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‘It’s a name we have on our jersey’

At Huntington Prep in West Virginia, enrollment is 12 and the only course taught is Basketball 101. For the rest of their education, the players go elsewhere.

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St. Joseph Central Catholic High School senior Erin Pemberton, left, jokes with Huntington Prep senior Javontae Hawkins, center, and Elijah Macon, right, during a current events class at St. Joseph Central Catholic High School. Hawkins and Macon attend class from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at St. Joseph's in Huntington, W. Va., then play basketball for Huntington Prep.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep senior Elijah Macon, right, shares his math book with senior Javontae Hawkins, left, and sophomore Andrew Wiggins, center, during class at St. Joseph Central Catholic High School.

Huntington Prep senior Elijah Macon, right, shares his math book with senior Javontae Hawkins, left, and sophomore Andrew Wiggins, center, during class at St. Joseph Central Catholic High School.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

St. Joseph Central Catholic High School math teacher Candy Kmen, right, works with Huntington Prep senior guard Negus Webster-Chan during class earlier this month. Chan, a senior guard from Ontario, Canada, has signed to play for Missouri.

St. Joseph Central Catholic High School math teacher Candy Kmen, right, works with Huntington Prep senior guard Negus Webster-Chan during class earlier this month. Chan, a senior guard from Ontario, Canada, has signed to play for Missouri.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep players Gabriel Williams Otor, left, and Herve Aholode, top center, get tutoring help from St. Joseph's Central High School seniors Emily Assaley, 17, top right, and Schelli Linz, 18, bottom right, during study hall after school. Otor is from Nigeria; Aholode is from Benin.

Huntington Prep players Gabriel Williams Otor, left, and Herve Aholode, top center, get tutoring help from St. Joseph's Central High School seniors Emily Assaley, 17, top right, and Schelli Linz, 18, bottom right, during study hall after school. Otor is from Nigeria; Aholode is from Benin.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep players, from left, seniors Javontae Hawkins, Jai Chhabra and Elijah Macon walk back to St. Joseph Central Catholic High School after purchasing lunch from a nearby gas station.

Huntington Prep players, from left, seniors Javontae Hawkins, Jai Chhabra and Elijah Macon walk back to St. Joseph Central Catholic High School after purchasing lunch from a nearby gas station.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep player Manroop Clair, center, eats a slice of gas station pizza on his way back to St. Joseph Central Catholic. Students from the school, including the Huntington Prep players, often walk to the gas station nearby for lunch.

Huntington Prep player Manroop Clair, center, eats a slice of gas station pizza on his way back to St. Joseph Central Catholic. Students from the school, including the Huntington Prep players, often walk to the gas station nearby for lunch.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep does not exist as an actual school in Huntington, W. Va. It is the name of a basketball team made up of players that attend St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, seen here as parents wait for dismissal earlier this month.

Huntington Prep does not exist as an actual school in Huntington, W. Va. It is the name of a basketball team made up of players that attend St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, seen here as parents wait for dismissal earlier this month.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep power forward Tanveer Bhullar, of Toronto, Canada, bends over to open his locker in between classes at St. Joseph's Central Catholic..

Huntington Prep power forward Tanveer Bhullar, of Toronto, Canada, bends over to open his locker in between classes at St. Joseph's Central Catholic..

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep senior power forward Stefan Jankovic practices his 'basketball signature' during class at St. Joseph's.

Huntington Prep senior power forward Stefan Jankovic practices his "basketball signature" during class at St. Joseph's.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep shooting guard senior Javontae Hawkins yawns during class st St. Joseph's Central High School . Hawkins, from Flint, Mich., has signed to play at South Florida.

Huntington Prep shooting guard senior Javontae Hawkins yawns during class st St. Joseph's Central High School . Hawkins, from Flint, Mich., has signed to play at South Florida.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Along with his books, Huntington Prep junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes carries around a stack of mostly unopened recruiting letters, including these from the University of Illinois and North Carolina State. 'I save them for my mom,' said Rathan-Mayes, who has grown tired of reading them.

Along with his books, Huntington Prep junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes carries around a stack of mostly unopened recruiting letters, including these from the University of Illinois and North Carolina State. "I save them for my mom," said Rathan-Mayes, who has grown tired of reading them.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep players, from left, senior Herve Aholode, Jai Chhabra, Gabriel Williams Otor and Andrew Wiggins head toward the recreation center at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, for practice.

Huntington Prep players, from left, senior Herve Aholode, Jai Chhabra, Gabriel Williams Otor and Andrew Wiggins head toward the recreation center at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, for practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep Assistant Coach Baker Neal, center, watches over the team as they warm up in the Marshall University Recreation Center in Huntington, W. Wa., before practice earlier this month.

Huntington Prep Assistant Coach Baker Neal, center, watches over the team as they warm up in the Marshall University Recreation Center in Huntington, W. Wa., before practice earlier this month.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep players Nevell Proveo, left, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, right, watch a drill from the end line during practice.

Huntington Prep players Nevell Proveo, left, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, right, watch a drill from the end line during practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep head coach Rob Fulford gives instructions to his players during practice. 'Coaching to me is passion,' says Fulford when asked why he started the program. 'When you get into any business, it's always about competition. And it's no different with this.'

Huntington Prep head coach Rob Fulford gives instructions to his players during practice. "Coaching to me is passion," says Fulford when asked why he started the program. "When you get into any business, it's always about competition. And it's no different with this."

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep Boys' High School Basketball senior power forward Stefan Jankovic goes up to dunk during practice.

Huntington Prep Boys' High School Basketball senior power forward Stefan Jankovic goes up to dunk during practice.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep sophomore Andrew Wiggins, a 6-7 guard, gets a haircut before a game. Wiggins, from Toronto, is considered by many to be one of the top recruits in his class.

Huntington Prep sophomore Andrew Wiggins, a 6-7 guard, gets a haircut before a game. Wiggins, from Toronto, is considered by many to be one of the top recruits in his class.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

The downtown of Huntington, West Virginia, Huntington Prep does not exist as an actual school in Huntington; its players attend St. Joseph Central Catholic High School but play as a team under the name Huntington Prep.

The downtown of Huntington, West Virginia, Huntington Prep does not exist as an actual school in Huntington; its players attend St. Joseph Central Catholic High School but play as a team under the name Huntington Prep.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep power forward senior Stefan Jankovic, left, and T.C. Price, 12, get into the action while Jankovic and junior center Tanveer Bhullar play video games Most players on the Huntington Prep team live with host families in this town of about 50,000 on the banks of the Ohio River.

Huntington Prep power forward senior Stefan Jankovic, left, and T.C. Price, 12, get into the action while Jankovic and junior center Tanveer Bhullar play video games Most players on the Huntington Prep team live with host families in this town of about 50,000 on the banks of the Ohio River.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes gathers his things before being picked up for tha game earlier this month. Rathan-Meyes lives with Scott Thomas and his family. Thomas, a 47-year-old Huntington businessman, is one of Huntington Prep's biggest benefactors.

Huntington Prep junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes gathers his things before being picked up for tha game earlier this month. Rathan-Meyes lives with Scott Thomas and his family. Thomas, a 47-year-old Huntington businessman, is one of Huntington Prep's biggest benefactors.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

The yellow and blue Huntington Prep Nikes are just one of approximately 200 pairs of sneakers in Express junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes's shoe collection. Mayes, from Toronto, Canada, brought about fifty pairs to West Virginia with him.

The yellow and blue Huntington Prep Nikes are just one of approximately 200 pairs of sneakers in Express junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes's shoe collection. Mayes, from Toronto, Canada, brought about fifty pairs to West Virginia with him.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep senior Elijah Macon, from Columbus Ohio, stretches in a hallway before a game in Chesapeake, Ohio, earlier this month.

Huntington Prep senior Elijah Macon, from Columbus Ohio, stretches in a hallway before a game in Chesapeake, Ohio, earlier this month.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep junior shooting guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes says hello to his brothers Tyrus Rathan, 5, left, and Shemar Rathan, 10, right, before a game in Chesapeake, Ohio. The Rathan family made the drive from Toronto to see Xavier play.

Huntington Prep junior shooting guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes says hello to his brothers Tyrus Rathan, 5, left, and Shemar Rathan, 10, right, before a game in Chesapeake, Ohio. The Rathan family made the drive from Toronto to see Xavier play.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

The Huntington Prep Pony Express get pumped up before their game at Chesapeake High School in Chesapeake, Ohio, earlier this month.

The Huntington Prep Pony Express get pumped up before their game at Chesapeake High School in Chesapeake, Ohio, earlier this month.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes goes up for two points during a game against Christian Faith (N.C.) on Feb. 3. The Pony Express wont the game 69-44 .

Huntington Prep junior Xavier Rathan-Mayes goes up for two points during a game against Christian Faith (N.C.) on Feb. 3. The Pony Express wont the game 69-44 .

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Huntington Prep senior Elijah Macon, who has committed to play for West Virginia, dunks against Christian Faith (N.C.) during the Tri State Hoops Classic at Chesapeake, Ohio .

Huntington Prep senior Elijah Macon, who has committed to play for West Virginia, dunks against Christian Faith (N.C.) during the Tri State Hoops Classic at Chesapeake, Ohio .

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

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