On The Move: Key Prep Transfers
Wildly athletic and prone to erupt for a theatrical, extravagant dunk at least twice a game, Class of 2021 prospect Jon Kaminga is naturally gifted.
The 6-foot-8 Class of 2021 prospect has circulated the web with his prodigious vertical leaping ability, which has left many in awe these past few seasons.
If Kaminga can develop a consistent scoring aptitude and shore up some of his deficiencies, there are are no limitations on where his superior athletic talent could take him.
“If he learns how to shoot, he’s a pro,” said Steve Alvarado, the head coach at Iona Prep and the NY Rens program director.
“Not just a pro in the world–a pro in the NBA. With Jonathon, it’s more mental than anything. If he can continue to put the work in and become consistent he can attain that. He needs to continue to work on tightening up his handle and really just becoming consistent with his perimeter scoring. His size and athleticism and strength are all off the charts. It is the unknown variables that will determine where he winds up. It is dependent upon whether he is going to gain the IQ and have the consistent effort moving forward.”
UConn, St. John’s, Maryland, Texas Tech, Arizona State, LSU, West Virginia, Iona, and Bryant have all offered the dynamic combo forward. While he darted his way to the starting lineup at the end of the season, Kaminga earned minimal playing time at the start of his varsity career at Huntington Prep (W.V.). While playing second fiddle to some more established guys was an exasperating experience at first, it did nothing to dampen Kaminga’s competitive spirit. A humbling freshman season did nothing to stifle Kaminga’s ambition. Any lingering frustration morphed into motivation, as Kaminga worked hungrily to play up two levels in AAU, playing for the NY Rens on the 17U level.
Kaminga has made it clear he will not return to Huntington Prep for his sophomore year. All signs point to Kaminga potentially landing at Our Savior New American School in Long Island, N.Y.
Helping push Kaminga’s development is Kaminga’s older brother, 6-foot-8 UNLV commit Joel Ntambwe. A point forward, Ntambwe can quarterback an offense with exceptional versatility at the hybrid forward position. A graduate of Aspire Academy (KY), Ntambwe was known for his ability to bully smaller defenders to the rim and exploit mismatches against smaller defenders.
Romar Reid, a 6-foot-2 guard with offers from Manhattan, Hofstra, and St. Francis (N.Y.), has been the Rens 17U team’s most consistent scorer with 15 PPG. Reid, who also commandeers Alvarado’s offense as a heady facilitator, is deciding between St. Thomas More, Woodstock Academy, and other options for the next chapter in his illustrious prep career.
With Believe Prep Academy relocating to South Carolina, there’s no guarantee that dynamic 6-foot-6 forward Devan Cambridge will return.
A hyper athletic Class of 2019 prospect, Cambridge has a handful of scoring tools–including considerable elevation on his jumper and a vastly improved 3-point shot. His defensive versatility and emergence as a shot blocker are promising factors.
Out of Nashville, Tenn., Cambridge is still relatively underrated. Expect a barrage of heavy hitters to break out every recruiting tool imaginable in effort to woo him thid summer.