Impact Freshman From The OK Conference
In this article:
Rarely do freshmen have the ability and mentality to make an impact on varsity. Yet few come along who have that “it” factor and can handle the speed of the varsity level right away. Below are five players from the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingRarely do freshmen have the ability and mentality to make an impact on varsity. Yet few come along who have that “it” factor and can handle the speed of the varsity level right away. Below are five players from the OK Conference who are doing just that, and helping their teams win games in the first half of the 2021 season.
EJ Ryans EJ Ryans 6'4" | SG Northview | 2024 State #224 Nation MI , G, Northview
EJ Ryans EJ Ryans 6'4" | SG Northview | 2024 State #224 Nation MI has stepped into one of the more talented starting five’s in the OK Conference and has fit in seamlessly. The first thing that pops out of EJ’s game is the level of effort he brings on the defensive end. He routinely creates havoc by applying pressure to opposing backcourt, leading to steals and transition opportunities for Northview. Although he’s only a freshman, EJ’s length is disruptive, which has been a big proponent of his defensive chops thus far.
On the offensive end, EJ knows his role and plays it well. His ability to breakdown defenders, get into the lane and find an open teammate is a large part of what makes this Northview team successful.EJ has also proven to be a reliable shooter, adding another dimension to his growing game.
Durral Brooks Durral Brooks 6'2" | PG Grand Rapids Catholic Central | 2024 State MI , G, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
When I first caught Durral in action, I was shocked to learn he was only a freshman. He’s already mature beyond his years, which pops out in Catholic Central’s offense in the halfcourt. He has the ball on a handle and can penetrate the defense with consistency.
Durral has also shown an advanced ability to finish tough shots around the rim. In addition to his offensive abilities, Durral makes an impact on the glass, using his athleticism to grab boards, often over bigger players. Defensively, his athleticism shows as well, as he’s often quicker than most guards he faces. Durral appears to be the guard of the present and future for a talent-rich Catholic Central program.
Christian Humphrey-Rembert Christian Humphrey-Rembert 6'8" | PF La Lumiere | 2024 #190 Nation IN , F, East Kentwood
17pts 5rbs 4 blks 1 turnt lil brother for @HumphreyRembert vs Rockford in game 3 @endless_motor @PrepHoopsTate @PrepHoopsMI @MidwestPrepHoop @highmajorscoop @PrepHoopsNext @umichbball @MSU_Basketball @KentuckyMBB @HUMensBB pic.twitter.com/7y6wrIKV4j
— Trey (@tremainerembert) February 17, 2021
Out of anyone in the area, no one has exploded onto the scene quite as loudly as Christian Humphrey-Rembert Christian Humphrey-Rembert 6'8" | PF La Lumiere | 2024 #190 Nation IN . He has next-level athleticism that is quite frankly overpowering opponents. That’s rare for a freshman. While his offensive game is still developing, he’s shown that he has quite a few tools he can use to compete, and sometimes dominate the competition at this level.
Christian has a promising jumper that has shown flashes of extending beyond the perimeter, and an ability to put the ball on the deck and go get a bucket. His motor is what I love the most about his game at this point in his young career, but as his game progresses, he should be looked at as one of the premier prospects in the 2024 class out of the OK Conference.
Trevor Zamarron Trevor Zamarron 6'1" | PG Greenville | 2024 State MI , G, Greenville
I have yet to see Trevor live, but from what I’ve gathered from my sources, Trevor is a promising guard with a bright future ahead of him. He already has a 22-point game under his belt and an ability to create his shot that isn’t too often seen in freshman.
Merritt Alderink Merritt Alderink 6'7" | PF Zeeland West | 2024 State #245 Nation MI , F, Zeeland West
Merritt received a ton of hype in the grassroots circuit this summer and has since then ridden that momentum into contributing to Zeeland West in his first year of high school. He has great size for a freshman and plays with good balance. As he continues to develop, he’ll be a forward that the Dux can play through for years to come.