INEZ, Ky. -- Living in the mountainous region of Eastern Kentucky watching his older brother, Dylan James - who went on to play at the University of Pikeville, go through the recruiting process, Trey James, (11.5 ppg/ 60.4% from the field/ 54.0% from the FT line/ 337 Rebounds/ 258 blocks last season) was patiently awaiting his time to be a college recruit. Early in spring of 2017, his dreams began to come alive. Standing at 6’10 in the eighth grade, Trey made a name for himself in his hometown as a relentless shot blocker and rebounder playing on varsity at Sheldon Clark HS in Inez, Ky. When I first met Trey, I discovered quickly he had an introverted personality, as he was very soft-spoken and a little meek - a gentle giant so to speak. His game, at the time, reflected his personality as well. He wasn’t very physical, and wouldn’t use his size to dominate smaller opponents. In his mind he wanted to play ball but didn’t want to hurt anyone, or at least that’s how he felt about it then. Today, is a completely different story. Flash forward to the present day, and he has become a physical banger in the post and a relentless work-a-holic. His eyes were opened in the summer of 2017 when he attended the prestigious John Lucas International Camp in Houston, TX followed by the Cross Roads Elite Camp in Indianapolis, IN and finished up the gauntlet with the CP3 camp in Winston Salem, NC where in all settings he competed against the top 2021 prospects in the country. Not to mention he had experience playing some 17U for his AAU team. Trey started playing on the 2021 Manimal squad the first year then played up on the 17u squad this past summer and college coaches have taken notice of the big fella.

As follows is our Q+A with Trey James.

Q: What all schools are recruiting you now?

A: WVU, UL, KY, Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana, Xavier, WKU, Marshall, Morehead State, & NKU. I have been invited to Big Blue Madness this year also.

Q: Have you been on any unofficial visits?

A: Yes, I have been to WVU, UL, Xavier, Indiana, WKU, Marshall, Morehead, and NKU.

Q. Do you have any visits planned for this fall?

A. Yes, we plan to attend Big Blue Madness and visit Ohio State and Purdue.

Q. I know there’s time before AAU, but do you know which team you will play with next spring/summer?

A. Yes, 17u Team Manimal

Q. Do you have a dream school you would like to attend?

A. My dream school is one where I can get a good education, fit in the system, and contribute.

Q. Is there any school that you would not want to attend due to distance?

A. No. I am not limited by boundaries. To play at a high level that’s a good fit I would travel far.

Q. Do you know what you want to study once you get to college?

A. Yes, Forensic Science.

Q. Would you care to tell me some of your goals?

A. My goals are to obtain a D1 scholarship, be able to contribute for 4 years, and earn a college degree.

Q. In your own words, tell me what you think your strengths are?

A. I think my ability to block shots with either hand, rebounding, court vision, running the floor, and playing hard all the time.

Q. OK, now your weaknesses?

A. Ball handling, and perimeter shooting.

Q. What have you been working on the most to improve your game?

A. Post moves, face up moves in the post and mid-range areas, outside shot, and playing more off the bounce.

Q. Last thing, what are some things you like to do in your free time?

A. Read, play Xbox, and ride ATV’s.

Trey will begin his sophomore campaign in the fall with Sheldon Clark High School in Inez, Ky. We look forward to watching him as he progresses and pursues his dreams to play basketball at the collegiate level. He has a chance to make significant progress towards the all-time shot blocking record for the state of Kentucky.