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Will Lovings-Watts has heard that Putnam Science Academy has a really good basketball program and that the Mustangs have won three national titles.
But it was a call to a close friend in Miami that told Lovings-Watts all he needed to know, that his decision to do a postgrad year at PSA was the right choice.
“I’m good friends with Jayden Brewer who plays at Florida International University with a couple of former PSA guys (Arturo Dean and DayDay Gittens), so I talked to them.
" They told me it’s a great place and it’s definitely going to get me ready for the Division I level. That was great to hear, it really let me know that I’ve made the right decision.”
Lovings-Watts, a 6-foot, 5-inch combo guard out of Jeffersonville, Ind., originally committed to Drake University, but ultimately felt like he was not ready athletically or academically.
He decommitted in June and his coach started talking to him about PSA.
“I’m super excited to get started in Putnam,” Lovings-Watts said.
“I feel like this year will really help me get everything right – my body, my academics – so I can reach the next level.
"That, and bringing another championship to Putnam, is the goal.”
Lovings-Watts, whose favorite player is Kevin Durant, is smooth in transition and getting to the basket, and his shot and athleticism have improved over the last year-plus, according to scouting reports.
He’s got long arms that help him on both sides of the court, and he loves to get after it on defense.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” he said.
“I always want to be on the other team’s best player, big or small, so I can make my game more versatile by guarding guards and bigs.”
Lovings-Watts said being so far from home makes him a little anxious but knows “I can call and they’re right there for me and they’ll be whatever I need.
Other than that, I’m just ready to get there and meet great players who play the same game that I love.
“I love the competition. When you’re on the court, there’s the chatter on the court, in the crowd.
"I just love competing and everything around it. I have videos of me when I was in second grade, third grade, playing older kids and just talking it up to them. Basketball has just been in by blood forever it feels like.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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