Trey Knight went back east for exposure to a different set of college recruiters among other reasons. But ultimately, he returned to the Bay Area with his college choice as Cal State East Bay Coach Bryan Rooney offered and the 6-foot guard accepted.
A First Team, All Mission Valley Athletic League selection as a Moreau Catholic High senior playing for his father, Frank Knight, he missed earning Most Valuable Player honors by one vote, Knight decided a year at a prep school would be beneficial.
Why The Winchendon School (in Massachusetts)?
"It was another year to get my body right and be prepared for college ball. I wanted the experience away from home at a competitive boarding school."
As for his college decision, "I'm very familiar with the Pioneer basketball program. "I've always heard from Coach Rooney and CSEB. It's just up the hill from Moreau. We visited about three weeks ago with (Assistant) Coach (Mike) Eggleton showing me around campus." Call the close easy for Eggleton.
Asked to describe what he will bring to Coach Rooney's program, Knight offered, "I'm a do-it-all type point who will help to shift the culture and get more wins."
Being the son of not just a coach but a Bay Area icon, Knight has enjoyed much more hoops exposure than most. "I've been listening to my Dad since I was two so I've been around the game a lot. This helps in seeing and interpreting things on the floor." For others coming up, he suggested "playing a lot with older guys and the best players your age. You learn not to do stuff being in those in-game situations."
Kevin Kehoe is the head basketball coach at The Winchendon School and both effusive and insightful in his praise of Knight. "Trey came 3,000 miles away and committed to becoming a phenomenal, elite defender who plays 94-feet of ballhawking defense, subscribing to the strategy that if you can stop the ball, you're in the game."
Knight's Skill Set
"The kid is also something that doesn't exist in basketball today, a point guard from the days of John Stockton, Magic Johnson and Walt Frazier. They were guys who made their teammates better, point guards who ran the offense.
Regarding leadership, Kehoe continued, "Trey is a quiet leader
who shows more by example. He has been a point guard his whole
life, has learned how to lead and is a natural leader, the one way
that will never fail. He talks to his teammates but he's not about
everyone in the gym knowing who the leader is on the team.
As for distributing the ball, "Trey passes the ball to where he
wants his teammates to be, where they will be open. It's like a
quarterback leading a wide receiver in football."
In describing Knight's scoring ability, Kehoe offered, "he has range outside of the arc but he shoots second. Trey creates separation with his strength by putting a big shoulder into a defender, he's 6-foot, 187. We lift at 6:00 a.m. four days a week."
On a more intimate note, Knight tweeted on March 23: "2 years without you big brother but it feels like it’s been 2 centuries. Keep on shinning from above O we love you and miss you dearly." The unfamiliar might be confused, thinking he is referring to a family member and, in a way, he is. Former Moreau player Oscar Frayer died in 2021 car crash while returning home from Grand Canyon University. He and Knight were extremely close.
Asked if he confided in Frayer prior to his college decision, Knight said, "I definitely shared a few words with Oscar, even before I committed. I pray a lot."
Knight wished to thank "God, my parents, my brothers, Shane, Tommy, Josiah, Braxton and Brock, and Oscar" for their unwavering support throughout his journey.
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