PHI Top-250 Observations: Classes of 2022 & 2023
This past Saturday was the annual Prep Hoops Indiana Top-250 Expo at Fishers High School. The event saw close to 150 prospects participate throughout the day, with most of them being non-Seniors. It was filled with several talented individuals, as…
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Continue ReadingThis past Saturday was the annual Prep Hoops Indiana Top-250 Expo at Fishers High School. The event saw close to 150 prospects participate throughout the day, with most of them being non-Seniors. It was filled with several talented individuals, as well as many under-the-radar kids who showed their mettle against good competition. Below is a look at seven members of the 2022 and 2023 classes who I thought stood out when I was able to see them.
Tae Davis, 2022, 6-5 W, Lawrence Central H.S.
Tae has really seen his recruiting skyrocket over the past few months, and he was easily one of the most talented prospects in attendance Saturday. He is extremely long, fluid/smooth, and bouncy, plus he plays with a really nice savvy for a younger prospect. He can handle it a little and create offense for himself or others, he can knock down pull-ups or 3-pointers, and he showed a solid motor in transition and at the defensive end of the floor. As he continues to mature and gain strength, I think his game will just become that much more consistent and potent, and I’m talking about a kid who already possesses Big Ten interest/offers. Look for him to really step up this season at Lawrence Central.
Chandler Jackson, 2022, 6-3 W, Warren Central H.S.
This kid was very much an unknown, even as the event went on, because he was the only prospect not listed in the roster packet. By the end of the day, he made himself plenty well-known. Chandler is a broad-shouldered, wiry strong wing guard who appears much older than he is. He has a mature game as well, and he knocked down shot after shot, with range, each time he stepped onto the floor. He is a really nice on-the-floor athlete who created space with the dribble, and he showed the ability to handle the ball and run offense as well. I would like to see him use his strength and attack the basket a bit more, because I think that will open up his perimeter game as people figure him out and play for his ability to make shots.
Ahmad Jarrard, 2022, 6-2 G, Mount Vernon H.S. (Fortville, IN)
Early in the day, it appeared Ahmad was settling in and letting everyone else do their thing. But as he got more comfortable, he started to take over games and really score it aggressively. He is a long, wiry, but somewhat slender wing guard who can make shots at all levels. He was quick with the dribble and often got defenders off-balance, he hit the pull-up on occasion, but he more often attacked the rim, finishing with a dunk or two here and there. I was most impressed with his ability to change speeds and burst through the smallest of gaps to get into the heart of the defense. He will need to get stronger, tighten his handle a bit, and make his outside jumper more consistent, but he definitely has the physical talent and upside to draw plenty of college attention down the road.
Andrew Leeper, 2022, 6-5 W, Homestead H.S.
Andrew is a very intriguing wing prospect who only adds to a deep and talented Homestead roster. He has good length, a wiry strong frame, and he looks like he still might grow another inch or two. Andrew has some bounce to him as well, and he can attack and finish at the basket through contact. However, he hunts jump-shots more than anything, and he does have a solid left-handed touch from beyond the arc. His potential to still grow, add strength, and be able to eventually score it at all levels make him a tough matchup for defenses. At this point in time, he just needs to continue working on his game and let his body/frame finish developing.
Will Lovings-Watts, 2022, 6-4 W, Jeffersonville H.S.
Over the last year, I have really enjoyed watching and getting to know Will’s game. He is an extremely long, wiry strong, slashing athlete who plays with a great motor at both ends of the floor each time out. He moves around the floor effortlessly, he can play above the rim, and he has a quiet toughness to him and doesn’t mind physicality at all despite being somewhat thin right now. For as talented as he is, and considering the recruiting interest as he’s receiving right now, I think he’s also an “intangibles” kid, because he rebounds his position very well, plus he shows a great deal of versatility at the defensive end of the floor…he often takes on the other team’s best guard/wing, but I even think he can switch onto point guards and contain them for long periods of time as well.
Braden Smith, 2022, 5-11 PG, Westfield H.S.
If Braden is anything, he’s entertaining to watch. He has really good speed & quickness, and he plays with a lot of grit, toughness, and feistiness to his game. He can handle it and run offense, he can create offense for himself or others off the bounce, but he’s also a good perimeter with range who can create space with the dribble. I think the biggest improvement I’ve seen out of him over the past year, is he just looks much stronger with the ball, and while he’s naturally a playmaker, he is valuing possessions a lot more and not forcing the big play as much. Size might affect his recruiting a little, but I think he has a nice all-around game and can play with just about anyone. He should have a big year for Westfield.
Myles Stringer, 2023, 6-0 PG, Fishers H.S.
This was my first look at Myles, and I have to say I was pretty impressed with his potential/upside. Myles is a long, wiry strong, and very athletic scoring point guard. He has great North/South speed, good lateral quickness, and he is tough to contain off the dribble once he’s determined to get to the basket. He was consistently slicing by defenders to get to the rim, and he did a nice job of finishing around taller prospects. He is still young, so there is still some work to be done at valuing the basketball and not forcing the action too much, plus he needs to learn to change speeds, but I thought all-in-all he had a very good Saturday and should help make Fishers that much more competitive going forward.