June 15, 2009
Abraham suitors growing
Travon Abraham measures out at just 5-foot-8 or so but his competitive spirit is immeasurable. He totaled 14 points a game last season while compiling 95 assists and 50 steals as well as shooting 82% at the foul line. Swafford looks at his protégé and sees a process in place. "Travon is continually evolving and will be a leader this season," the Dragon mentor offered. "He began doing so a little last season. He’s a great kid."
Abraham excels in academics as well as in hoops
Jason Barton, Abraham’s coach with the NorCal Pharoahs club, is in agreement. "Travon is small in stature but big in heart and smarts. He works hard and shows great floor leadership."
The young man himself concurs. "I’m becoming a better leader and talking more on the court."
Barton has even more superlatives about his point: "I’ve known Travon since his freshman year. He gets along with everyone, cares about his teammates and is a great kid on and off the court."
Speaking of away from the hoops world, Abraham carries a 3.2 cumulative grade point average. One of Swafford’s requirements is that his players maintain at least a 3.0 in order to play at Sacramento High so Abraham is exceeding that specification. Unlike many, Abraham is already set on his college major. "It will be computer science."
The backcourter also participated in the recent Reebok Headliner competition in San Francisco and was among the group selected to move on to one of the three national main events: the Reebok All American Camp, the Reebok Breakout Underclass Camp or the Reebok Proving Ground Regional Combine.
Abraham plays big on the court
The Pharoahs will be in Las Vegas come late July and then on to southern California for the Pump get-together so further exposure for Abraham will be forthcoming.
As for suitors, Montana State, Portland, Portland State and Sacramento State have already extended offers with St. Mary’s, Cal, Long Beach State, Rice and Lehigh among those expected to officially join the Abraham fan club. Attending Stanford would be an academic and basketball dream come true for him.
It was basketball from the get-go for Abraham. "My uncle put a basketball in my hands when I was two." The individual he considers as his biggest basketball influence is his godfather Tony Vaughn, who played overseas. "He taught me how to play," Abraham said.
He first came to the sense that basketball could facilitate a college education during middle school. "I was in the seventh grade playing against high school kids and doing pretty well, so I was thinking maybe it’s possible."
Sacramento High will be Chase Tapley-less as he has taken his primetime talent to San Diego State and another Dragon, Chris Avenant, is headed to Northeastern but the cupboard isn’t anywhere near barren. Backcourter Josiah Turner (verbally committed to Arizona State) returns as do bigs Robert Garrett and Will Davis but it will be Abraham’s role to keep the Dragon flock safe from the predators sure to be Dragon-hunting this coming winter.