2019 Player Rankings: Baltimore Prospects (Part 1)
As conference playoffs and championships begin to rain in, we start breaking down our updated player rankings from the class of 2019. At the top of this list, there are plenty of high-major talent players who are still developing their skill. For this particular series, we will focus solely on the Baltimore prospects that landed in the top 100.
RJ Blakney | 6’5 | St. Maria Goretti/Team Melo
Previous ranking: 2
New ranking: 2
Blakney is probably the most athletic prospect you’ll find in this class for the state of Maryland. The 6-foot-5 guard is known for his ability to please the crowd with thunderous dunks in transition or in the halfcourt with a paint full of traffic. Goretti lost some key seniors from last season’s team, so much of the offensive scoring load was put on Blakney’s shoulders. As a result, he built his offensive repertoire by becoming a threat from outside as well as the mid-range area. Defensively, he plays passing lanes well and contests shots by the rim aggressively because of his athletic ability. He holds offers from VCU, Old Dominion, St. Bonaventure, Long Beach State, Tulsa and Mount St. Mary’s.
RJ Blakney spin cycle 🤭 @Walbrook_Rj8 pic.twitter.com/fB6IqJDhgG
— Overtime (@overtime) February 15, 2018
James Bishop | 6’3 | Mt. St. Joseph/Team Thrill
Previous ranking: 7
New ranking: 6
Bishop was recently named Second Team All-BCL, and rightfully so for his outstanding efforts this season for the Gaels. The 6-foot-3 guard is one of the smoothest scorers you’ll find in the area. He get it going quickly from outside and hit three’s in volume. The southpaw can also take his man off the dribble and finish with soft touch around the rim. Bishop holds offers from Virginia Tech, VCU, NC State, Marquette, LSU, Temple, Kansas State and Tulsa.
Class of 2019 guard James Bishop highlights from the Hoophall Classic. https://t.co/psD0adU425 pic.twitter.com/8ia8AIxAwG
— Krysten Peek (@krystenpeek) January 24, 2018
Yavuz Gultekin | 6’7 | John Carroll/Mid-Atlantic Select
Previous ranking: 9
New ranking: 8
After his first summer in the United States, Gultekin began to catch the eyes of many. Now, after being a main piece for John Carroll next to Kentucky bound Immanuel Quickley and Rutgers signee Montez Mathis, he has cemented his place in our top 10 rankings. The 6-foot-7 wing is very versatile with his ability to score inside and out. He plays with a great motor on both ends and is a competitor. If Gultekin can put on some weight and continue to get comfortable with the U.S. style of play, there will be plenty of schools knocking on his door. He already holds offers from George Mason, Penn State, Kansas State, Saint Joseph’s, Old Dominion and DePaul.
Anthony Walker | 6’9 | Perry Hall/Team BBC
Previous ranking: 26
New ranking: 9
Walker was arguably the biggest stock riser from the time that our last rankings dropped. He exploded with the Gators this season and had the city talking every week about what new poster dunk he pulled off. The 6-foot-9, long forward is a dominant force in the paint on both sides of the ball. He also showcased his ability to stroke it from three as well, making him an even more attractive collegiate prospect. With time in the weight room and continued improvement this summer to his overall game, don’t be shocked if high major schools start rolling in quickly. Walker collected his first three offers in a five-day span from VCU, Drexel and Buffalo.
Aaaaaand another one from @AntgotClout this time off the backboard from DJ Cloude. pic.twitter.com/VXPbiRHIrh
— Colby Giacubeno (@ColbyGHoops) January 29, 2018
Logan Curtis | 6’3 | Calvert Hall/Team BBC
Previous ranking: 12
New ranking: 14
Despite a rough year for Calvert Hall due to a depleted roster from turnover in the summer, Curtis remained a positive throughout. The 6-foot-3 guard is a tough-nosed defender that improved his overall offensive game this season as he and back court mate Brendan Adams had to carry much of the load. Curtis is an effective catch-and-shoot sniper from three. He also developed a nice game off utilizing a one or two dribble attack that ends in a mid-range pull up jumper or lay up around the rim. Curtis holds offers from Siena and North Carolina A&T.