Prospect Rankings Update: 2019 Top Rim Protectors
There are 121 total players included in our 2019 Prospect Rankings, all of which will be included exactly once in our week-long series, where we will segment analysis by player speciality. Throughout the entire week, you can expect articles to include a list of 10-20 players who fit a theme, with five or more individual break-downs.
Today, we’re looking at players who could play the 5 in college and are defensively oriented.
#11 Abba Lawal
#33 Drew Bench
Bench jumped up from #52 in our rankings because of his athleticism and toughness. Most of his points come in transition, as he runs the floor like a deer. Defensively, he doesn’t budge against taller offensive players and out-rebounds most of them because of his verticality.
Plenty of Division II programs will continue showing interest in the two-sport stud from Genoa.
#43 Na’elle Simmons
Simmons remains a bit of a project prospect. His length and mobility are exciting and Simmons is always in the right spots. Once he adds weight to his slender frame, Simmons could definitely jump into the D-I range. The 6’7” forward/center told us that he’s still growing also.
#68 Grant Heileman
Heileman’s recruitment could pick up if he continues to build on the flashes of skill he’s shown with NOVA during the spring/summer. He’s a disciplined shot blocker in the paint. He combines the interior defensive prowess with some straight line driving ability and jump shooting from the perimeter.
We consider Heileman a scholarship-level player that NAIA and D-II schools should take a look at.
#77 Duncan Hall
Hall is committed to Louisville’s baseball program. Therefore he shouldn’t be considered by basketball programs, even though he averaged a double-double as a sophomore for Miamisburg.