Orton shatters backboard

Highlights

Status: Signed

Position: Center

Number: 33

Class: Senior

Height: 6-10

Weight: 260

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Okla.

High school: Bishop McGuinness

Rivals ranking: No. 22 overall, No. 4 C

Scout ranking: No. 17 overall, No. 4 C

HIGHLIGHTS

Nov. 4, 2008: Orton could miss four to six months of his high school senior season after having surgery on his left knee the Oklahoman reported on its Web site, NewsOK.com. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound frontcourt player for Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City had been playing with pain "for a while now" according to Bishop McGuinness Coach Tondrell Durham. Orton, a consensus top-25 national recruit, averaged about 14 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks a game his junior season.

Nov. 12, 2008: Orton joined Jon Hood and G.J. Vilarino in signing national letters of intent with the University of Kentucky. See story.

Feb. 11, 2009: Orton is one of 20 high school seniors chosen to play in the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic on April 18 in Madison Square Garden. It's not clear whether the UK signee, who has missed all of this season while recovering from knee surgery, will be healthy enough to play in the game. In it's eighth year, the Jordan Classic features 20 of the best high school seniors in the country. Past participants have included LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. Kelenna Azubuike, Joe Crawford, Rajon Rondo and Patrick Patterson are the UK players who have played in past games. The game will be televised at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. More information.

March 9, 2009: Orton is one of 20 high school seniors selected for this year's Kentucky Derby Classic, to be played April 11 in Freedom Hall. Orton joins fellow UK signees Jon Hood and G.J. Vilarino. The tentative lineup also includes Louisville signees Stephan Van Treese, Rakeem Buckles, Mike Marra and McDonald's All-American Peyton Siva. McDonald's All-Americans Michael Snaer (Florida State) and Maalik Wayns (Villanova) will also participate. It's not clear whether Orton, who has missed all of this season while recovering from knee surgery, will be healthy enough to play.

March 12, 2009: Orton returned from knee surgery and helped Bishop McGuinness defeat Bethel 59-42 in the first round of the Class 4A Oklahoma state tournament, his first action of the 2008-09 season. Orton scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds. See story.

March 14, 2009: Orton played his third game in three days but Bishop McGuinness couldn't get past Star Spencer, losing 67-61 in the Oklahoma Class 4A state title game. Orton, who was saddled with foul trouble in his last game as a high schooler, scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. He was named a second-team all-tournament selection. See story.