 SSAC Conference Freshman of the Year
Class 2007 - Alex Richey
Oglethorpe University DIII (2008-2001)
Alex is now the head women’s basketball coach at Oglethorpe University.
The 2017-18 season was a banner year for the Oglethorpe women’s basketball program under the guidance of Alex Richey, who completed his fourth year at the helm of the program with a 21-8 record. The Stormy Petrels won both the SAA regular season title and the SAA championship, clinching the first team conference championship in any women’s sport for Oglethorpe University in its SAA history. The team's berth in the NCAA tournament was the program's first since the 2008-09 season,
For his contributions to the program in 2017-18, Coach Richey was named SAA Coach of the Year.
Class of 2008 - Rob Johnson
Marist and Norfolk State - D1
In college, Rob was named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team and helped Norfolk to win the conference title in 2012. After winning the MEAC conference title, Rob helped Norfolk University pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history by upsetting the #2 seed Missouri in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. Rob was also a member of the MEAC All-Academic Team.
Class of 2009 - Lorenzo Brown
North Carolina State University (NC State) - D1
2nd Round Draft Pick - Minnesota Timberwolves
Lorenzo is the first Centennial Basketball player to be drafted and play in the NBA.
High School - Lorenzo averaged 20.8 points as a senior and was named a fourth-team Parade All-American and the Georgia 5A player of the Year. When he graduated on 2009, he was the No. 36 nationally and the No. 7 shooting guard overall by Rivals.com
College - Lorenzo played for NC State from 2010 to 2013. He started all three seasons and led the Wolfpack to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013. As a junior, Brown averaged 12.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in assists with 7.2 per game. At the close of the season, Brown was named second-team All-ACC.
Professional (NBA) - Has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors.
During the 2017-18 season, Lorenzo won the NBA G League Most Valuable Player.
For the 2018-19 season, Lorenzo has been signed by the Toronto Raptors.
Class of 2010 - Devonta White
Georgia State University - D1
College: Finished his career as statistically one of the best players in the history of Georgia State basketball history . . . Earned All-Sun Belt Third Team honors as a senior . . . Scored 1,393 points, third-most in program history, making 465 field goals, sixth most all-time . . . Dished out 414 assists, third-most in GSU history . . . Played in 119 games, third-most in program history, while making 102 starts, second most . . . Made 336 free throws, fourth-most all-time to go along with a 78.0 free throw percentage, the ninth-best mark . . . Knocked down 127 3-pointers (12th) and took 388 shots from beyond the arc (8th). Became the 17th Panther in program history to score 1,000 points.
High School: Earned a three-star rating from Rivals … A three-year starter for coach Allen Whitehart at Centennial High . . . 2010 second-team all-state honoree in Class AAAAA, Georgia’s largest classification . . . First-team all-region selection in 6-AAAAA, perhaps the state’s toughest region . . . Shared region Player of the Year honors with current teammate Ryan Harrow. . . First-team All-Metro (North Fulton) by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Averaged 17 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game
Class of 2010 - Adrian Rogers
Southern University - D1
High School - As a senior, averaged 17 points, five assists and five rebounds per game en route to Offensive Player of the Year honors… Was a McDonald’s All-American nominee.
College - As a senior Adrian averaged 16.6 points for Southern University. Hit the game-winning jump shot in the SWAC conference title game to lead Southern to a 54-53 win for a conference championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. Scored over 1000 points for Southern University.
Class of 2010 - Tyler Gaskins
Saint Peters University - MAAC Conference - D1
Professional: Correcaminos (Panama)
HIGH SCHOOL: A three-year letter winner on the Centennial boy's basketball team... Served as team captain as a senior... Helped his team to a No. 22 ranking in 2009... Earned the Excalibur Award in 2010
Class of 2010 - Vincent Bailey
Lincoln Memorial University - NCAA DII
Professional: Aix-Maurienne Savoie (France), SC Rasta Vechta (Germany)
High School: Bailey played a pivotal role in leading his team to a 20-10 record and a berth into the Georgia State Tournament during his senior season. His accolades from that season include Roundball Classic All-Tournament Team, First Team All-Region and First Team All-North Fulton County.
College: A four-time All-SAC selection, Bailey is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished players in the over 100-year history of the LMU men's basketball program. He is the all-time leader in career field goal percentage with a 60.8 percent mark, while he is also ranked in the top 10 in career field goals made (627), rebounds (799), blocked shots (82), minutes played (2,451) and points (1,522). During his tenure with the Blue and Gray, the Railsplitters compiled a 106-18 record. The Railsplitters won three SAC regular season titles and two tournament championships in Bailey's illustrious career.
Bailey's senior season (2013-14) is in the conversation for the greatest individual season in program history, as he received South Atlantic Conference and Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year laurels. Bailey culminated his season by being recognized as a First Team All-American by both Daktronics and Division II Bulletin, becoming the program's first player in the NCAA era to earn First Team All-American honors. That season, Bailey averaged 21.5 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading the Railsplitters to a 28-3 record and the SAC regular season and tournament championships.
Professional - Bailey spent the 2014-15 campaign - his first as a professional - with SC Rasta Vechta, averaging 13.4 points, six rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in 25 appearances. The 6-7 power forward shot 53.8 percent from the field and was twice recognized as the German Pro-A Player of the Month. Bailey was voted to the All-German Pro-A second team at the conclusion of the regular season.
Class of 2011 - Malik Wood
Minnesota State University Dragons – NCAA DII – WCHA Conference.
Averaged 9 points and 2 assists a game.
Bismark State College - 2011-12 and 2012-13 (Bismarck State College): Averaged 20.2 points and 6.8 assists per game as a senior...two-time all-conference selection...as a freshman, Wood was named the Region XIII Player of the Year and also earned all-conference honors...was a Division 2 Junior College third-team All-American selection as well. He helped lead Bismarck State College to the nationals a year ago. He averaged 19.5 points and 5.6 assists per game along with a solid 4.8 rebounds per game average.
Class of 2011 - Nathan Harries
Colgate University - D1
High School - As a senior, Nathan he averaged 17.6 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game ... Named a 2011 Georgia Region 6 All-Region player ... Was a four-year varsity letter winner and two-time captain ... Named the 2011 MVP and was awarded the Excalibur Award ... Was a member of the Model UN and National Honors Society.
Class of 2012 - Eric Lynch
Eastern Nazarene College - NCAA DIII
College - Scored over 1000 points for Eastern Nazarene College.
2015-16 All-Commonwealth Coast Conference third team
2014-15 NABC Honors Court
2013-14 All-Commonwealth Coast Conference second team
2012-13 Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of the Week (01/07/13)
Class of 2012 - Charles Pack
Gordon State College
Class of 2012 - Michael Pack
Gordon State College
Class of 2012 - Carlos Hamlet
Toccoa Falls College
Class of 2013 - Christian Lynch
Eastern Nazarene College - NCAA DIII
Class of 2015 - Tre Hansbrough
Tennessee Tech D1
Class of 2015 - Xavier Jackson
VCU - D1
Class of 2016 - Darrian Brown
Southern Wesleyan University DIII
Class of 2017 - Nigel Wilcox
Webster University - DIII