SPRINGDALE — Terence Pierce said Carmelo Anthony is the player he most patterns his game after.
But he can’t decide if it’s because he’s a cold-blooded scorer like the New York Knicks superstar, or that their defensive deficiencies are a better comparison.
“Probably a little of both,” Gravette boys basketball coach Dustin Peters joked.
PROFILE
TERENCE PIERCE
ALL-NWA MEDIA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR SCHOOL: Gravette HEIGHT: 6-3 CLASS: Senior NOTABLE: Set the career scoring record at Gravette with 1,975 points. … Twice scored more than 40 points in a game this season. … Averaged 25.9 points per game for the Lions. … Averaged 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. … Was named All-NWA Media Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore.
Pierce, a 6-foot-3 senior, certainly put up Carmelo-type offensive numbers over his three-year career. He fi nished as the school’s all-time leader in career points (1,975) and 3-pointers made. His impact on the varsity was almost immediate as he scored 26 points in his first varsity start as a sophomore, and hit game-tying and game-winning 3-point shots in the regional tournament that sent the Lions to the state tournament.
This season he averaged 25.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, earning All-NWA Media Boys Player of the Year honors for schools in Class 5A and below.
“This is not something you think can happen,” Pierce said of his off ensive records. “I knew if I worked hard that I had the potential, but really it’s been a great ride.”
Pierce has narrowed his college choices to Harding University or Southeastern Oklahoma State. He said he will likely make a decision after the Division II national tournament in a couple of weeks.
Whoever gets his name on a letter of intent will be getting a deadly shooter capable of racking up points in a hurry. Over his three-year career, he drained 234 3-point shots, including 86 this season.
Twice this season Pierce scored more than 40 points in a game, the first against Roland, Okla., and then later in a 4A-1 Conference game against Berryville, where he rained in 3-pointers.
“Against Roland, I was like 18-of-18 or something at the free-throw line,” Pierce said. “Then against Berryville, it was just one of those games. I hit eight 3s. I was pulling up right as I crossed halfcourt and it was just one of those nights. Most of the shots were terrible shots, but they went in.”
Peters said he knew when Pierce was an eighth-grader that he could be a special player.
“We probably should have moved him up as a ninthgrader,” Peters said. “He’s always had a scorer’s mentality. He’s one of those players who can miss 3-4-5 shots and it doesn’t bother him. He knows he’s going to hit the next one.”
Pierce may have caught teams off-guard as a sophomore, but the past two seasons he has seen every type of defense imaginable to try and slow his scoring down.
Fellow senior Otto Troutner benefited from the focus on Pierce and averaged around 18 points per game, many of those coming off passes from Pierce.
“Terence sacrificed a lot this year because Otto gave us that other scoring option that we needed,” Peters said. “Terence’s assists were up this year because of it. He became a more well-rounded player. His rebounding also improved.”
Pierce said he was going to miss the rivalries and competitiveness the most as he moves on. The close proximity of the Lions’ rivals, like Gentry, Pea Ridge, Farmington and others made for intense games, he said.
“In 4A you have these rivalries. You’ll have those chippy games,” he said. “I’m going to miss all the emotion that goes into those games.”