East Carolina head basketball coach Jeff Lebo saw enough potential in Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith High School stalwart Justin Whatley to extend a scholarship two weeks ago. Whatley responded to Lebo’s evaluation this week by accepting the offer and plotting a college hoops career with the Pirates.

After moving to the Tidewater area last year from McAlester, OK, according to The Virginian-Pilot, the 6-8 forward played an important role for a stellar Oscar Smith team, averaging eight points and eight rebounds in the Tigers’ run to the Monitor-Merrimac Conference regular season and tournament championships.

Lebo visited Oscar Smith practice sessions on two occasions to get a first-hand look at Whatley’s skills, according to Tigers coach LaVar Griffin as reported by The Virginian-Pilot.

Whatley joins 6-6 small forward Kevin “K.J.” Davis from nearby Portsmouth (VA) Norcom High School in ECU’s recruiting class of 2017-18. Davis pledged to the Pirates last August.

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