Kodye Pugh might be the second-best class of 2016 recruit in Maryland, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, but the Boys’ Latin (Baltimore) forward has more than the hardwood on his mind.
As Pugh has drawn interest from the Terrapins men’s basketball team and earned scholarship offers from several other distinguished programs thanks to his 6-foot-7 frame and polished floor game, he’s also continued to excel in art classes.
In fact, Pugh has artwork hanging in the high school’s main lobby, and he designed this year’s student planner.
“He comes to class everyday with passion, determination, and a strong work ethic,” Pugh’s art teacher, Sarah Molling, said. “I couldn’t ask for a better student.”
Pugh’s desire to tap into his creativity is part of the reason Boys’ Latin coach Cliff Rees views the junior as a healthy change of pace for his program.
“[He’s] nothing like BL has probably ever seen,” Rees said. “That’s obviously fun to coach. But the unique thing about Kodye is that he is such a phenomenal student and such a gifted artist.”
Kodye Pugh art
Rees isn’t complaining about Pugh’s basketball skills, either. Rivals rates Pugh as the country’s 148th-best player in the class of 2016, and the lanky wing has helped the Lakers compile a 16-5 record through their first 21 games this season.
Pugh’s success and highlights like this block and put-back dunk have lured several coaches to Charm City to watch him play, and he’s been offered scholarships to Georgetown, Georgia Tech and Northwestern, among other schools. He’s also drawn interest from a wide range of other programs.
“We probably have three or four [coaches] at every game,” said Cliff Rees, head Boys’ Latin basketball coach.
“Rice and Texas have come out. … Stanford was actually at a game as well.”
Terps assistant coach Bino Ranson has also visited Boys’ Latin and stays in contact with Pugh, who said he’s been to College Park to visit the campus several times over the past few years.
Pugh said he’s been talking to Ranson for “a while now,” and the Terps’ longest tenured assistant even stopped by to watch the Lakers’ star practice over the summer.
“I talk to him about once or twice a week,” Pugh said. “My parents probably talk to him more than I do. They’re involved with everything.”
The Terps have yet to offer Pugh a scholarship, and the in-state junior said he isn’t sure why. He’s not worried about it, though.
Pugh said growing concerned over the Terps’ thinking won’t do him any good. Still, he’s taken notice of the team’s 17-2 start this season and has developed a relationship with coach Mark Turgeon.
“He’s a great coach,” Pugh said. “To see the success right now, you can tell that he knows what he’s talking about, and he knows how to build a team.”
Regardless of whether Turgeon and Ranson decide to extend him a scholarship offer, Pugh will weigh academics heavily when picking his college destination.
Pugh finished last school year with a 3.9 GPA and has recently been inducted into Boys’ Latin’s respected Williams Scholars Program. The minimum requirement for the program is a 3.5 GPA and enrollment in at least two honors level classes or higher.
Pugh’s gone to see several of the country’s top academic schools while considering where he’ll play college basketball.
“I’ve visited Princeton, Northwestern, George Washington, Temple, Georgetown, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Harvard, and Richmond,” Pugh said in one breath.
Don’t expect a decision out of Pugh anytime soon, though. He doesn’t have a top three, five or ten. He claims he’s not even leaning towards one school.
From brush strokes to jump shots, he’s got plenty of other things to work on before the recruiting process heats up.
“Right now I’m really focused on my team and school,” Pugh said. “It’s very hectic just handling that by myself.”
Kodye Pugh (10) celebrates with his Boys’ Latin teammates during a home game Friday night.
Kodye Pugh’s Baltimore-inspired art work