2020 Rankings: Growing Class Depth Wise With Notable Risers On The Recruiting Radar
The 2020 class exits out of the grassroots season with plenty of momentum as well, and this new crop of juniors look to make their mark on the Idaho basketball scene come prep season time.
As our rankings come out freshly updated following an eventful July period and now rounding out the summer, we see a few players who are firmly cementing themselves on the regional recruiting radar, which is great to see.
A new number 1
Jace Whiting who spent his grassroots season playing for the excellent Exum Elite and under his father’s guidance, really put a name out there for himself in doing so and developed his skills which made him an even brighter prospect in terms of guards within Idaho last season.
Whiting earned First Team Great Basin honors last year spearheading Burley to an impressive run at the state tournament and will look to do so again as they regroup for the upcoming prep season. Whiting was offered by Idaho State this past summer and has garnered interest from other DI schools as well. The crafty guard will be one to watch this upcoming junior season as he has the opportunity to do big things as a leader for his team and at the 4A level overall.
In a class with this much talent it goes without saying that Whiting is on the right track to be able to put his name alongside some of the other top 2020 talents in the state. We expect an excellent junior campaign out of this young gun this upcoming season.
Borah’s Bolt has a high ceiling
Borah’s Austin Bolt really turned some heads last season as he he made double-doubles seem routine for the Lions during their tremendous 2017-2018 campaign. As a sophomore, Bolt snagged First Team All 5A SIC honors and was without question one of the top big men in all of the state. A scrappy gamer, Bolt is everything you want to see in a player and will likely to develop even more as he enters his junior season.
Bolt is fundamentally sound, wears his heart on his sleeve and visually gives it his all each time out on the court, with the sort of play Borah exudes, the fit is nearly perfect for his team’s style of play and helps promote him even further in terms as a prospect. Bolt also proved to not shy away from the big moment as his numbers carried through into the state tournament where he faced some stiff competition at his position, but held his own entirely.
We are very excited to see what Bolt will bring this season for his club, as given by his already impressive field of work out on the court, the ceiling is extremely high for him.
Treasure Valley studs
There are a lot to like within the entire Treasure Valley in terms of this class and that will grow even more as we move closer to the season’s tip. But, so far, it does seem that a large amount of the top players can be found in the Treasure Valley. Names like Rocky Mountain’s Briggs Ranstrom, Eagle’s Tanner Hayhurst (whom also received an offer from Idaho State this offseason), and Ambrose’ Paul Yenor are all talented and will be lighting up the box scores this prep season.
In addition to those three, Meridian’s Donovan Sanor, Middleton’s Tyler Robinett, Nampa’s Donavon Estrada, Rocky Mountain’s Cooper Frith, and Vallivue’s Mike Fitts are firmly on our radar as well as potential prospects to shoot up the rankings board once things get under way out on the hardwood.
A few more to watch
As things wrapped up last season in the prep Idaho hoops world a few names really grabbed our attention and will look to see what they do in their junior season. Post Falls’ Colby Gennett, Century’s Carson Zink, Butte County’s Bridger Hansen and Sugar-Salem’s Pasen Michaelson all hit our rankings toward the tail end but also have a chance to make some moves in 18-19.
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Stay tuned as our rankings continue to evolve and take shape entering the prep season, we are constantly updating our lists with chances for prospects to enter the fold year round.