Something special is going on in South Charleston.
Via Chatham, Virginia.
En route to Morgantown and WVU's basketball team.
His name is Brandon Knapper, a South Charleston High graduate now playing hoops at Hargrave Military Academy. If you've lost track of him, it's time to again find the scent.
Because the point guard is having a great season.
The Mountaineer signee and Hargrave are 38-1 and ranked the nation's No. 2 post-graduate team, behind only Brewster Academy of New Hampshire.
Knapper is averaging 23.4 points, which leads Hargrave, is shooting 48 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free-throw line. His assist-to-turnover ratio is 3 to 1.
"Brandon is having an incredible season for us," said Hargrave coach A.W. Hamilton. "Offensively, he's been off the charts, shooting 48 percent on 3s. He's attempting over eight a game.
"I've been more impressed, though, with how he's committed himself to becoming a leader on and off the floor. His focus, determination and drive to be great have been fun to watch. The sky's the limit for Brandon."
Knapper's story is admirable. A lifelong WVU fan, he was offered a scholarship by Mountaineer coach Bob Huggins but told he'd either have to redshirt in Morgantown or go to a prep school for a year. The guard not only accepted the terms, he's embraced the challenge of attending Hargrave.
"I made a great choice," Knapper said on Thursday. "I'm basically playing against other college players. I'm adjusting to the speed of the game. I'm not wasting time by redshirting. Hargrave has made me mature."
Think it's easy at a military academy? Try again.
"We do the full military experience," Knapper said. "We're the oldest cadets in the school because it goes from seventh grade to seniors and post-graduates.
"I wake up at 6:30 a.m., go to formation and then breakfast. We have classes from 7:55 to 10:30. I have a basketball class from 10:45 to 12:20. After that we have lunch and basketball practice. Basically, it's the same routine every day. We have study hall after dinner, around 7:30."
Ask Knapper about his free time.
"Oh, we don't really get out much," he said. "Our coach tries to schedule a team day when we'll go to his house for a cookout or something. Chatham, though, is a small town [population 1,338]. The nearest city is Danville, which is 30, 45 minutes away. So there's really nothing to do. It's pretty isolated. That's good because you stay focused. There's really no distraction."
That suits Knapper just fine.
"I'm becoming a vocal leader on the court," he said. "I'm learning to control the pace of the game. As the point guard, I have to lead my guys. I have to keep them focused on the court as much as possible."
Knapper is on a team that includes Ohio State signee Braxton Beverly and Xavier signee Naji Marshall, among others.
"Coach Hamilton is a great coach," Knapper said. "He was a great point guard at Marshall. He's taught me a lot on and off the court.
"Also, we have a great weightlifting coach [in Jake Ness]. He played at Boise State, so he knows what he's doing. He knows how to put on weight in the right places. I've gained 15 to 20 pounds since I've been here."
Knapper, 6-foot-1, left SCHS around 170 pounds. Huggins jokingly has called him "Juwan Staten with a shot."
"I talked to Hugs recently and he's told me to watch game film of [former NBA all-star] Nick Van Exel, who he coached at Cincinnati," Knapper said. "I'm trying to mirror my game after that - a smart guard who can lead the team in different aspects."
Van Exel, like Napper, was a 6-1 guard. Of course, Knapper also tries to keep track of WVU.
"I have an app on my phone," Knapper said. "I watch every game I can. I just wish I was up there now, playing and contributing."
He paused.
"A lot of people doubted them, but even before the season I knew they'd be a top-10 team," he continued. "I know the players. They just work hard and are relentless. They stay in the gym."
Sounds like Knapper will fit right in.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.