Harvard-Westlake’s Trent Perry shines in big hoop moments

On the finish of a triple-overtime thriller, when gamers from each groups had been bodily and emotionally exhausted and followers from Torrance Bishop Montgomery had expended all their power and resourcefulness rooting in opposition to Studio Metropolis Harvard-Westlake final month, there stood smiling junior level guard Trent Perry providing a pleasant goodbye wave to his new-found admirers.

It was a masterful response, all good-natured and playful, by no means reaching the extent of taunting. It was classic Perry, an adolescent who generally turns into nervous in school giving a speech in entrance of 15 classmates however exudes confidence, calmness and luxury performing earlier than tons of on a basketball courtroom.

“It’s all actual. It’s all me,” he stated of his expressions. “No matter you see on the courtroom, it’s coming from ardour, it’s coming from love.”

With a curly brown afro and enamel so excellent he may obtain an NIL deal for his favourite toothpaste, Perry is a charismatic courtroom presence who lifts teammates and assessments the resolve of opposing followers attempting to disrupt his give attention to having enjoyable.

As a participant, the 6-foot-4 Perry has develop into a revelation for the 29-1 Wolverines, averaging 16.6 factors, 6.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He entered final summer time with one scholarship supply. Now he’s as much as 14 and rising, with UCLA the most recent to make a suggestion this previous week.

Trent Perry offers a hug to Brady Dunlan after Harvard-Westlake’s double-overtime win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Occasions)

“Via the years, I’ve stored my head down and stored working,” he stated. “I simply must hold enhancing. It doesn’t cease for me.”

Each week, Perry seemingly provides a brand new dimension to his sport. His physicality retains enhancing, permitting him to drive, take up contact down the lane and end. His three-point taking pictures vary is increasing. His midrange jumper is flourishing. He’s making free throws at clutch moments. All of the whereas he’s doing it with a smile and a consolation degree not often seen at the highschool degree. It’s as if he had been an actor performing earlier than an viewers of tons of and feeling relaxed as they watch him play his function. There’s no shyness, no hesitation and no reluctance to embrace the moments.

“Nobody has advised me to behave a sure approach,” he stated. “It’s pure.”

Physique language has develop into an vital a part of sports activities tradition. Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo stated what Perry presents is invaluable in his positiveness and talent to have enjoyable throughout stress instances.

“It’s enormous,” Rebibo stated. “It’s one thing he’s labored on. It’s one thing we discuss in apply and one thing we deal with on a regular basis. The way you deal with unhealthy performs, the way you deal with if you lose a drill. Are you going to pout, sulk, drop your shoulders and drop your head or are you going to maintain your head up and repair it?

Harvard-Westlake level guard Trent Perry celebrates being fouled on a basket throughout his group’s double-overtime win over Notre-Dame.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Occasions)

“I feel he embraces the second. He embraces the chance forward. Generally you get misplaced within the second when you’re not mature. He’s a mature child. I bear in mind a pair faculty coaches in the summertime had been like, ‘Hey, nice sport. You scored XYZ.’ He was, ‘Coach, I had eight rebounds and 9 assists. How about that?’ That was his response. Seeing that could be a testomony to his upbringing, his character, his buy-in. Most children don’t purchase in and wish to be a pass-first level guard when they’re as gifted a scorer as he’s. He’s purchased in, ‘What does the group want me to do?’ ”

So what’s the story behind Perry’s facial expressions?

“I feel it’s a mixture of my coach and my dad as a result of they at all times say be optimistic, present enthusiasm if you’re enjoying,” he stated. “I really feel at any time when I’m doing these type of issues, I’m having success on the courtroom, whether or not scoring or getting my teammates concerned.”

Trent Perry of Harvard-Westlake takes a charging foul.

(Nick Koza)

Perry is across the ball so usually and expressing himself a lot that photographers discover him all over the place on their digital reminiscence card after video games. He was the one hugging teammate Brady Dunlap after Harvard-Westlake’s double-overtime win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. He was waving to Harvard-Westlake college students after making a 3 simply earlier than halftime within the Mission League event closing. He was the one taking a cost in one other sport.

If solely opponents can discover a method to make Perry give a speech they may have the ability to trigger some discomfort.

“It’s robust giving a speech in entrance of a category,” he stated with a smile.