The 6-foot-6, 185-pound senior shooting guard led the Jaguars to a 34-4 record and the Class 5A state championship earlier this month. The state's returning Gatorade Player of the Year (as a standout for now-closed J.O. Johnson High), Petty averaged 21.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks this past season. Petty was named the MVP of the state tournament after collecting 22 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in the championship-game victory over Faith Academy. The state's Mr. Basketball as a junior and a four-time First Team All-State selection, he concluded his prep basketball career with 2,749 points.
Petty has maintained a B average in the classroom. He has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Alabama beginning this fall.
Petty has volunteered locally as part of multiple community-service initiatives through his church. "John Petty can play most any position," said Danny Petty, head coach of James Clemens High. "And with his size, he is almost impossible to guard."
