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Barely halfway through his freshman season, Fontenot has already proved himself a major player on Frederick County's prep basketball stage.

"I worked hard and was looking for an opportunity to play on the varsity," Fontenot said. "I ended up getting on the team and have been fortunate to get so much playing time."

The 5-foot-9 inch Fontenot plays well beyond his years. He moves well without the ball and is adept at generating his own shot. Defensively he isn't a liability, but is still developing.

"Zach wants to learn, and he always tries to do what is asked of him," Middletown co-head coach Tim Leber said. "He's already an outstanding offensive player, and he'll keep getting better as he continues to work on moving without the ball. His on-ball defense has really improved this year, and he's starting to grasp the whole picture of team defense."

As of Wednesday, Fontenot was second on the Knights in scoring at 11 points per game, behind Kevin Harris (13 points per contest). He's started all 13 games and has drained a team-best 31 3-pointers, while shooting a potent 44 percent from long distance. On Dec. 16 he dropped 28 points, on 7-of-9 shooting from three while going 7-of-8 at the foul line, in a 74-70 defeat of Frederick. He had 10 points Wednesday in a huge 61-57 win at Williamsport (10-2).

"We've been doing well as a team so far," Fontenot said. "The coaches have gotten me into the rotation and I've gotten some open looks."

Success hasn't gone to Fontenot's head. He doesn't want to be a flash in the pan and isn't shy about seeking advice from his older teammates. He praises the veterans and Knights' staff, saying they've done a great job in guiding the Knights, 5-19 last season, to a 7-6 overall record, (2-4 in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League's Piedmont Conference) this year.

Fontenot has honed his hoops sensibilities in a variety of youth leagues in and around Frederick County. He's a member of Team Melo, a Baltimore-based Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) outfit run by NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, and last summer attended Middletown's Gym Rat camp. However he's been on Leber and fellow head coach Jon Jarrett's radar for much longer.

"Zach has always been a gym rat," Leber said. "I remember when he was a baby, and his parents brought him to the gym often because his older sister, Audra Frizzell, played on our girls basketball team. We have followed his progress over the years, and we were pretty sure he was ready to compete at the varsity level this year.

"Zach loves the game, and God blessed him with some unique gifts. He shoots the ball extremely well, handles it with poise and confidence, and has good quickness," Leber added.