Unsigned and Enticing: Point Guards, Undersized 3s and 4s
Deon Curtis, Northwest Christian
Though he’s vastly undersized as a 6-foot-3 forward, Curtis crashes the boards and finishes effectively enough to disregard his size at this position.
Curtis averaged a team-best 9.7 rebounds this season, constantly outperforming significantly taller and bigger foes in the trenches. A supplementary scorer offensively, Curtis is proficient around the rim. He scored a significant percentage of his points on hustle points and at point-blank finishes.
Marcos Dajer, Belen Jesuit School
The 6-foot-3 guard/forward has established himself as a reputable catch-and-stick threat. He’s got a smooth stroke and has improved in his ability to pull up and create his shot off the dribble. He also shot it at a 55 percent clip this past season, scoring the ball at all three levels.
Dajer averaged 16 points and 14 boards this past season, the source on which head coach Gaston “Chachi” Rodriguez leaned heavily. He improved as a game manager and playmaker, averaging four assists.
Dajer can score with either hand around the rim. A 3.5 GPA and 1260 SAT certainly add appeal to what he already has to offer for a program.
Daniel Truque, Somerset Academy Silver Palms
The 6-foot-2 wing became more adept as an all around scorer this season. The Class of 2018 prospect was able to shed the tag of perimeter shooter as he developed a tighter handle, a pull-up game, and incorporated some nifty off the dribble moves to create his own shot with.
Playing with contagious energy, Truque averaged 15.7 points and 10.2 rebounds this past season. He put together several double doubles, including a 28-point, 14-rebound performance against Keys Gate and a 19-point, 10-board showing against Northwest Christian.
Esteban Penlaver, Holmes Braddock High
The 5-foot-9 point guard has thrived as a hard attacker who can really get into the teeth of the defense and finish. Penlaver has been effective and not only penetrating but getting to the rim and finishing in crafty fashion, adjusting accordingly.
He’s also developed into a reliable 3-point trigger man. A four year starter with a shifty and quick style, Penlaver has the work ethic and leadership qualities to author a similar impact at the ensuing level.
Dion Harris, Scotland Campus Sports
The 6-foot-6 4-3 brings a wealth of toughness and a knack for in-traffic scoring. Today’s game tends to value mobile forwards who possess a wing’s skill set, which is exactly what Harris is.
He’s a multi-dimensional prospect who can guard from the 2-4, a chore he was tasked with several times this past season.
Jereon Kales, Scotland Campus Sports
The 6-foot-5 forward is a sneaky athletic Class of 2018 prospect who can score the ball in a variety of ways. He’s got strength and brings a level of defensive tenacity.
Developing a more consistent stroke will help him as he prolongs his career at the collegiate level. He certainly has the tools, with good elevation on his shot and an evolving stepback jumper.
A 4.0 student, Kales has interest from several Ivy League programs and academically enriched programs at the Division-II level.
Jason Preston, Believe Prep Academy
After an impressive summer on the AAU circuit in which he scored, created, and displayed a knack for getting to the rim and finishing, Preston has finally tipped the Division-I scales.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard from Orlando has recently picked up offers from Longwood and Maryland Eastern Shore. The Class of 2018 prospect upped his game while flanked by high-caliber talent such as Dexter Dennis (Wichita State) in the backcourt in his post-graduate season.
Preston has a deft touch from beyond the arc and can free up space for his shot very effectively.
Christian Tinoco, Belen Jesuit
The 6-foot-4 Class of 2018 Tinoco has a very underrated shot from 15-feet out and beyond the arc. He’s been able to carve a niche for himself as a guy who can come in and immediately knock down a trey or two and provide a quick-hit impact.
While his spot up and catch and stick game are consistent factors, Tinoco needs to be more aggressive in expanding his arsenal of scoring tools. This will enable him to go beyond a specialist or a role player at the next level.
Elton Walker, Killian
High level athleticism and an adroit finishing ability were pivotal factors propelling Walker’s emergence into one of the state’s most efficient scoring threats.
He shot the ball at a smoking-hot 72 percent from the field while averaging 18 points and 9.6 boards on the season.
Walker’s ability to attack the basket and finish in authoritative fashion made him a veritable beast amongst boys at times. With innate athleticism, Walker was a shot blocker at 6-foot-5.
Lutelson Jerome, Deerfield Beach
The bullish 6-foot-5 forward is constantly in attack mode, finishing at the rim and in Deerfield Beach’s souped-up transition attack. Jerome opened up a reliable 3-point shot and deep jumper this season, shooting a scalding 59 percent from the floor.
While many have him pigeonholed as an “athlete” or uber athletic above the rim guy, he’s transitioned into a skilled wing and face-up four man who can really score the ball in a variety of ways.
Jerome produced on big stages this season, submitting 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks against Coral Springs. He had 12 points and pulled down 13 boards against a tough Dillard team.