Class of 2018: Biggest Stock Risers in July
Every spring/summer, April and July are the most active months of the year in terms of college recruitment at the Division I level due to the live periods that occur. Players are able to earn scholarship offers throughout the year, but there are always a handful of players who witnesses their stock explode during these specific months.
As the class of 2018 saw their AAU careers come to a close, some players ended on a high note raking in a ton of new offers heading into their senior year of high school.
Let’s take a look at five players in the state of Maryland who have seen their stock rise significantly in the past month.
Matt Balanc | 6-3 | Springbrook/Mid-Atlantic Select
Balanc is arguably one of the biggest stock risers in the country dating back to the first live period in April. He entered the AAU season with zero offers and currently holds 12 (11 Division I and one Division II). The explosive combo guard showcased his versatility and ability to produce consistently at a high level that continues to catch the attention of many coaches. The biggest question mark coming into April with Balanc was his jumpshot, but he quickly put those worries to rest, and that was a big reason for the flood of offers. In a 10-day period, the rising senior was offered by eight schools such as New Mexico, Iona, Rhode Island, and St. Bonaventure just to name a few. And if you thought Balanc would take it easy now that AAU season has concluded, think again. He just scored 50 points in the MD Elite Summer League.
(Video Credit: Capitol Hoops)
Curtis Holland III | 6-3 | Southern/District Basketball Club
Holland is another player that has generated a lot of buzz this summer. Before this AAU season, he held one offer from High Point, but his play helped him extend that list to five. At 6-3 207 pounds, Holland is a handful to contain when he’s going to the bucket. He’s great at utilizing his strength and frame to overpower his match up and rise to the rim. Holland isn’t the type to take a play off at either end of the floor, and that’s what makes him so exciting to watch. His athleticism makes him a great shot blocker at the guard position and his speed enables him to jump in passing lanes and create transition for his team. As he gears up for this senior season, don’t expect the offers to stop coming in for him.
Anthony Higgs | 6-8 | Perry Hall/Team Melo
It was only a matter of time before Higgs’ stock exploded. The 6-8 stretch forward had a productive summer after help leading Perry Hall to their first ever state championship title. Prior to his AAU season, Higgs held one offer from Old Dominion. Since April, he’s picked up seven new offers from Ole Miss, Kansas State, St. Joseph’s, Massachusetts, George Mason, Towson, and Coastal Carolina. Higgs made it known this summer that his ability to shoot the long ball is no joke. He isn’t a dead-eye shooter from deep, but the fact that his match up must respect his perimeter game makes his game off the dribble that much more effective.
Noah Locke | 6-3 | McDonogh/Team Melo
Locke’s name has been a national trend for the past five months and for good reason. The three-point marksman complied more than 30 offers before cutting them down to eight this past Tuesday evening. I had the chance to sit down with Locke and talk about why he chose his final eight. His two most recent offers are from Ohio State and Kansas, both of which made the cut for his final eight. His recruitment will come to a close within the next month or so, as Locke plans to commit before the early signing period, but his play this past month helped him pick up a few more high major offers that forced his way onto this list.
L.J. Owens | 6-3 | Severn/D.C. Blue Devils
Similar to Balanc, Owens’ stock absolutely exploded this summer. He collected 16 of his 17 offers since the month of April. Insanity. His crafty scoring is the first thing that comes to light with Owens’ game. Throughout his junior season in high school to his AAU season, Owens faced some elite on-ball defenders and made them look silly with his ability to put the ball in the basket from all three levels. Another area of his game that comes to the limelight is his relentlessness. It’s obvious in his aggression when he crashes the boards. Owens isn’t the strongest player on the floor, but his anticipation and athleticism help him collect rebounds at their peak.
Video Credit: (Finest Magazine)