Recently the Texas Tri-Regions received a much needed boost to the strength and depth of it’s 2024 class. David Punch (Harker Heights HS), who had earlier this summer announced he was transferring to Dynmaic Prep out of DFW, reneged. He's decided to stay in Central Texas.

His stock also took off after an impressive summer playing with Drive Nation. He recently cracked the ESPN’s Top 100 coming in as the ninety-night ranked prospect in the country, rated a 4-Star. He touched on how the summer progressed.

“The summer has been super good. Playing for Drive Nation and for Jermaine (O’Neal) really got me out there. Continuing to put in work on the EYBL circuit really shot me up there. I was super happy to see my hard work paying off and getting that recognition,” said Punch.  

After a tremendous spring and summer, David reports a total of 22 offers. He recently released his Top 7 and in no particular order: NC State, Xavier, Virginia, Virginia Tech, TCU, Penn State, and VCU. While he’s narrowed down the field, Punch admits that he’s going to wait to take visits before he starts making anymore cuts or formulating serious decisions about what schools he could be favoring.

David stands 6’8’ and a solid 225lb frame. For those that have not seen his game, he is a modern day four man who can face up and put the ball on the floor, or use his size to bang down low in the paint. In various games this past year he showed consistency in expanding his perimeter game to and beyond the arc. Defenses were reluctant to stretch out and his soft touch and accuracy made them adjust.

For his upcoming senior year at Harker Heights, the Knights are returning from a year of UIL sanctions and also welcome a new Head Coach in Jerrel Chumley. So the decision to switch back did surprise some.

“I kind of felt like my decision was kind of fast after coming back from Peach Jam. I didn’t do a ton of basketball and I just looked back to see everything. I kept thinking about Dynamic Prep and Harker Heights. It was different going to Dynamic, they have a really good school, but I just felt like I would thrive more at Harker Heights and I felt like I had a lot of unfinished business there,” said Punch. “The New Coach didn’t have a big part in changing my mind. I had all my guys I’ve been playing with since 4th grade, just leaving them behind and it felt wrong to me.”

David has spoken several times with Coach Chumley who comes from the DFW area. Has had several meetings with him and he’s reinforcing that he expects Punch to be the Knights leader, on and off the court.

Speaking of off the court, you could expect Punch to start narrowing things down during January or February as far as what lies ahead at the next level. He’s planning on announcing a decision during the April late signing period.

Expectations remain very high for Punch and the Knights. While they have lost some key pieces to graduation, they still return plenty of firepower from a 24 win team that went undefeated in district.

“I feel like we have a good shot to be down there in San Antonio come late in the basketball season. I think we have a shot at winning state, maybe. That’s setting the goal super high for us and to continue to dominate.”

If the Knights can navigate the daunting task of 6A Region II, which consists of primarily DFW area schools, Punch will have to be at the forefront in leading his team to accomplish the task. Something he is more than capable of doing.