Newcomers in 2020: Part III
Many of the Class of 2020 players are new to the PrepHoopsTN rankings. With the needed expansion the Class of 2020 rankings invited in dozens of deserving prospects.
The five players below all slotted between 140 and 160. All five of this bunch will start the next two years of high school.
Be warned that all ranked prospects are not created equal. By the second semester of senior year a safe rule of thumb is to consider the top 30 surefire DI prospects, the top 50 are likely to land DII/DI/JuCo. If you trek to the 50-100 range you will see many DIII/NAIA guys and then the lower ranked players likely exist as strong high school starters with an outside shot at post-HS basketball.
Because these players are entering their junior year the uncertainty regarding their future ranking will be higher. In other words, a #150 player now could become a #90 player in 16 months with significant improvement. In the same vein a #150 player now could edge his way outside the top 200. The second half of high school generally includes the entire college recruitment.
If you want to peruse the rankings in their entirety smash here.
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#145 Micah Austin 2020 Team Patriot 17u Wing Guard
Micah Austin is one of several fun players from McKenzie, Tennessee. Austin puts in the jumpers comfortably. He needs to tighten that handle to be a true point guard. Alas, his AAU and high school teammate Lucas King looks to be the starting point guard alongside Austin for at least two more years. Somehow Austin needs to show that aspect of his game to the decision makers.
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#147 Gage Wells 2020 Tennessee Tigers Wing Guard
For Tennessee Tigers 16u Gage Wells was a slick off guard. Shooting is his strength and yet the handle is coming along The ball doesn’t get loose often and traps are difficult to execute against Wells because he stands 6-foot-3. Mt. Juliet will use Wells more in his upcoming junior season.
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#152 Cody Pardue 2020 NYBA 17u F
Cody is a nice face-up four man. His legs will always be forward legs. Pardue is strong head to toe, but more physical than slippery. He doesn’t look like a future college wing, but rather a catch-and-shoot weapon off the bench with forward instincts. Pardue has really developed his outside shot and it makes a real difference for any time he suits up for. He should score in double figures nightly for Dickson County High School.
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#156 Jay Coleman-Rose 2020 Memphis Showtime PG
Pictured above, Jay Coleman-Rose is a complete bull on the ball. He presses with teammates or by himself. Nobody likes seeing him line up as a lockdown cornerback on their basketball court. Coleman-Rose lags lower only because he stands shorter than most college-aspiring guards. The skills and tenacity are incredible.
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#159 Lazarick Hill 2020 Team Patriot 17u WG
Lazarick Hill is a bulldog forward that might be able to play wing defender beyond high school. Built like a high school defensive lineman, Hill brings a few basketball skills to McKenzie High like offensive rebounding and hard-nosed post defense.
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