by Alex Schwartz

Who's the best player in the class of 2010? Jeremy Tyler? Josh Smith? Tristan Thompson? Doron Lamb? Maybe you think it's one of those players, and maybe you don't, but either way I'll bet you didn't say Tony Chenault of Neumann-Goretti (PA). The 6'0 point guard, though, was the most hyped player in the class for quite some time. In fact, entering high school, Chenault was seemingly the consensus top-ranked baller in the class of 2010. Since then, Chenault has faded a bit, but is still an immensely talented player. Other players just caught up and he stopped growing. Regardless of rank or hype, Chenault was still good enough to be one of the most sought after players in New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania area, with colleges from all over the Eastern part of America showing interest. Back on August 4, Chenault made his college decision, giving a verbal commitment to Wake Forest. Five days later I caught up with Tony at the Summer Shootout at Allentown High School (NJ).

"[It's a] great school. They [are] known for producing great point guards like Chris Paul. They let their players play . . . [and are in] one of the best conferences in the country," said Chenault as to why he picked Wake, an ACC power in the 21st century. I inquired of the quick floor leader if the academic prestige of Wake Forest played a part in his decision: "Yeah, they got one of the best academic institutions in the country." I also asked the Philly stud if he wanted to leave the area, and he said, "yeah, I wanted to . . . get away from home and see something different." He was considering a Big Five school, Villanova, along with Marquette, Pitt, Virginia, and Indiana, before picking the Demon Deacons.

Tony lists "getting . . . in the lane, finding [his] teammates, and [his] pull-up jump-shot" as the strongest points of his game. He displayed all of this in the four games I saw Neumann-Goretti play at the Summer Shootout. Although he says his pull-up jumper is one of his strongest points, Tony realizes that it still needs improvement. "[I need to] work no my range and my jump-shot and I got to be a little bit more vocal," said Chenault of what he needs to work on the most.

Running the point for Neumann-Goretti, a traditional Northeast powerhouse is no easy task and it takes a player who plays "like a Deron Williams" to do it successfully, which Tony certainly does. It was Chenault who said that he plays like Williams. He also says the Utah Jazz star is he favorite player. The rising junior is a great player with a lot of talent, regardless of what scouts, rankings, or anyone else says. On rankings, Tony says that they are "biased [because it's] . . . what people think about you." No matter where Tony Chenault is—or was—ranked, one thing is clear: the kid can play ball, and play it well.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/.