Founded by Melvin Brown, Halton Prep is located in southern Ontario and plays in the National Preparatory Association (NPA) in Canada. The Halton area itself has recently produced under the radar talent such as Mfiondu Kabangele, Ignas Brazdeikis, and Simi Shittu among others. In its first season in the NPA, the Halton Prep program has put together a competitive roster, which has included versatile forward Marlon Lestin. Lestin is a 6’9” high major prospect with untapped potential with a pro physical profile. Working with Coach Jedell Foster, Lestin has refined his playmaking skills and shifted from being a traditional back-to-the-basket player to a point-forward threat.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, Lestin discusses his background, training during the pandemic, his post-high school options, and more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2021 prospect Marlon Lestin, from Montreal, Canada:
Pro Insight: Tell us about your background.
Marlon Lestin: I'm from Haiti. So I was born in Haiti, then me and my mom, we moved to Canada when I was five. First, basketball was not my first sport as I started playing soccer. Then I really started playing basketball when I was in grade nine going to 10. And then I had a great coach over in Montreal who taught me the game but then I moved to Vegas to get a better chance at basketball in grade 10 and then the year after I transferred to New York’s Redemption Christian Academy - that's in Albany. And then my last year I'm doing it in Toronto now (at Halton Prep).
PI: Did your mom play any sports?
ML: Yeah, she played basketball.
PI: How has training been at Halton Prep in the midst of a pandemic?
ML: Training over there is great. The way they handled the situation and the whole pandemic over there is actually a great situation. You got Coach Jedell helping me work on my game because a lot of people when I used to go to their school and their basketball program, they usually made me go on the block and play in the post but he had me doing great skills - skills wise. He made me handle the ball - bringing the ball up and doing a lot of things I was not able to do last year or the year before.
PI: What are some of your biggest interests outside of basketball?
ML: I honestly don't know because basketball is pretty much, it is actually my whole life.
PI: What is your biggest strength on the court?
ML: I would say it's my ability to rebound and just drive to the basket. There's really no one who can stop me once I get down the middle lane. I can make reads, but I still need to work on that. But yeah, I would say that's one of my biggest strengths.
PI: What are some underrated aspects of your game?
ML: I actually can shoot the ball. Not very well, but for somebody that is my size, I actually can shoot the ball. People usually don't guard me outside the three point line so when they don't do that, I just step up and take a jump shot.
PI: Who do you model your game after and study on film?
ML: I'm studying film on Ben Simmons and LeBron right now, because my game is pretty much similar to them as a point forward.
PI: What is your recruitment update?
ML: It's doing good. I have a couple interests from big schools. I have a couple offers and I'm just waiting on the whole COVID situation to see what's my next move for next year. That's pretty much it.
PI: What are your current offers and interests?
ML: I would say Georgia Tech, Cal, St. John's, UIC. LSU texted me. Virginia Tech. Those are some of the schools I got. [Lestin also holds offers from Providence, EIC, UMass, Holy Cross, and LIU.]
PI: Could you see yourself looking into other professional options such as the G-League Ignite program or playing overseas?
ML: It's an option. I can't shut down all those options because right now there's a COVID situation. I don't know what is happening next year and at the end of the day, I just need to make the best decision for me and to get to my goal and that's making money out of basketball.
PI: How would you describe yourself in just a few words?
ML: I work hard. I'm coachable.
Watch the full interview with Marlon, here