It is safe to say that there were some NBA players who viewed the Orlando Bubble as a chance to make their mark and further show that they are capable of making significant contributions to their team’s success.
One of those players who has done just that is former Apple Valley High School boys’ basketball standout Gary Trent Jr.
Trent, a 6’6” guard, is in his second NBA season as a member of the Portland Trailblazers after an outstanding freshman season at Duke University during the 2017-2018 season. He was in the Blazers’ rotation during the regular season before the NBA was shut down by COVID-19 in March.
When the league reopened in the Orlando Bubble, Trent averaged 18 points per game while complimenting outstanding performances by teammates Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, helping the Blazers capture the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference.
Before competing in his first and only collegiate season for Duke, Trent played his first four years of prep ball at Apple Valley High School before transferring his senior year to Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, California).
While at Apple Valley he teamed with former Duke and current Memphis Grizzlies NBA player Tyus Jones to win the Class 4A state championship as an eighth grader in 2013. He played as well with Jones’ younger brother Tre Jones, who also played at Duke, during his sophomore season in 2015, averaging 21.5 points per game.
He made the jump to the NBA after averaging 14.9 points at Duke, was the 37th overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Sacramento Kings, and was traded to Portland.
After playing just 15 games as a rookie and averaging 2.7 points per game, Trent played in 61games this past season, scoring 8.9 points per contest.
Based on his performance during the Orlando Bubble, it’s evident that he saw an opportunity and made the most of it.
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