Division II players typically find DII an attractive option late in the recruiting process. For years the stigma was that DII was a lesser, watered down version of basketball and often the thinking among high school basketball players was that the experience was going to be completely forgettable at the DII level. In the last 5 years there has been a modest shift in this line of thinking. Success stories from the Division II ranks are more visible and prominently-touted with the social media boom. Check out some players certain to play for, or at least attract, Division II programs.
Jack Brown
Jack
Brown
6'4" | SG
Maryville | 2021
State
TN
(Maryville)
Jack Brown
Jack
Brown
6'4" | SG
Maryville | 2021
State
TN
routinely hears from NAIA programs and the occasional DII. He has the hops, the shooting range, and commitment to play at the DII level. It comes down to getting a good evaluation from a handful of DII teams.
Regular season highlights! @BIGMSE @MHSMBBhttps://t.co/5fJMvl1o22
— Jack Brown (@JackBrown_3) February 26, 2021
Caleb Horton (Tennessee Prep)
Raised in Chicago, Caleb Horton is an interesting prospect. “My point guard, from Chicago, from Aspire Academy last year, he is going to find a Division II program,” said Tennessee Prep Director Harold Rayford. “He really wants to earn a scholarship. Everything is open to this one.”
Caleb hears from Emporia State. West Florida.
Jaylan Wetzel
Jaylan
Wetzel
6'1" | SG
Siegel | 2021
State
TN
(Siegel)
The hot-shooting Wetzel is more 2-guard than lead guard and that hurt his recruitment so far. Scoring and competing is not a problem and a DII program could benefit from using Wetzel as a shooter off the bench, maybe a team’s third guard.
JaQuan Lax
JaQuan
Lax
6'1" | PG
Bolivar Central | 2021
State
TN
(Bolivar Central)
Undersized as a volume scorer, JaQuan simply scores. Hit outside shooting is locally legendary. Before this week it was largely unknown outside his district. The 11 unanswered points to pull his Tigers back at the State Tournament proved to everyone how real the talent and drive of Lax truly is.
Luke DeGannes (Tennessee Prep)
DeGannes is a player previously unfamiliar to our state. Now LD is the second-leading scorer for Tennessee Prep. “Transferred from Teas-Valley Christian,” said Tennessee Prep Head Coach Harold Rayford.. “Legitimately 6-5. Can shoot the three at a high level. He can play D1 basketball, but I could see him playing D2 school because he fits that mold of what a college coaches are looking for.”
6’5 (Senior- Guard) Luke DeGannes has been on???? since transferring this past semester. He was able to display his ability to shoot the ball & defend multiple positions #StockRiser ???????????? @thegrindsession @PrepHoopsTN @HSCircuit @_lukedegannes_ #TPA #BeBetterBeDifferent #Blessed pic.twitter.com/sIuGqShijZ
— Tenn Prep Academy (@tennprepacademy) March 18, 2021
Brandon Maclin
Brandon
Maclin
6'4" | SG
Jackson South Side | 2021
State
TN
(South Side)
Maclin is a rugged guard with excellent defensive instincts and commitment. Maclin’s recruitment lagged somewhat because he plays more like a combo guard than a true-one. He can easily defend either guard position, possibly even a small college “3.”
Darwin Randolph
Darwin
Randolph
6'0" | PG
East Hamilton | 2021
State
TN
(East Hamilton)
Like Maclin, Randolph is a muscular, physically-imposing guard with the ability to defend multiple positions. His outside shooting never completely matured to help his otherwise-balanced offensive skillset. Randolph really begin to find college suitors in the last four months. His teammate
Marcus Long II
Marcus
Long II
6'2" | CG
East Hamilton | 2021
State
TN
is also an interesting prospect certain to play beyond high school.
Isaiah Jones
Isaiah
Jones
6'8" | SF
Arlington | 2021
State
TN
(Arlington)
During his first season with Arlington,
Isaiah Jones
Isaiah
Jones
6'8" | SF
Arlington | 2021
State
TN
played wonderfully. Arlington pulled in Isaiah from East Nashville High where he was a Class AA State Qualifier in 2020. Jones is an elite wing scorer at 6-foot-8. He can hit the pull-up, bury the deep ball, or score in the paint. His ceiling is D1 basketball, but the D1 offers have not arrived yet. Kentucky Wesleyan offered him over a year ago and they perhaps saw D2 as a reasonable level for the versatile star.
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