2022 Spring and Early June Stock-Risers
Evaluating rising sophomores during their 15U summer is a little different than the higher grade levels. It’s our first spring and summer viewing them! We’re doing a lot of first impressions and new takeaways every time we step to a…
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Continue ReadingEvaluating rising sophomores during their 15U summer is a little different than the higher grade levels. It’s our first spring and summer viewing them! We’re doing a lot of first impressions and new takeaways every time we step to a 15U court.
So this article will be a bit shorter than the 2021 and 2020 versions.
Here, we just want to hit on four kids who are way too low on our current rankings sheet:
Bowen Hardman | 6-3 SG | Princeton / All Ohio Red
current rank: 17
expected jump: top six
Hardman is one of the most talented shooters I covered all spring. And with 3-point shooting becoming more valuable, Hardman is coming along at the perfect time. His mid-range scoring ability is also wildly advanced. The Princeton Viking can create separation or convert off-the-dribble jumpers with defenders in his grill.
Shawn Phillips | 6-9 C | Belmont / Wildcats
current rank: 19
expected jump: top six
Phillips appears to be the premier post prospect in Ohio’s 2022 class, which is shaping up to be a very talented class by the way. The Dayton City League prospect has rapidly grown in height over the 12 months and is still adjusting to his size. He has a ton of potential due to those unteachable physical tools, to go along with a nice scoring touch from the low- to mid-post and a feel for the game.
Michael Bova | 6-0 PG | St. Edward / All Ohio Red
current rank: 37
expected jump: top 20
Bova played junior varsity last year and we happened to catch his second half against Brush in the winter. We thought, “Hey this kid is pretty good. He’s getting to the rim whenever he wants and has finishing ability. But he’s playing JV, we’ll need to learn more about him next year.”
Fast forward to the Nike Cup, first event of the spring. We go check out All Ohio Red and it’s like, “Whoa! This kid from Ed’s is still unstoppable.”
Bova has blow-by speed and ridiculously good body control in the air — he finishes everything, with either hand too. Strong, compact guard. Tougher than a 5-foot-10 center. Shoots it well from the mid-range. Good balance on his pull-ups. Bova also gets after it defensively, forcing quick ball-handlers to turn and pick up their dribble often.
Nate Houston | 5-11 G | Rogers / Hopson Elite
current rank: 39
expected jump: top 25
Houston will likely end the summer as our no. 1 prospect out of Northwest Ohio. The fundamentally sound combo guard plays the game the right way. Capable of scoring it from all three levels but Houston often uses his quick first step to draw help-side and make a pass. Impressive athlete with explosion and a quick second jump. Slender build and it will be interesting to see how he develops physically. Houston and Northland 2022 guard Robert Dorsey — who sports an Ohio Univ. offer — are actually quite comparable.