Best Available: 2019 Small Forwards
The high school season is less than three weeks away and we are at a point where commitments and best available are highly relevant. At the end of each month throughout the season, we will be diving into those players still on the board and looking at who fits where. Things can change in the span of a week so each month should provide us with a whole new view on the landscape.
Today, we are looking at the 2019 small forwards and the players still remaining on the board. We list the DI, DII, NAIA, and DIII targets. As a note, these are based off of where we think the player will excel at the highest level. Players will get recruited above and below the level we have them listed for but it is our estimation that these are where they would succeed the most.
The 2019 group of small forwards is probably the deepest and most talented of any in the class. There are so many players but a bunch of them are already off the board giving very few options still on the board at the top levels. However, there are 5 committed to DI, 2 to DII, and 2 to NAIA programs. Pretty good start.
Aaron Etherington |
6’6 |
SF |
Hamilton Southeastern |
UA Grind 2019 |
Toledo |
Lucas Kroft |
6’5 |
SF |
Fort Wayne North |
1Nation 2019 |
Ball State |
Jalen Windham |
6’5 |
SF |
Ben Davis |
Indy Heat 2019 |
Georgia State |
Jesse Bingham |
6’5 |
SF |
Warren Central |
Indiana Elite Fastbreak 2019 |
Indianapolis |
Ali Ali |
6’7 |
SF |
East Noble |
Indy Heat Red 2019 |
Akron |
Andrew Owens |
6’5 |
SF |
Carmel |
Indy Heat Red 2019 |
Findlay |
Bradley Nalley |
6’6 |
SF |
Corydon Central |
Louisville Legends 2019 |
American |
Nathan Aerts |
6’5 |
SF |
Valparaiso |
Indiana Game 2019 |
Bethel College |
Hank Pulver |
6’6 |
SF |
Huntington North |
Indy Heat Red 2019 |
Huntington |
DI Targets Still On The Board:
There is only one guy left on the board and he is a pretty good one. Keion will likely decide between the top teams in the country with Indiana, Michigan State, UNC, and Kentucky still involved. Other than him, there isn’t another comfortable option for DI programs to look at.
Keion Brooks Jr. |
6’8 |
SF |
La Lumiere |
Indy Heat 2019 |
DII Targets Still On The Board:
Frank Davidson has proven to be one of the intriguing players in the 2019 class. Very tight lipped about his recruitment and has a wide variety of programs after him. Ultimately, he could be very special for a DII program where he was comfortable at. I envision DII’s take a kid or two from our NAIA list as the recruiting for wings in 2019 has been very aggressive for them so far.
Frank Davidson |
6’5 |
SF |
Blackhawk Christian |
Indy Heat Red 2019 |
NAIA Targets Still On The Board:
NAIA’s won’t have a ton of options as most of those players that we thought a year ago would be around this level are either already off the board or rose above their level. However, Myles Johnson would be a sneaky good pickup and Allen Plunkett joins him as the two best options right now. Hayden Smithey and Matt Frost give you players that can provide versatility with their ball handling and creation. Smithey is the better shooter of the two. Reis Thomas is the best athlete of the group.
Myles Johnson |
6’5 |
SF |
Indiana Northwest Warriors |
Indiana Elite Metro 2019 |
Allen Plunkett |
6’5 |
SF |
South Putnam |
Indiana Faith 2019 |
Hayden Smithey |
6’5 |
SF |
Bishop Dwenger |
1Nation 2019 |
Matthew Frost |
6’5 |
SF |
Columbus East |
Indiana Elite Central 2019 |
Reis Thomas |
6’3 |
SF |
Brownsburg |
Team Teague 2019 |
Chris Robinson |
6’3 |
SF |
Indianapolis Pike |
Team Teague 2019 |
Ozzie Johnson |
6’5 |
SF |
Horizon Christian (FW) |
N/A |
DIII Targets Still On The Board:
For DIII programs, there are still a number of players in the small forward spot that could be entertaining. Dallas Holmes is a guy that has hardly been seen but has the productivity and talent to be a solid DIII player. Xavier Hines gives you flexibility and toughness along with his ability to score. Hatton could be one of the more interesting players with a ridiculous amount of length and some shooting ability. Also look at Bryant Robinson and Xavier Hines as the two sneakiest pickups come next year.
Jayvon Hatton |
6’4 |
SF |
Indianapolis Scecina |
Club Elite Hatton 2019 |
Dallas Holmes |
6’4 |
SF |
Southwood |
N/A |
Xavier Hines |
6’3 |
SF |
Noblesville |
Indiana Elite Central 2019 |
Bryant Robinson |
6’4 |
SF |
Goshen |
Kardia Kings 2019 |
Sam Snodgrass |
6’3 |
SF |
Crown Point |
Indiana Dawgz 2019 |
Amari Sherrod |
6’4 |
SF |
Bowman Academy |
SYF 2019 |
Ajani Smith |
6’4 |
SF |
Indianapolis Lighthouse South |
Indiana Elite Ice 2019 |
Sam Decker |
6’3 |
SF |
Crown Point |
N/A |
Dylan Romine |
6’3 |
SF |
New Palestine |
N/A |
John Carrothers |
6’3 |
SF |
Andrean |
Indiana Game 2019 |
Keaton Richardson |
6’1 |
SF |
Owen Valley |
Southwest Rebels 2019 |