Local hoops star invited to elite Paul Pierce camp

CHERRYVILLE — Cherryville’s Terry Whisnant doesn’t know much about the Paul Pierce Skills Academy yet, but one thing he does know: it’s a major event.

Whisnant is one of 15 high school shooting guards across the nation invited to the three-day training camp led by Pierce, the Boston Celtics star who helped his team reach the NBA finals this season. The camp begins Sunday in Chicago.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Whisnant, who committed to Florida State in April. “It’s a great opportunity. I’m just thankful I get this opportunity.”

The camp is one of four position-specific NIKE Skills Academies. At each location, athletes receive personal instruction from the host NBA athlete and an elite group of high school and NBA coaches. The academies focus on strength and conditioning and skill development. The NBA players and coaches also share off-the-court advice with the campers.

“We’re excited for him,” Cherryville coach Scott Harrill said. “We think this will help him expand his game even more.”

All campers from the position-specific academies then join together at the LeBron James Skills Academy July 5-7 in Akron, Ohio. The top 30 players from the LeBron Academy will then be invited to the NIKE Global Challenge in Beaverton, Ore.

Whisnant, a 6-foot-3, 174-pound rising senior, said he doesn’t need to make any special preparations for the camp. He has already been busy this summer with his AAU team and a high school summer league at Cherryville.

“I’m just shooting around, just keeping in shape,” he said. “I’ll just go up there and do what I do best.”

Whisnant will make the trip to Chicago alone, something that perhaps causes him more anxiety than the camp itself. “But it’ll help me grow up a little bit,” he said.

Whisnant was named Gazette player of the year this past season after scoring an area-best 27.5 points per game and developing a reputation as the area’s best outside shooter. He made nearly 51 percent of his 3-point attempts and also averaged 7.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Although his commitment to Florida State is non-binding, Whisnant reiterated Thursday that his decision is firm. He plans on signing a national letter of intent on Nov. 10, the first day of the early signing period.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.