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Maurice Sutton was a Gazette-Star Player of the Year and a Maryland state champion during his days on the basketball court at Largo High School.

But ask him whether high school accolades mean anything on the college level and he is more modest.

"The college game is very humbling," said Sutton, currently in his redshirt-freshman season at Villanova University in Philadelphia. "You talk about being player of the year and coming from a state championship program and go to another program that has made it as far as the Final Four ... it's very humbling."

Sutton, who helped lead Largo to the Class 3A state championship in 2008, was not fully prepared for the rigors of college basketball when he joined the Wildcats that fall. He went from player of the year to a redshirt season and watched from the sidelines as Villanova had one of its most successful seasons ever, advancing to the Final Four behind former Potomac High forward Dante Cunningham.

Sutton said he needed the year to learn.

"It wasn't easy," Sutton said of his redshirt season. "Last year really prepared me a lot. Going against a Final Four team in practice every day got me ready for everything thrown at me. My coaches and teammates were pushing me every day. Last year was a learning and development year. It was nonstop every day in the weight room, getting extra workouts and practicing every day. They were just trying to prepare me for what they want me to be."

Sutton needed time to get his body ready for the rigors of Division I basketball. When he headed off to Philadelphia he was a wiry 200 pounds on a 6-foot-11 ½ frame. He gained 15 pounds last year, and is currently listed on Villanova's roster at 220 pounds.

This season, the Wildcats are counting on Sutton's contribution because the program has lofty goals. Villanova is currently ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. At 19-1, the program is off to its best start in history. The Wildcats are the only Big East team that is currently undefeated in conference play.

Sutton has played in 18 games, making seven starts. He is averaging a little more than 11 minutes and 2.2 points per game and is third on the team in blocks with 18. And while Sutton may not have gaudy numbers, he said he feels comfortable that he is doing what the team needs.

"My role on this team is to block shots, rebound, defend and dunk everything," Sutton said.

Sutton said he has learned a lot from his teammates, including senior point guard Scottie Reynolds, who is a college player of the year candidate, senior Reggie Redding and junior Antonio Pena.

Coach Jay Wright said the team can look forward to Sutton having a big impact during his career.

"We're really excited about [Maurice]'s future at Villanova," Wright said. "He improved greatly in his redshirt year and has shown that he has the ability to be an outstanding Big East player."

Sutton said the work he did during his high school days has paid off at the college level.

"If it weren't for Largo and coach [Lewis] Howard, I would not be in the position I am now," Sutton said. "They took time every day and trusted and believed in me and gave me the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. It was more of a parent-son relationship between me and my coach. He would give me the freedom to go out there and do it."

Sutton has enjoyed the fact that his parents — Maurice Sr. and Gwen — make it to virtually every game. Sutton comes from a family of college athletes, as his mother played basketball at North Carolina State and his father played football at Norfolk State. His sister, Candace Sutton-Pearson, also was a star at Largo and played basketball at the University of North Carolina.

Sutton said his family gives him great advice on being a college athlete.

"They've told me that schoolwork always comes first because basketball is not promised tomorrow," he said. "They tell me to balance it out."

Sutton is hoping to help Villanova win a national title for the first time since 1985, when coach Rollie Massimino's Wildcats stunned heavily favored Georgetown in the NCAA title game in one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Sutton said Villanova fans should have plenty of optimism for this year's team.

"Last year's team, we had guys that just played hard," Sutton said. "With the talent we have this year, it is more talented than last year. Last year, they were just dogs and came out hard in every game. I think we have the most talented team at every position now."

E-mail Terron Hampton at

thampton@gazette.net.