Nationally-ranked University School started fast, busting out to a 20-6 advantage, and ran past Westminster Academy, 87-66, Thursday in the 2018 South Florida Shootout at Nova Southeastern University.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was sitting courtside Thursday to watch 2019 Blue Devils 6-foot-10 commit Vernon Carey Jr. and 6-8 2020 star Scottie Barnes.
Carey verbally committed to Duke at University School last week, selecting the Blue Devils over Michigan State and North Carolina.
"It was pretty cool," Carey said of playing with Krzyzewski in the front row.
Barnes and Carey had impressive games in front of Coach K.
Barnes, one of the top prospects nationally in the 2020 class, posted a double-double with 29 points and 14 assists. He drilled three 3-pointers on the way to 17 points in the first half to allow the Sharks to build a 39-27 halftime advantage.
Carey finished with 24 points (15 in the second half) and 8 rebounds.
Junior Roger McFarlane added 11 points for University School and freshman Jett Howard had 10.
After just one 3-pointer in the first half, Westminster Academy senior guards Chase Johnston and Sam Griffin responded by connecting on nine 3s in the second half.
Johnston, who has signed with Purdue Fort Wayne, canned six 3-pointers in the second half and had seven for the game. He finished with 22 points.
Griffin — a Texas Arlington signee — also finished with 22 points, including three 3s. Johnston and Griffin scored all but two of the Lions' points in the second half.
Westminster senior big man Anthony Atkinson had an impressive first half with 14 points. He did not score over the final two quarters and fouled out.
University School received a major boost with the addition of senior guard Zay Flowers off the football team.
Flowers finished with just 2 points vs WA, but he provides experience — which includes key minutes in last year's GEICO Nationals — and plays excellent pressure defense.
Flowers is a Division I prospect in football with offers including Boston College, Kansas State, N.C. State, Nebraska and South Carolina.
University School (6-0) heads to the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers next week. The Sharks will open vs. St. Louis Vashon on Tuesday. The tournament runs through Saturday Dec. 22.
Westminster Academy (8-1) will be playing in the Kreul Classic in Coral Springs next week. The Lions open up vs. Tampa Hillsborough on Thursday Dec. 20.