Updated 2020 Rankings: Baltimore Prospects 51-75
Our updated rankings for the 2020 class dropped on Monday. There has been significant movement throughout as players capitalized off of strong endings to their respective high school seasons and have been productive so far this summer. For this set…
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Continue ReadingOur updated rankings for the 2020 class dropped on Monday. There has been significant movement throughout as players capitalized off of strong endings to their respective high school seasons and have been productive so far this summer.
For this set of articles, I’ll break down the prospects from the Baltimore area that landed in the rankings.
Will Thomas | 6’5 | Mervo/Team Thrill
Ranking: No. 58
Thomas is a player that will quickly work his way back the rankings once the summer is over. He sat out all of last season with a Jones fracture and is back on the floor returning to his old self. The 6-foot-5 guard can do many things on the court including be a play maker off the dribble, rebound at a productive rate and use his athleticism to be a shot-blocking presence around the rim. Thomas is unique in that he is ambidextrous. He can shoot left-handed when going left and shoot right-handed when going right. Thomas will be a guy many low and mid-major programs will want to track closely this season.
Curtis Jacobs | 6’4 | McDonogh
Ranking: No. 64
Jacobs hasn’t seen much action on the hardwood this summer considering that he’ll be heading to Penn State next year to play linebacker. Still, the 6-foot-4 guard brings plenty to the court that makes him worthy of his ranking. Jacobs is a very strong, athletic wing who can guard either frontcourt position. His athleticism plays a big role in his ability to catch lobs, go get rebounds and be an active defender. As a senior on a young McDonogh team, he’ll be a big part of their success and setting a tone early in games with how physical he can play.
Jake Nichols | 6’7 | Brewster Academy/Team BBC
Ranking: No. 67
Nichols made it official yesterday that he will be transferring from Boys’ Latin to Brewster Academy next season. The 6-foot-7 forward had a nice April for Team BBC that caught they eyes of some coaches, but his summer was cut short due to a back injury. Nichols may experience some struggle dealing with the athleticism and size that he’ll face considering Brewster’s schedule, but a few things that he can always bring to the table is 100 percent effort and being a smart player. It’ll be interesting to revisit Nichols’ ranking a year from today.
Elijah Rantin | 6’9 | Mervo/Team Thrill
Ranking: No. 70
Rantin has improved a great deal since last summer. With Thomas out for this past season, Rantin had to take on more of a responsibility as a scoring option in the post. He did that successfully and showed some room to grow into a legit low to mid Division I prospect. Rantin finishes strong around and above the rim, runs the floor well and is a shot-blocking presence at all times. Rantin is at his best when he has play makers around him that can find him in the dunker’s area where he can showcase his length when he rises up. He also showed stints of being a good finisher as a trailer in transition where he can finish off the catch or one dribble.
Isaac James | 6’7 | St. Frances/Team BBC
Ranking: No. 72
James is a very interesting prospect because of his size and skill. If he had any continuity from the start of his high school career with either high schools or AAU programs, it’s not a stretch to say he could be a very highly ranked player in the area. He offers versatility offensively by being able to score from inside or out. Defensively, he guards his position well and can handle his own for short stints when being switched out on to smaller, quicker guards. Something underrated about James is his athleticism. He already has dependable hands, so when he catches around the rim, he knows how to finish over the top. James will likely play big minutes for St. Frances this season, so we’ll be able to see if any programs fall in love with him.
Cam Byers | 6’5 | Dulaney
Ranking: No. 73
Last year was a huge adjustment period for Byers after transferring from John Carroll. He joined a Dulaney team that was loaded with scoring guards and although they reached the final four of their respective class, Byers didn’t have as much as an impact as predicted. Looking into next season with a couple of those guards finding new homes, Byers role becomes much bigger. He’ll look to be the secondary scoring option and it’ll be imperative that he anchors the paint as a rebounder and defender. Sometimes players response to having an off year can result in them having a breakout season. We’ll see what Byers has in store as he looks to help lead Dulaney back to the Xfinity Center.