2007 Boys Junior Varsity Basketball Athlete of the Week

Nathan Pendergrass (week 9)

Nathan Pendergrass isn’t that tall, isn’t that fast, and isn’t that quick. Did we mention he can’t jump, either.

He can ball, though, as opponents are finding out with regularity.

Pendergrass overcomes his physical shortcomings with a strong mental game, uncanny instincts, his patented spin dribble and a scorer’s mentality. All of the above were on display again this week as Pendergrass lit up 21^st Century for a season-high 27 points in a 67-65 loss and followed with a 14-point performance in a 39-31 victory over Grace.

He averaged 20.5 points per game in those two games, earning Player of the Week honors once again.

“We pick on Georgia (Pendergrass) a lot about a lot of things, but he’s good; he can play,” Temple JV coach Robert Hetrick. “We kid him about how he likes to score. . . Coach Alexander kiddingly calls him the White Hole. . .but he has to score for us to win. Ever since Chris (Rice) left, he’s been real consistent for us.”

Pendergrass, who is averaging a team-high 13.3 points per game, has scored in double digits in 11 of Temple’s 18 games while helping the Crusaders compile a 12-6 record. He is averaging 18 points per game over the last five games, including the season-high 29-point outburst in the narrow loss at 21^st Century.

A Georgia native, Pendergrass is in his first year at Temple.

“He’s been a major addition,” Hetrick said. “We’re glad he chose to come to Temple. Not only is he a good player, he’s a good kid.”