Recruiting Report: Devin Dinkins (2022)
Look around the high school landscape and you may not find a more talented crop of players than the 2022 class in the DMV. At the top of that list of point guards sits Gonzaga’s Devin Dinkins Devin Dinkins 5'10" | PG Gonzaga | 2022 State MD .
Dinkins took on the starting role for head coach Steve Turner last season as a sophomore and helped engineer his team to a 25-10 record overall and a 15-5 record in the WCAC. Taking on this responsibility brought out the best in the 5-foot-10 floor general and has his recruitment on the verge of picking up significantly.
“I was lucky enough to have a great group of guys around me this year,” Dinkins continued, “I was put in position to lead the team and be a playmaker. I was also expected to make shots. As a freshman my role was really just to come in and play good pressure defense on the ball for 94 feet and really just learn from the older guys.”
It’s safe to say that Dinkins’ freshman year in 2018-19 was crucial for him being prepared to take on more involved role as a sophomore.
“At the end of my freshman year in the semifinal game I really started to get comfortable playing at that level,” Dinkins told Prep Hoops. “By the time my sophomore year came I was comfortable coming in, but it took us a little to find our groove as a team. It wasn’t until the Archbishop Carroll game (six games in) is when I really started to assert myself in my role.”
When asked to describe his game, the No. 6 player in our 2022 player rankings gave an accurate response that summed up his style for those who have never seen him in action.
“I’m a shot maker who makes plays for his teammates and himself. Can run the show as a lead guard and play good defense and a great leader.”
While Dinkins check many of the boxes that coaches need in their point guard, he knows there is always room to improve and this summer he put a concentrated effort into one specific aspect.
“This spring and summer I really wanted to put emphasis on my athleticism and explosiveness especially when I’m around the rim. I felt like I did that when I was playing in the summer series with Team Takeover. I put time in the weight room and even outside running just to build my legs. It was also a mindset thing of me just putting in my mind to explode more when I’m around the basket and prepare for the contact.”
Dinkins holds offers from Bryant, DePaul, Georgetown, La Salle and Penn State. While Georgetown and La Salle continue to reach out on a regular basis, Dinkins told me that Virginia and Providence are two programs that he hears from often. Neither of the latter programs have offered, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually pull the trigger following a productive junior season.
Dinkins has no timetable set in terms of making a decision, but he has a priority list when evaluating schools.
“The things that I’m really looking into is whether the school is a good opportunity for me to come in and play early and just really play my game and be comfortable with the coaching staff. Being able to come in and be held accountable, but also be given the freedom to learn a lot from the guys and the coaching staff, too.
Wherever Dinkins end up, he’ll be prepared. Head coach Steve Turner has a long history of preparing his players for productive collegiate careers at any level.
“Playing for Coach Turner I feel like is going to prepare me a lot. We had a good relationship before I even stepped on campus at Gonzaga as a freshman. Since my freshman year he’s instilled a lot of confidence in me by playing me right away and really just letting me play my game. At the same time, he taught me his system and a lot of the little things it takes to be a good point guard leadership wise and stuff like coming off screens and reading the backside of the defense. Coach Turner has taught me a lot,” Dinkins said as he reflected.