Xavier Price

5/21/03: Listed as the 6th best prospect in his class, in Illinois. - Chicago Hoops

7/20/00: The "next Darius Miles" may be upon us only months after the original left. Xavier Price, a 6-foot-3 freshman at O'Fallon High, is already the talk of the Southwestern Conference. Price may even be more hyped at a similar age than Miles was four years ago at East St. Louis. Price is ranked No. 2 among freshman-to-be players in Illinois on the highschoolelite.com website. It turns out that Price and Miles are good friends. "Darius is like a member of our family," Price said. "Our families have always known each other. He told me if he could (accomplish what he did), that he was sure I can."

Miles went from the Southwestern Conference to the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft last month. "Xavier has exceptional skills and great instincts, things you can't teach," O'Fallon coach Kevin Kellerman said. "A lot of freshmen will draw back into their shell, but he is not afraid of performing. "He is already being compared to a lot of people, and he may grow to be 6-4 or 6-5. This kid has a lot of raw potential and natural talent. He has shown he can play on the varsity level. "Xavier definitely has the tools to be an impact player as a freshman."

Price can play a shooting guard or either forward position with his muscular and still-developing frame. He is equally at ease facing or playing with his back to the basket. Kellerman said has huge hands. "He holds a basketball like it is a softball," Kellerman said. It gives Price an advantage in his ball-handling.

Price was aware of the ranking. "It's a nice honor, but I don't think there is any extra pressure," he said. "This summer I have been working on my dribbling, my jump shot and attacking more on both offense and defense. "I have grown up playing against older players, including my dad. I learned early." - St Louis Post Dispatch