This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is sophomore men’s basketball guard Xandrell Pennix. This season, Pennix is the second-leading scorer for an Orange team that has started 7-2, its best start under head coach Derryl Britt. On November 18, Pennix scored 14 points in a victory over East Chapel Hill. On November 29, Pennix scored a career-high 19 points in a 67-66 victory at Franklinton. In his freshman season, Pennix was called up to the varsity after Orange’s stint in the South Granville Holiday Tournament. He made a strong first impression by scoring 13 points against Walter Williams This season, Pennix has scored in double figures in seven of Orange’s nine games. That includes 14 points in Orange’s win at Riverside on December 2 in Durham, the Panthers first win over the Pirates since 2014. Pennix has been a regular starting guard for an Orange team that is looking to make the state playoffs for the first time in six years. Though he’s a sophomore, Pennix actually provides a veteran presence since his fellow starters are spending their first season at the varsity level. That includes Pennix’s cousin, freshman point guard Kai Wade.