6-foot-6 Deundrae Perteete Jr. of Salesian Prep is a talent you want on your team. When times get tough and it's easy to get frazzled, he knows what to do to hold the team together. When a particular effort would really help his team, odds are Perteete Jr. will perform it. Call him a glue guy but that's incomplete because he also shoots and works the boards well, displaying a well-rounded game.
Here's Perteete Jr. on his best basketball talents: "I'm pretty good at everything, including rebounding, but my three-point shooting is my strongest skill."
In addition, in the classroom he sports a 4.3 weighted grade point average and Bill Mellis, his Salesian coach, lauds Perteete Jr. as "a great leader with the highest of character." Working as a high level business professional, say in the tech field in Silicon Valley, is an option especially since his plan is to major in business. But right now he isn't sure which direction he wants to head once he obtains his degree.
Additionally, Mellis has placed Perteete Jr. in a leadership role. "I am blessed enough to be a captain." How does he perceive his role? "I help the team stay composed and boost up my teammates."
His choice of a top basketball moment is an intriguing and different one. "I was coached by my Dad in my first two years in high school (at Skyline High). He has coached for 20 years and I like to pick his brain to gain knowledge." His father played at Southwest Minnesota State University, a D2 college. This after two years under Percy Carr at San Jose City College.
His move to Salesian was prompted by his father. "It was his choice" Perteete Jr. explained as stronger, more challenging academics played a large role in the transfer. The annual opportunity to win state isn't a bad by-product. He noted "we've been working with that as our goal since last year."
His answer to ‘A Why Basketball’ question is straight and direct: "I played football, baseball and basketball and basketball is the one I felt most passionate about."
As to who he would like to thank for assistance in his hoops journey, Perteete Jr. said, "my Dad and my Mom, Coach Mellis at Salesian, my AAU coaches and my teammates." One of his AAU teams was the highly regarded Oakland Soldiers.
Perteete Jr. owns an offer from Westmont College located in Montecito, next to Santa Barbara. The Warriors are in the D2 PacWest Conference. Asked about any geographical recruiting parameters, Perteete Jr. said, "It doesn't really matter. It would be cool to stay close to home but a change of scenery might be good. It will come down to what the coach wants and needs from me."
So who can use a talent who can contribute in a number of roles—whatever is needed at that moment—night after night?
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