The Platform: Ryan James National Notebook
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You saw the baseline packed with college coaches at The Platform. Who were they watching? What did they come to see? We give you a quick rundown from Friday.
While Washington was solid on Friday, it was fellow five star big AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL who stole the headlines. The 6’8 power forward from Whitney Young in Chicago had 24 points in the second game scoring 10 of 11 field goals most of which were physical two hand slams. Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood, Gonzaga assistant Roger Powell Jr, Michigan assistant Saddi Washington, and I believe it was Ohio State assistant Tony Skinn who were among the coaches watching Casey.
National championship Head Coach Scott Drew strolled into The Platform to watch his committed future guard Dillon Hunter play with the Georgia Stars. Hunter is the 48th ranked player in the nation according to the recently updated Prep Hoops national 2022 rankings that have 250 players listed.
Robert Cowherd of the Georgia Stars is the 148th ranked player in the nation. Ole Miss – thought to be a big player for Cowherd – was there as were coaches from other programs that have offered Cowherd including Baylor, Xavier, USF, and more.
Those that stayed into the late hours at The Platform got a chance to see the 115th ranked prospect in the 2022 class Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN have a monster second half nearly totaling a double-double in 15 minutes time. Minnesota Head Coach Ben Johnson as well as UST Head Coach John Tauer and assistant Gameli Ahelegbe were watching. That same game, the UST staff watched their recently committed big Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN , one of the top pick and pop shooters in the Midwest.
Terry Johnson of Purdue was the very first high major college coach to enter the building on Friday. Johnson sat down for the 8am game of 7’2 center Conrad Luczynski Conrad Luczynski 7'2" | C Bartlett | 2022 State IL .
The list of schools sitting down to get a look at Jackson Loge Jackson Loge 6'7" | C Morris Area | 2022 State MN was massive. Offered schools Toledo and North Dakota were there as was North Dakota State, Appalachian State, Nebraska-Omaha, Northern Iowa, Milwaukee, Lehigh, and a host of others.
The 98th ranked prospect in the country is Pharrel Payne Pharrel Payne 6'9" | C Park Of Cottage Grove | 2022 State #84 Nation MN of Minnesota Select. Payne is a very late emerging 2022 talent – won’t turn 17 until the end of the summer – but is already a very physical 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds. Payne had a pair of double-doubles yesterday with Ben Johnson of Minnesota, Brad Underwood of Illinois, Travis Steele of Xavier, Loyola Chicago, Iowa State, Appalachian State, and a ton of mid-majors watching.
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo made sure to be at The Platform on Friday and his target was Ty Rodgers, the elite defender from Meanstreets who completely shook some Arkansas kids with his full court pressure at 6-foot-7 and physical. Rodgers will soon be an All League defender which is likely why Izzo was front and center.
One of the top guards at The Platform is Leland Walker Leland Walker 5'11" | PG North Central | 2022 VA from Team Teague and North Central High School. Walker is ranked 156th in the country with a number of high major schools offering. Xavier Head Coach Travis Steele was the leader of the Walker crowd and he was joined by coaches from Purdue, Middle Tennessee, DePaul, IUPUI, and others.
That was North Carolina Head Coach Hubert Davis watching newly committed five star talent Jalen Washington Jalen Washington 6'10" | PF Gary Westside | 2022 State #32 Nation IN along with assistant Sean May. Washington ranked 15th in the nation by Prep Hoops – plays with Meanstreets EYBL squad and between games yesterday announced his commitment to Davis and the Heels.