READING, Pa. – Tafari Whittingham has yet to set foot inside Lincoln HS or even venture into Coney Island, but the 6-foot-7 rising senior already speaks like a Railsplitter.
Confident in his abilities and that of his future team, the Connecticut native talked of reaching Madison Square Garden. When reminded of possible roadblocks such as South Shore, Boys & Girls and Thomas Jefferson in his way, Whittingham rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.
“I want my senior year to be memorable and make it to Madison Square Garden, where the bright lights are,” he said during Hoop Group Elite Camp Session III at Albright College. “I love New York City style of play.”
Yeah, he’ll fit in just fine with coach Dwayne (Tiny) Morton’s crew who have made the Garden their home away from home over the last decade.
The athletically gifted forward with a quick first step and standout finishing ability will spend his senior year in Coney Island. He will live with his advisor, Bernard Bowen, in Harlem, giving Lincoln much-needed size and athleticism in the paint after it lost Kamari Murphy and Jordan Dickerson from last year’s runner-up.
“Tiny has built that program into a national powerhouse,” Bowen said. “He’ll have a chance to play against good competition and showcase himself on the highest level. It was an opportunity for him to get with a good coach and a great foundation with Tiny.”
Whittingham wanted the opportunity to play against top competition and after a summer with Morton’s Juice All-Stars, felt Lincoln was the perfect place to play. He developed a bond with Morton and several other Railsplitters. The presence of dynamic guard Isaiah Whitehead, one of the top players in the Class of 2014, was an added bonus, of course.
“Me and Isaiah play really good together,” he said. “I like playing with him. He’s good and he’s gonna get a lot better. From my experience during the AAU season, he sets me up in good position for dunks and easy shots.”
Though he grew up in Connecticut and attended Stratford last year, Whittingham has spent a lot of time in New York City, though he has never been to Coney Island before. He became good friends with Harlem native and incoming Arizona freshman Sidiki Johnson at a young age and isn’t worried about the transition to Brooklyn.
“I can adjust to change because I travel so much for basketball,” he said.
Whittingham can do a little bit of everything. Though a lithe 6-foot-7, his impressive leaping ability makes up for his slim physique, he runs the court well and can finish against taller, strong defenders. He’s already drawn significant Division I interest, from mid-majors such as Dayton, Albany, Siena, Hofstra and Iona.
“He’s a terrific athlete,” one Division I head coach involved in his recruiting said. “He’s a long, rangy, aggressive and versatile forward.”
He’ll fit well with what should be an up-and-down attack featuring Whitehead, point guard Anthony Williams, who averaged 24 points per for the JV last year, Shaquille Davis and other talented guards and wings.
Reminded Brooklyn AA is arguably the best division in the city and how he would adjust against the challenge, he seemed unimpressed.
“I’m not worried about that,” Whittingham said. “I’m hoping to go to MSG and win a ring.”
He already has the right attitude.