(Utah County) Top 5 Players
Photo Credit: Scout.com Utah County- These are the best players in Utah Valley, their talent, hard work, and determination have put them on this list. All 5 have a chance to play major division 1 basketball. Below are the 5 best…
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Continue ReadingPhoto Credit: Scout.com
Utah County- These are the best players in Utah Valley, their talent, hard work, and determination have put them on this list. All 5 have a chance to play major division 1 basketball. Below are the 5 best basketball prospects in Utah County by Prephoops.com.
1. Matthew Van Komen (Pleasant Grove) Standing 7’4 is going to attract some attention, but being able to sprint the floor, catch the ball over the shoulder, and finish with a powerful dunk is going to attract even more. Matthew is the best center prospect in Utah since Eric Mika, Mika was the #3 ranked center in the country his senior year. Matt may be one of the most sought out prospects in the country for the class of 2019, and is currently the tallest sophomore basketball player in the United States. Van Komen Plays AAU for Utah Prospects and is high end D1 prosepct and then potential NBA draft pick.
2. Hunter Erickson (Timpview) Hunter is one of the best players in the state this year and is the focal point on an absolutely loaded guard line for Timpview. He understands how to play with the ball in his hands, taking people of the bounce or making ridiculous shoots from deep, but is also a threat running off screens and wearing his defender down. With 35″ hops and a 6’3 frame, Hunter has prototypical size for the next level. Hunter is a high D1 to mid-major D1 player.
3. Marcus Draney (Skyridge) The 6’2 senior guard has done a lot of everything this year for the first year Falcon team. He is averaging 22 PPG, 8 RPG, 5 APG, and 2 SPG respectively. He has turned it on as of late, doing the little things for his team and it is paying off for Coach Gardner and his teammates. He rarely misses free throws and has really been getting teammates involved. He’s a complete scorer at the high school level, but will be an elite 3 point shooter at the next level if he puts in the work. Marcus is a low D1 to High D2 player, but could end up benefitting from two years at a high D1 JUCO.
4. Braxton Bailey (Provo) The 6’6 senior has played varsity basketball since freshman year, and that experience is really paying off. Bailey is currently averaging 27 PPG and has been on fire from outside, with over three 3’s per game. Braxton is a big time scorer and shot maker, he really knows how to fill it up from the outside, but can also take it off the bounce and use his skill to finish at the rim. He has the height and length to be a great stretch 4 at the next level. Braxton is a low D1 to high D2 prospect, but could benefit from 1-2 years at a JUCO.
5. Puka Nacua (Orem) The 2 year starting sophomore point guard is the engine that runs the ship for the Tigers. Puka has all the tools to be a top flight point guard at the next level if he decides to play basketball. He has the size, strength, and speed to be a D1 point guard. Look for him to play football at the next level, following in the foot steps of all of his older brothers.
Honorable Mention: Steven Ashworth, Isaac Johnson