City Rocks guard Tahlan Pettway will reclass to 2026 soon, talks special bond created with teammates this summer
By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — From covering high school basketball across the country this summer, one team that really stood out was the Nike EYBL City Rocks program. With only one player ranked in the top-100 of recruiting rankings, City Rocks managed an 11-4 record heading into Peach Jam and boasted the third best point differential during the regular season.
At Peach Jam, City Rocks went 3-2 in pool play and just missed out on a chance to play in the final bracket. But they had a great season and created bonds that will last a lifetime.
“We just built a family culture over here,” Pettway told ZAGSBLOG. “It’s like we’re brothers here. So like when one falls, we always pick him up or something like that. So it’s family – it’s just our culture over here.”
Pettway was a key component in the City Rocks offensive and defensive efficiency this summer. Pettway, the St. Thomas Moore product, is undersizded, standing at 6-foot-2, 155-pounds. But he certainly has a bag and may be one of the most pure skill players in the EYBL.
“I’m a shiftier guard, you know,” Pettway said. “I can shoot it from outside and get all the way to the paint. Get by anybody to be honest.”
At Peach Jam, Pettway averaged 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists playing in 14.6 minutes per contest. He also grabbed three steals and shot 41.4% from the field. Pettway’s best scoring game was a 13-point outing vs. Boo Williams.
Pettway is currently pursued by several schools. He has offers from Hampton, Le Moyne, Manhattan and Ryder. He has also heard from Hofstra, Providence, Seton Hall, St. Joes, Texas A&M and UCF. Pettway hasn’t taken any visits so far in the process and is looking to set some up this fall.
Here’s his breakdown of some programs in contact:
Hampton: “Hampton, they offered me like what, I think the second session. And it was just like- they’ve been talking to me for a minute. So it was just like a good bond there with coach [Greg] Fahey and coach [Ivan] Thomas. And then when he called me and everything it was just a great conversation and he was just saying he likes guys that can go. And they’re not really recruiting [prospects] unless they can go, so.”
Hofstra: “Coach [Mike] DePaoli hit me not too long ago and we’ve been talking for a couple weeks now. And then coach Speedy [Claxton] called my coach, coach [James] Hart, and they’ve just been talking and all that. So it’s like, I’m just continuing to talk to a bunch of them.”
Manhattan: “Manhattan is coach [John] Gallagher, he’s just a good guy you know. He was like my first offer back last year, like right before Peach, around there. It was just a good relationship there. You know, first offer so I was super excited and everything. Just a good program over there too.”
Ryder: “Ryder, coach [Kevin] Baggett, he’s just a good guy. I actually went up there for a camp and then they told me to go up there to see me and everything. They saw me, threw me the offer and all that. So, he’s just a good guy. He seems very passionate about what he does. Some of the players when I went there who played for Ryder are good people, so it’s just like a welcoming family just like here too.”
Seton Hall: “So like my coach, coach Carmen [Maciariello], who’s the old Sienna coach, he’s been in touch with them a lot. And they’ve just told him that they really like me, they like how I can play, how I’m a dog and everything, how I get after it. A bunch of stuff like that. So they’re just seeing the stuff that I’ve been doing. But like I’m just like very grateful and just like thank God for all the opportunities that are coming my way.”
Pettway said an offer from a high-major program like Seton Hall would mean a lot.
“My goal is to go as high as possible,” Pettway said. “But it’s also about good fit. So just for them to throw the offer you know, it’d mean a lot to me. It’s my childhood dream to go play Division I — or any level. High major, low major, mid major — it doesn’t matter. Just Division I scholarships are free, you know, so that’s just the thing. But if they threw the offer, it’d be very exciting for me. High majors are coming in now so more schools are seeing my talent, more schools are about to reach out.”
Pettway is not ranked by 247Sports or On3’s recruiting services. He was originally in the 2025 class but will now be reclassifying down to 2026 soon. He’s just waiting on confirmation from his high school coach. Pettway will have another opportunity to show what he can do with City Rocks next summer.
“Awesome kid,” City Rocks head coach Carmen Maciariello said. “Full of energy. Can score with the best of them. Very good on ball defender. Range on jumper. Very good basketball IQ and feel. Reads the floor well off the ball screen. Excited [to have back] a guy who understands how hard you have to play and how you have to be a real team of genuine dudes. He’s a real one.”
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