Unselfishness defined John Whitley’s four-year career with the Pam Pack basketball team. Characterized as a magnanimous distributor, the 5-foot-10, 150-pound guard was accustomed to finding players in transition and limiting himself to quality shots.

And that good decision making translated from the hardwood to the classroom. As a senior, Whitley, 17, amassed a 4.8 grade-point average, placing him in the top percentile at Washington High School. Academically, he had options. Schools like North Carolina and North Carolina State, more than likely, would have been happy to bring him aboard. But Washington’s 2015 MVP isn’t ready to put down the basketball, just yet.

“He’s got a heart,” said Robert Whitley, John’s father. “And his heart says, I can do it. I’m not going to limit him and we’ll see what happens.”

Whitley received a scholarship from Division III Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va., along with a guaranteed spot on the basketball team for the fall, but the Pam Pack senior, who played alongside Northside’s Edrice Adebayo in AAU ball, is shooting higher.

Last month, Whitley committed to play at Moravian Prep, a basketball program in Hickory that gives athletes a bridge between high school and college, preserving their eligibility in the process. Post-high school graduates receive increased exposure from Division II and I programs and the team prides itself on developing athletes to compete at that level.

“I would love to play basketball at one of those (Division I) schools,” Whitley said. “This is definitely the best way, taking a year off from school while focusing on my game and getting stronger. Hopefully I can go a little bit further.”

For his first three years in Pam Pack blue, Whitley spent most of his time as the catalyst, racking up assists and dishing to former standout Stevie Green. This season, as the primary scorer, Whitley led his team in nearly every offensive category, averaging 16.1 points pregame, shooting 86 percent from the charity stripe and an impressive 51 percent from behind the arch. As a team, however, Washington has posted just seven wins in two years.

“It was still basketball, even though we didn’t have a ton of success,” Whitley said. “It was fun playing with my friends and playing in front of a ton of people. (Coach Steven Flowers) is an awesome guy and I loved playing for him. I just wish we could have got a couple more wins, more success.”

Now, playing for two-time National Prep School Association national champions, he has the opportunity to experience that success. Despite preserving eligibility, Moravian Prep travels to and hosts other prep and junior college programs from around the East Coast, allowing its players to mature before going to college, all while garnering on-the-court experience against college-worthy talent. They are coached by Jeremy Ellis and assisted by Alvin Sims, a former college (Louisville) and NBA player.

Whitley’s academic prowess earned him one of the three $10,000 scholarships available from Moravian Prep and he plans to take classes at Beaufort Community College this summer and classes Caldwell Community College while playing for Moravian Prep.