Post Evaluation Period Recruiting Buzz
What players have helium right now after strong showings over the last month during the June high school live period and only July evaluation period? PHI dives into a group of 20 prospects who have the positive buzz among coaches…
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Continue ReadingWhat players have helium right now after strong showings over the last month during the June high school live period and only July evaluation period? PHI dives into a group of 20 prospects who have the positive buzz among coaches coming out of the three evaluation weekends this summer.
Class of 2020
DJ Steward (Whitney Young)
Steward headlines this list after what he did at the Nike Peach Jam. He was dynamic as a scorer playing with the ball in his hands. Steward already held an array of high-major offers and recently took visits to Texas, Illinois, and Louisville. After his play in North Augusta he scored offers from North Carolina and Duke.
Isaiah Rivera (Geneseo)
Rivera is one of the best wings in the state and college coaches at the mid-major level clearly agree as he has scored scholarships from Duquesne, Akron, Colorado State, Southern Illinois, Siena, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Northern Kentucky, and Fresno State in the last month.
Martice Mitchell (Bloom)
Mitchell is a new age post with his length and versatility. When locked in like he was during the high school live period he is the best big man in the state. Mitchell has landed offers from Missouri State, Colorado State, VCU, Tulsa, Murray State, South Florida, and New Mexico in recent weeks.
Marcus Watson (Morgan Park)
Watson had a very strong spring and summer with the Mac Irvin Fire. He led the Nike EYBL in assists. Shined early in the week at Peach Jam with the way he got to the rim consistently while still getting others involved.
Dante Maddox (Bloom)
Maddox opened up a lot of eyes at the Ridgewood Shootout. He helped lead his team to the championship with his shooting from deep. Microwave scorer can really get it going fast! He has recently scored offers from Kent State, Cal State Fullerton, Akron, Indiana State, Wisconsin Green Bay, Missouri State, Loyola (MD), and Toledo.
Ray’Sean Taylor (Collinsville)
The metro east point guard is one of the best scorers in the state and that was shown over the last month in front of coaches as he has secured scholarships from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Indiana State, Akron, and Wright State.
Aquan Smart (Niles North)
Smart is another prospect that has landed several offers in recent weeks from the likes of SEMO, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Chicago State, UAB, Florida International, Illinois State, and East Tennessee State. Athletic combo guard that can get to the rim with his athleticism.
Connor Kochera (St. Viator)
Kochera might be the second hottest name in the state right now after Steward. He has been consistent through the high school live periods and July travel team season. Smooth multi-level scorer with range on his shot. He has been reeling in offers in the last month collecting scholarships from Wright State, Siena, Brown, Wofford, Furman, Illinois State, South Dakota, William & Mary, Penn, Dartmouth, Lipscomb, and UC Davis.
Sam Schultz (Oswego East)
Schultz is a four man that can score both with his back to the basket and facing up. We have felt he has been long under recruited. He is still at the D1 level where we think more low-majors should be involved, but D2’s are now jumping in the mix as he has landed offers from Maryville and Sioux Falls.
Armond Williams (East St. Louis)
We have been fans of this projectable post back to last year where he showed glimpses of his potential in limited minutes. With the Southwest Jets he has seen his recruitment pick up getting recent offers from SEMO and SIU-Edwardsville.
Kyndall Davis (Bogan)
Davis has played so well for All-In Athletics all spring on both the Adidas Gauntlet and PrepHoops Circuits. The jumbo small forward has seen that translate to recruiting interest getting scholarships from the likes of SEMO, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, LIU-Brooklyn, and Drexel in the last 30 days.
RJ Ogom (Homewood Flossmoor)
Ogom is travel team running mate with Davis and has also received a similar type of interest on the recruiting trail. The physical power forward rebounds at a high level and is improving his game off the bounce. That has intrigued schools like Northern Illinois, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Purdue Fort Wayne, Youngstown State, and College of Charleston.
Connor Linke (St. Charles North)
Linke shined during the high school live period at Ridgewood with how well he played. Throwback five man that plays with physicality around the hoop. Army, UC Davis, and North Dakota have all offered the St. Charles North five man.
Dominic Martinelli (Glenbrook South)
Martinelli played as well as anyone during the Ridgewood event. He put his team on his back and led his team to the title. Gannon University jumped in with an offer. A ton of D2 programs are monitoring him heavily.
Nate Shockey (York)
Shockey is a great example of how some prospects are given more exposure during the high school period than travel team season. He garnered his most interest after how he played at Ridgewood earning offers from North Dakota, Albany, and University of Indianapolis. Plus shooter from the point guard spot that is tough as nails.
Brandon Lieb (Deerfield)
The near seven foot center had a strong showing with his high school team in late June. That helped him land offers from Western Illinois and IUPUI.
Class of 2021
Bryce Hopkins (Fenwick)
There were a ton of coaches on hand to watch Bryce Hopkins during the June high school periods. He impressed with his play and earned offers because of that. Schools that extended offers included Wisconsin, Texas, Missouri, Ohio State, California, Creighton, and Iowa.
Isaiah Barnes (OPRF)
Barnes is a smooth scoring two guard that has been a mainstay among the top 10 prospects in the 2021 class. College coaches are finally starting to take notice as he scored his first Big 10 offer from Illinois. A ton of high-major and mid-majors are following him more heavily now.
John Poulakidas (Neuqua Valley)
Poulakidas exploded with his play over the last month. He had a strong spring with Young & Reckless before making the move to MoKan in July. During the high school live periods the skilled lefty showed he can really put up points. In June and July he has landed offers from Butler, Miami (OH), Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Brown, Loyola, St. Louis, Rutgers, Bradley, and TCU.
Louis Lesmond (Niles Notre Dame)
Lesmond has only been in the United States a little over a year after moving here from France. With Niles Notre Dame in June he garnered rave reviews from college coaches earning offers from Nebraska, Illinois, and Dayton. A lot of other schools are monitoring the sharp shooter.