Kings of the Court: TJ’s 2020 Standouts
Xavier Foster, 6’9 (Pure Prep)
Defense is the certainly this high-level prospect’s strength right now, and he was doing some things that I’ve never seen seen in person before. His size and immense length, paired with defensive instincts make for some show-stopping swats; it’s no wonder Iowa, Iowa State and Creighton all offered before he was even in an Oskaloosa uniform.
Zach Lasek, 6’8 PF (Martin Brothers Select 15U)
If Xavier Foster checks in at No.1 when the 2020 rankings are released next month, then there’s a good chance that this Highland, Riverside big-man will be No.2. Lasek is a rare combo of big and bouncy, and he was all over the rim when we saw him play. If granted the opportunity, he could throw down some thunderous dunks.
Isaiah Green, 6’2 G (Martin Brothers Select 15U)
What first caught my eye was when he streaked coast-to-coast in no-time at all and put in an athletic lay-in. Then 10 minutes later he sent the crowd into a frenzy with a monster jam plus the foul. This Waterloo West sophomore-to-be has a very high ceiling.
Easton Darling, 5’9 (Martin Brothers Select 15U)
He’s small but very, very athletic. During a breakaway opportunity he botched a lay-in, but it was especially eye-opening because it looked like he was caught between whether he was going to lay it in or dunk it. His Winterset teammate Casey Kleemeier informed me that Darling had his first dunk in practice just days earlier. When 5’9 guys are dunking, there’s some serious bounce going on.
Antonio Alzheimer, 5’10 PG (Pure Prep)
This Roosevelt freshman has some seriously quick handles and pairs it with some excellent footwork. His jumper wasn’t dropping when we saw him, but more importantly he was creating separation better than most anyone we’ve seen this spring. He could be a special talent for the Roughriders.
Braxton Bayless, 5’11 PG (All Iowa Attack 15U Red)
Perhaps the best surprise of the day, this Valley frosh was dazzling at times as the leader of a very good Attack 15U squad. He was dominant on both sides of the ball, and has defensive instincts that remind me of Iowa’s 2nd-ranked 2019, Tyreke Locure. Offensively, he flashed blow-by ability, and was athletic enough to finish up near the rim.
Cody McCullough, 6’5 F (All Iowa Attack 15U Red)
During warmups, McCullough — along with most of the rest of Attack 15U — was showing off their verts by jamming as often and has hard as possible. McCullough got up real nice, and we were pleased to see him pair that height and vertical with some nice post moves. He’ll develop into a small forward before too long, and could become one of 2020’s best.
Jackson Waring, 6’3 SG (Elite 515)
A Des Moines Christian product, Waring has a nice build and some good height, but most impressive was his picture-perfect jumper. He doesn’t put a lot of arc on it, but his low-rising shot is precise. This marksmen could make a huge impact with the Lions next season.
Preston Kelling, 6’3 SG (Elite 515)
We first got a look at this sharpshooter at the Future Stars Camp in Dubuque last month, and he was red-hot from deep that day. Last weekend he showcased his ability to facilitate and get to the hoop, where he’s still big enough to score cleanly. It will be interesting to see how he’s used at Centennial as a sophomore next winter.