As a senior at Montverde Academy, Michael Devoe’s play was overshadowed. Devoe scored 14.7 points per game for the No. 1 high school team in the country and led Montverde in 3-pointers and field goal percentage. But the world’s focus was on RJ Barrett, the nation’s No. 1 recruit, not Devoe.

Every practice, Devoe would face ESPN top-100 recruits like Barrett, Andrew Nembhard and Filip Petrusev. Devoe was just another top player on head coach Kevin Boyle’s squad, constantly held to the standard of the nation’s best talent without the notoriety of an elite prospect.

“(Boyle) expects excellence from you,” Devoe said, “I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Now a freshman at Georgia Tech (9-6, 1-1 Atlantic Coast), Devoe has become a key cog for the Yellow Jackets. Devoe is averaging 9.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. As his role in GT’s offense has been elevated — playing more than 34 minutes in the team’s last three games — his scoring has followed. Devoe has scored in double digits four of the last five games. Devoe leads Georgia Tech into the Carrier Dome on Saturday to play a streaking Syracuse (11-4, 2-0). But his early collegiate success wouldn’t have come without the in-house competition he faced at Montverde.

“He belongs,” Georgia Tech’s leading scorer Jose Alvarado said. “He’s taken on a big role on a young team.”

Danny Karnik | Georgia Tech Athletics

After spending three years at Oak Ridge (Florida) High School, Devoe transferred to Montverde for the opportunity to play a national schedule. As ESPN’s No. 45 recruit in the 2018 class, he wanted to go to Montverde to prepare him to play future collegiate superstars.

In his first season, Montverde quickly ascended as the nation’s top team.  Games were nationally televised on ESPN, something he didn’t get at Oak Ridge. But the attention was centered around Barrett, who had commited to Duke.

The program aimed to create an easy transition from high school to college hoops with practice routines complete with three sessions a day and lifting. Under Boyle, the program has coached NBA players including Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and D’Angelo Russell, gaining him respect around the college landscape.

“(Boyle) prepares guys not only for the ACC but all higher levels of basketball,” Duke’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “I’m a big Kevin Boyle fan.”

Montverde ended the 2017-2018 season with a 35-0 record and a GEICO High School National title. And Devoe decided to attend Georgia Tech over USC, Clemson, Wake Forest and Connecticut.

GT’s head coach Josh Pastner covets players who cut hard and play defense with a high motor, Devoe said. That was no problem for the incoming freshmen, who was accustomed to squaring up with Barrett and other top high school recruits regularly.

But there was still a transition. While Devoe was primarily recruited for his potential to make flashy plays, he needed to buy-in on the 50-50 plays — taking charges, fighting for rebounds, and diving for loose balls. Game-after-game, he slowly did.  

“He’s gone from playing cool to not playing cool,” Pastner said of Devoe’s recent play. “He’s grimy, he’s got a toughness about him, and it might not look real cool but it makes him that much more of a better player.”

His growth showed in his ACC home debut against Wake Forest. Three minutes into the first half, Devoe stole the ball on the other end that set up an easy transition finish for James Banks III.

Devoe pushed the offensive glass, even at 6-foot-4, and pressed on WFU’s guards at the other end. He finished with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists, and the Yellow Jackets won their first conference game in the freshman’s best all-around game of the season.

Devoe’s still learning midway through his first collegiate season, he said, and his play against the Demon Deacons was another sign of his progression. But his early success only 15 games into his tenure at Georgia Tech is a glimpse of what Montverde prepared him to do.

“In my mind he’s not a freshman anymore,” Alvarado said. “He’s playing like he’s been here before.”

Published on January 11, 2019 at 8:32 pm

Contact Tim: tnolan@syr.edu