Recruiting Notebook: Players On The Move
Over the last few weeks, we have seen some of the top players in the 2021 and 2022 class solidify their positions among themselves. From C.J. Gunn to Jake Heidbreder Jake Heidbreder 6'3" | SG Floyd Central | 2021 State…
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Continue ReadingOver the last few weeks, we have seen some of the top players in the 2021 and 2022 class solidify their positions among themselves. From C.J. Gunn to Jake Heidbreder Jake Heidbreder 6'3" | SG Floyd Central | 2021 State IN to Cam Haffner, we have the latest.
Blake Barker Blake Barker 6'2" | PG Columbus North | 2021 State IN Off Board To Army
We haven’t had a ton of guys commit lately but 2021 guard Blake Barker Blake Barker 6'2" | PG Columbus North | 2021 State IN is one of them. The 6’2 guard out of Columbus North (IN) picked up an offer from Army early in August, his first offer at any level, and that was enough for him to pull the trigger.
Barker has a former teammate currently at Army and there is a lot of Indiana flavor on those rosters over the last few years so he wasn’t unfamiliar with the program. This was the level we had him at before COVID hit, a borderline DI talent that likely would find his way into an offer. Wasn’t sure it was going to come with how everything for DI programs has stalled but nonetheless, he is currently the 14th player in the 2021 class to commit to a DI program.
Javon Small Javon Small 6'2" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2021 State AZ Transferring To Compass Prep (AZ)
One of the biggest surprises of the last week was Franklin Central (IN) guard Javon Small Javon Small 6'2" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2021 State AZ making the decision to transfer out of Indiana and go to Prep School. Not uncommon for players but going from a prospect who didn’t have anything going in recruiting to landing some quick offers this Spring to having over a half-dozen offers, that is a big jump in this climate.
This along with freshman standout Jalen Hooks Jalen Hooks 6'6" | SF Warren Central | 2023 State #282 Nation IN transfer has killed any momentum that Franklin Central had coming off of last year. They were poised to take a big step forward but now it will be interesting to see how things change. For Javon, the movement away from Indiana could help him, but also could hurt him. With how Prep Schools operate and with every state being in a different state of recovery from COVID, between the traveling to testing to location of games, not sure how a season like that would go. Too early to tell either way but definitely worth watching.
Kamari Lands Kamari Lands 6'7" | SF Hillcrest Prep | 2022 State #65 Nation AZ Transfers To Prolific Prep (CA)
The other big transfer in the last week was that of Kamari Lands Kamari Lands 6'7" | SF Hillcrest Prep | 2022 State #65 Nation AZ . The 6’6 wing had been at LaLumiere the last two years and was set to be one of their better players this season. However, the family is on the move once again and he will now head to Prolific Prep out in Napa, California.
The state of Indiana and Prolific Prep has had some interesting beef over the last few years but now we are in a spot to see another talent leave, although never having played a game for an IHSAA school kind of makes it hurt less for local fans. The same issues we talked about with Javon Small Javon Small 6'2" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2021 State AZ exist here as well. The only potential workaround is there are more prep schools in California than in Indiana so if it is locked into just in their own state, they would have an easier path to some games.