Prospect Spotlight: Jaki Royal (2019)
Photo Credit: Wade Linville
Ripley High School has arguably one of the youngest stars in the SHAC returning for them in November. Jaki Royal (2019) has spent his summer playing AAU with OH-LBC out of Columbus in preparation for his upcoming season.
Jaki is a very talented guard. Possessing great ball handling skill, he finds ways to get to the rim and draw fouls. He has been spending this summer improving his breakdown moves so he can continue to dominate the rim as he’s been doing. Where he wants to improve is his finishing through contact. At 5’11, if Jaki can get more aggressive when it comes to finishing, he truly will become a much more intriguing guard.
Playing in the SHAC, Jaki has learned anything can happen on any given night. Although teams like Peebles and Lynchburg Clay have been the dominate teams in the past, any team can win on any given night. Jaki feels playing in the conference has helped him prepare for the college level because he can’t take any game for granted and to play hard until the horn sounds.
Jaki has been invited to several D2 teams’ prospect camps but has not received any offers yet. This young man has so much talent and will be a name to keep an eye on not just next season but for 2 years as well.