Temporarily Undiscovered
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For many young basketball players that first D1 offer is extremely elusive. Though it can feel like an eternity in waiting, once the offer arrives it provides young men with validation. They finally get to see why they were working so hard.
A college offer is the culmination of a lifetime of training and grinding. At its core a college offer represents free tuition, an invaluable asset in the modern college climate of soaring costs.
The following players will be college players, most at the D1 level. Because none of these talented hoopers have any D1 offers yet, they are classified as temporarily undiscovered.
2018 PG Alex Lomax (TN) — The most important quality of point guard is winning. Only halfway through his high school season, Lomax has already won two Tennessee State Titles and could win Peach Jam next month with Team Penny. He is a bull of a man. Patient, quick, unflappable.
2017 PG Noah Cunningham (KY) — Noah is a low major combo guard, capable of scoring in bunches. His height will limit his recruitment, but NC scores and passes very well.
2018 PG Darius Quisenberry (OH) — King James is led by a tough, physical floor general in Darius Quisenberry. Quiz plays like a patient soccer sweeper. He spots the opening and exploits it immediately. He is a good finisher in traffic. Strong.
2018 SF DeTerrion Ware (KY) — Ware reminds of Draymond Green and Udonis Haslem. Unreasonably powerful the combo forward projects as a D3 PF or low-to-mid major small forward. Great handle and good drive.
2017 PG Kam Brasfield (AR) — Brasfield will have to wait awhile to nab his first D1 offer. The fiery point guard is an ok shooter and a great slasher. He projects as a throwback point guard.
2019 PG Jackson Molstead (IA) — The youngest player on the list is Iowa Barnstormer Jackson Molstead. The fighter out of Charles City refuses to accept defeat. He is a natural leader at the PG spot. His Barnstormer team is exceptional, featuring future Iowa-commit Patrick McCaffery and others.
2018 F Gavin Pinkley (MO) Terrell Ramey leads a wonderful 16u squad in Missouri. Forward Gavin Pinkley plays and develops under the wise coach. In fact, he drives over an hour to practice with Coach Ramey each week. Look for Pinkley to pick up a Missouri Valley Conference offer in the coming weeks.
2017 G Mason Blair (KY) — As a junior Mason Blair recorded 20.9 ppg in Kentucky. He can make an impact at the next level, but needs to impress during his HS season. Size will be a concern for recruiters.
2017 PG P.J. Pipes (IL) — Lemont High School point guard, P.J. Pipes has been starting since his sophomore year. Pipes can shoot, but gets most of his points heading towards the basket. He also set a school record for FT’s made in a season (166). Pipes is doing what it takes for fringe D1 players. In June he has camped with Austin Peay, visited Belmont, camped with Drake, and soon heading to Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, and Furman.
2017 PG Robin Duncan (IN) — Duncan has that ideal PG size. His court vision and unselfishness are exceptional. Duncan has average quickness now, but will improve rapidly as he matures physically.
2017 SF Will Yoakum (OH) — Yoakum is a smooth shooting slightly short face-up four. Like many of the players on this list Yoakum is lagging behind his true trajectory because of his height. Yoakum can shoot and the game is veering in this direction. Look for Yoakum to wind up in the MAC. He currently has an Urbana (OH) offer.
2017 SF Jal Bijek (IA) — Raw, but wildly athletic, Bijek should be a D1 player. His game is behind the other seniors because he picked it up later in life. Still, he has some shooting touch, amazing agility, and a willingness to learn. Also, he is tall.
2017 SG Mitch Lewis (IL) — Injuries are the the culprit here. Lewis’s father is 6-foot-8 and he moves like a high major…when healthy. Lewis has battled multiple season-ending injuries, but none of them are chronic or debilitating. Few college coaches have seen him at his best. Toledo loved him last July. Northern Colorado might be on the table, but I would be surprised if they have called in months.
2017 PG Trey Buchanan (IL) — You know Buchanan is a promising young player simply because Simeon (Chicago) recruited him to their program. Though it only worked for a short time, Buchanan will be really good if given a look by college coaches.
2018 G Justin Boyd (IL) — Boyd grew up in Chicago, which helped inspire his gritty style. Boyd plays fast and hungry. He needs to establish a more consistent outside jumper. Big 10 is a realistic ceiling for JB (Whitney Young).
2017 SF Caleb Williams (KY) — An energy guy, Williams handles better than most small forwards. For Louisville Eastern HS he plays power forward. With Louisville Magic he gets overshadowed by the guards. He can play mid-major basketball.
2017 PG Jamil Wilson (KY) — Wilson bursts up the floor with uncommon speed. He will forever be underestimated because he stands 5-foot-9. Wilson’s comfort with the basketball makes him a low major dream.
2017 PG Jordan Flowers (NE) — Flowers leads his AAU and HS teams with versatility. He can score from anywhere inside the arc. Many pg’s find their recruitment lagging because colleges understand the sheer volume of available point guards favors the buyer.
2018 SG Alec Fruin (WI) — Fruin recently earned Janesville Gazette Player of the Year. In the last two years Fruin has really adapted to the guard position.
2017 G Drequan Bell (MI) — Bell is appreciated locally in Detroit, but not the owner of a D1 offer just yet. He can do anything the coach asks and Allen Academy benefits from his feisty play.
2018 SF Javonni Bickham (MN) — Bickham was offered by Memphis Head Coach Josh Pastner. Pastner is gone. Georgia Tech has not extended an offer, despite Pastner leading the Yellow Jackets now. Through this loophole Bickham is able to land on this list. The mixture of power and athleticism makes Bickham an intriguing prospect.
2018 G Jose Placer (FL) — Colgate, Nova, Boston College were early to proclaim interest. Placer really impressed his Showtime Hoops AAU Coach Daryl Hardin this spring. “During the first two live periods (Jose) shot 56% percent from the 3-pt line, including a game with 6 3 pointers in the first half.” Coach Hardin calls Placer a crafty, unselfish floor general.