Arizona Wildcats signee Brandon Ashley, fresh off an appearance in the McDonald’s All-American Game, led his team to the championship of the ESPNHS National High School Invitational on Saturday.
Ashley, a 6-foot-8 forward, fueled a big second-half comeback for Findlay Prep of Henderson, Nev., scoring 25 of his 31 points after halftime. Findlay rallied to beat Montverde (Fla.) Academy 86-83 in overtime.
“The one question I had for Brandon was, ‘What the hell were you waiting for?’” a joking Findlay Prep coach Mike Peck was quoted as saying by USA Today. “He was the Brandon Ashley he’s supposed to be. He put the cape on and the other guys went along and played their part.”
Findlay, also the alma mater of Arizona freshman guard Nick Johnson, finished the season 32-1.
Ashley scored 15 points in the fourth quarter. His final pair of points in the period came from the free throw line with 20.5 seconds left to tie the game. Ashley was 13 of 14 from the foul line.
“I wasn’t demanding the ball,” Ashley said in the USA Today about the first half.
“My teammates were feeding me because they noticed the hot hand and I was getting to the free throw line. There were points where they could have taken the shot but they kept giving me the ball.”
Ashley and UA signee Grant Jerrett played in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago on Wednesday. Ashley has six points and 10 rebounds in 15 minutes for the West squad. Jerrett, a 6-10 forward, started for the West, with eight points and two boards in 16 minutes.