PH Top 250: 2022 Evaluations
The PrepHoopsKentucky Top 250 Expo was this past weekend in Louisville. It was a really strong group for being the first Prep Hoops event to be held here in Kentucky. Here are our evaluations of the Class of 2022 (Presented…
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Continue ReadingThe PrepHoopsKentucky Top 250 Expo was this past weekend in Louisville. It was a really strong group for being the first Prep Hoops event to be held here in Kentucky. Here are our evaluations of the Class of 2022 (Presented in alphabetical order).
Tyson Barrett, Frederick Douglass – Tyson showed some skills on Saturday that I’ve not seen from him before. His ball handling is much improved and he made some tough finishes through traffic. Barrett is long and decently athletic with high upside. The next step in his game is developing a consistent three point stroke so he can play wing and post.
Corey Brown, Fort Knox – Brown is a shifty point guard who excelled in ball screen action on offense. He’s got a good build and as a 2022 is likely not done growing. Corey has some leadership characteristics to him for a Sophomore and should continue to improve over the next two years. He’s definitely on the radar for a spot in our 2022 rankings at the next update.
Grayson Bryant, Eastern – Bryant was one of the better shooters in the gym on Saturday and didn’t miss many open looks. The 2022 class at Eastern is absolutely loaded but there’s no reason Grayson can’t find his way onto the floor this season as a specialist and earn more time and opportunity as his skill level continues to rise.
Justice Cummins, Butler – When the 2022 rankings posted last week, Justice was quick to claim he was snubbed. He may have been right. The first game of the day, he crossed a defender and dropped him and after that, Cummins was off and running. Butler’s 2022 group has super high potential and Justice is a nice piece to that class. If he can lift his shot up (it’s a little flat) he can be an even better shooter than what he showed this past weekend.
Cole Davis, South Oldham – One young man who had no issues shooting the ball this weekend was Davis. He’s got good positional size and shot the ball very well on Saturday. More impressively, he wasn’t just a shooter. Cole put the ball on the floor and scored in the midrange. Look for him to carve out a varsity role this season and be a top player in the 8th region by his Senior season.
Micah Engle, Corbin – Not to sound repetitive here but Engle was yet another Sophomore who shot the ball really well on Saturday in Louisville. He showed he is a very good decision maker with the ball in his hands and can create his own offense or make the game easier for others. It can be hard for younger players to crack the varsity rotation at Corbin but Micah should get a look this season.
Oliver Harris, Highlands – To be frank, I had never heard of Oliver until the Expo on Saturday but he was impressive throughout the day with his ability to compete on both ends of the court and play every position on the floor effectively. Highlands has had a little resurgence in their basketball program the last few years and Harris should be a solid contributor in his Sophomore season.
James Jewell, Eastern – It’s been mentioned before but Jewell should be commended for always showing up to compete at these type of events. James continues to get better every time I see him and that’s not likely to change any time soon. At 6’6 and likely still growing, the top ranked 2022 in Kentucky appears to only be scratching the surface of his abilities.
Dominic Portaro, Ballard – Dominic shot the ball extremely well on Saturday. Ballard isn’t lacking for guards right now but they can definitely use someone to knock down shots this year. If he can improve his defense, the 6’3 wing should find his way onto the court for the Bruins this season.
Maurice Ruttlen, Mount Juliet (Tennessee) – Our lone out of state participant, Ruttlen plays hard and with a certain amount of swagger. He went into the stands after a loose ball. Shortly thereafter, Maurice went on a personal 7-0 run for his team. If he were a Kentucky kid, he would likely be a top 20 or better Sophomore.
Dominick Smiley, Great Crossing – Smiley had a good day on Saturday. He scored the ball well, especially late in the day when he was able to get to the rim and finish with floaters and tough layups. There is no reason Dominick can’t be a rotation player for a Great Crossing team that doesn’t have a ton of guard depth. As the guard’s body fills out, his game should continue improving.
Casey Steadmon, Jeffersontown – One of the best players at camp on Saturday, Casey was really good before he wore down late in the afternoon. Steadmon is long and athletic with the look that he may still grow a few more inches. His transfer to J-Town is an interesting one as he should start there right away. Steadmon could crack the Top 10 in our rankings before all is said and done as long as he keeps growing and adding to his game.
Ja’Monti Wright, Ballard – Another young man who played his way onto the rankings radar on Saturday, Wright enters his second season in Kentucky after moving from North Carolina last year. Ja’Monti has good size as a combo guard and should likely play a decent role with Ballard as a Sophomore. With his skill level, Wright could be a good college prospect as his game keeps developing.