2021 Baltimore Metro Sleepers With High Potential

The dust is beginning to settle for many of the top prospects in the 2021 class. Now more than ever, we’re seeing college commitments left and right due to the uncertainty of a season this winter. Still, there are players flying under the radar that I hope to shed some light on with this article. I’ll be focusing on the players in the Baltimore Metro area who hold minimum or no offers, but show plenty of potential to be productive at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="902032" first="Bobby" last="Hill"] | 6’7 | Reservoir/Team STAT Hill may be the biggest head-scratcher when it comes to flying under the radar. I’m not claiming him to be a Division I gem, but the fact that high Division II programs aren’t doing all they can to lock him in is what surprises me. At 6-foot-7, the southpaw can mix up his scoring attack and be a threat from all three levels. He’s still developing his game off the bounce, but has ability to catch in the mid-range, face-up and beat his match-up off the dribble, finishing at the basket or drawing a foul. He plays with an admirable motor and rebounds well defensively. Filling out his frame will be the next step in preparing for the college level, but that remains the case with 98 percent of prospects. Once he does that, you have a versatile wing who can clock-in as a stretch four throughout stretches. [player_tooltip player_id="712769" first="Jalen" last="Bryant"] | 5’11 | John Carroll Bryant has been covered in depth here at Prep Hoops Maryland for some time. Whether its myself or Adam Ayalew, we love what Bryant can bring to the table from the point guard position. He’s a proven shot-maker from three and can extend his range by 5-to-7 feet behind the line. He’s a slippery slasher who can get to the rim and finish creatively to avoid shot-blockers. Bryant can also play facilitator and ensure half court execution as a floor general. Where he shines is on the defensive end where he utilizes his high IQ to bait his match-up into offensive fouls. All in all, Bryant brings a winning presence who can check a lot of boxes from the point guard position. He currently holds no offers, which still surprises us. The PSAC (DII) is known for having a big presence in the Baltimore area and I would urge them to take a good hard look at Bryant. [player_tooltip player_id="902019" first="Cam" last="Smith"] | 6’7 | Loyola/New World Smith played his role perfectly on a New World team this summer that was a force against local competition. At 6-foot-7, Smith possesses intriguing athleticism and continues to improve as an outside shooting option off the catch. He runs the floor with intent and can be a lob threat whenever he’s around the rim. Smith is pursues rebounds at their peak and also bring his athleticism and length to the forefront when protecting the rim. The biggest thing with Smith is his overall IQ. He’s primed for an increased role at Loyola this season, so with those reps he’ll have to improve in that area if the Dons want to reach their full potential. Still, based off his intangibles, it’s surprising more Division II programs aren’t investing in Smith. [player_tooltip player_id="902030" first="Barry" last="Evans"] | 6’7 | Poly Coaches will want to introduce themselves to Evans now that he will be suiting up for the Engineers. Evans has stretched out to 6-foot-7 and the southpaw has improved steadily over the summer as he split time playing between Team Durant and DMV Stags. The option of prepping after this season seems to be a likely possibility, but if schools get involved now, there’s not telling of what Evans will decide. He still needs more polishing to his overall game and needs to put on more size to his frame, but I expect both to occur if we have any type of high school season. Evans is an above-the-rim threat anytime he’s running the floor. He’s a capable shot-maker from the corners and can be an extremely versatile defensive option. Throughout fall league, Evans has shown toughness in battling in the paint for position or for rebounds. He’s quick to dive on the floor for 50/50s and has been extremely competitive. [player_tooltip player_id="766935" first="Jalen" last="White"] | 6’3 | Mount St. Joseph White has been a diamond in the rough up to this point in time. He spent his previous three seasons at Old Mill, but will now find himself playing a meaningful role in the Mount St. Joseph rotation. White is a 6-foot-3 lefty who operates smoothly with the basketball. He can be a threat from all three levels, but also makes the right play when he’s taking advantage of driving lanes. If there’s one guarantee with guards who play under head coach Pat Clatchey, it’s that they must have high basketball IQ to stick. Navy already invested in White by offering him last month. If he’s able to prove his worth this winter with the Gaels, they won’t be the only program who does so. [player_tooltip player_id="902051" first="Sean" last="Carr"] | 6’6 | Mount St. Joseph Carr is one of the players in the area that I believe will catch many off guard. The improvements that he’s made with his athleticism is going to make the game much easier for him and ultimately make the Gaels a top contender once again in the MIAA/BCL. Last season, Carr was a hardhat, undersized forward who spent time defensively guarding wings, stretch fours and centers. He’s able to move his feet well on the perimeter, but also strong enough to wall players who have a height advantage. Carr is a good screen-setter with good hands and soft touch on finishes around the rim. As he continues to make strides with athleticism, expect him to finish over the rim with regularity off of his rolls following screens He makes good decision as a swingman at the top of the key and can find open teammates when operating on the block. I see Carr being an all-conference player at the Division III level and wouldn’t be shocked if Division II’s began tracking him very closely.