First July Live Evaluation Period: Class of 2019 Prospects to Watch (#5 – #1)
The first live evaluation period in July begins this week and members of the Class of 2019 in the state of Oregon are hoping to make major impressions on the college coaches that will be watching them play. Where do the current PrepHoops Oregon’s Top Ten ranked rising seniors stand with the recruiting process going into this critical month? We continue by taking a look at numbers #5 through #1.
#5: Stevie Schlabach (2019 Tigard HS/Team Fly White) – Schlabach got off to a little bit of a slow start this spring but started to shoot the lights out in the latter half of April and it carried over into May and June with school summer ball. As far as Division I programs go, Portland State will be watching his games with Team Fly White in July and the hope is continued shooting/scoring will generate more interest, starting this week with the 17U Gold Division of the Double Pump Summer Tip-Off in Anaheim.
#4: Isaac Lange (2019 Thurston HS/Team Fly Williams) – An injury set Lange back a little bit in the spring and early summer months, but he’s back healthy and ready to roll in July. He made an impression with his athleticism both at Oregon State camp and Oregon team camp and will suit up with Team Fly Williams in the 17U open division of the Double Pump Summer Tip-Off this week. Back in May, he was hearing regularly from Oregon State, Portland, and Portland State, and since then Biola and Western Carolina have jumped into the mix. Who will be the first program to offer a scholarship to the exciting and ultra-athletic guard?
#3: Jaden Nielsen-Skinner (2019 South Salem HS/Seattle Rotary) – Nielsen-Skinner is locked in committed to Portland State, so instead of trying to increase his college recruitment he’s been playing largely for fun and to improve himself against some of the best competition in the nation. He’ll get his chance this week at the Nike Peach Jam.
#2: Aaron Deloney (2019 Grant HS/Rose City Rebels) – The Rebels didn’t make the Nike Peach Jam but will be playing in the nearby Peach Jam Invitational where plenty of college coaches will be in attendance. This spring, Deloney showed that he can score and make plays at the point against big-time competition and picked up offers from several schools, namely Portland State, Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, and Cal Baptist. Deloney notes that other schools such as Weber State, Fresno State, Utah State, Bucknell, and UC Santa Barbara are some of the schools that will be watching him in July. As good as he has proven himself to be, Deloney still unfortunately has to sell himself as a smaller guard to bigger conference schools such as TCU, Marquette, and Kansas State. Can he get one of those programs to pull the trigger on an offer?
#1: Marcus Tsohonis (2019 Jefferson HS/Seattle Rotary) – Tsohonis will get an opportunity to play on arguably the biggest stage in AAU basketball in July – the Nike Peach Jam. Already holding solid offers from Pacific, Montana, and Portland, the hope is that other schools will step forward and offer scholarships as well. Jefferson head coach Pat Strickland notes that Pac-12 schools such as Oregon State, Washington, and Washington State as well as others will be watching Tsohonis closely in the month of July. Tsohonis has great size and skills for a lead guard, and there’s no question he does many of the things that win ball games. But can he shoot it well enough consistently from the outside? Will schools be satisfied with the motor he shows on the floor? It will be seen what comes about after this month.