Summer Review: Under the Radar Prospects from this Summer

Preston Edwards

July 27, 2021 @ 05:03 PM

From May to July, prospects played a lot of games between grassroots and team camps. With prospects from 2022-2025 playing up to 45 games in that period of time, it allowed me to see a ton of new and under the radar players throughout various gyms in the south. In this summer review, I will highlight under the radar prospects who will be factors for their high school teams in the season to come. Justin Aaron (6’1" / CG / Natchitoches Central) - Aaron is a high energy guard who loves to play defense. He challenges shots and guards baseline to baseline on every possession. Aaron disrupts from the tip to the final buzzer. He gives the Chiefs chances to win with every play. Greg Abbott (6’5" / SF / Captain Shreve) - The Gator senior is the most experienced of the big bodies Shreve can throw at teams. He is slender but can rebound and score effectively around the rim. Abbott is a dog on defense and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Darius Anderson (6’2" / SG / Southwood) - Anderson made strides during May and June on the offensive end becoming more comfortable shooting from the perimeter. Defense is his calling card, however. Tip steals from behind and man-to-man defense are his best attributes. [player_tooltip player_id="1051637" first="Elijah" last="Belton"] (6’0" / PG / Hamilton Christian) - Belton transferred to Christian after the hurricane. He has a strong upper body and can get to the rim through contact. He is better with the ball in his hands and is capable of making plays for his teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="932852" first="LaBrandon" last="Butler"] (6’0" / PG / Rayville) - Butler is under the radar because he will rarely lead Rayville in the major categories. He will lead them in assists, steals, and floor burns though. Butler is a genuine floor leader at the point and makes the Hornet engine go. Antonio Coleman (6’2" / SC / Airline) - Coleman has transitioned back to Louisiana from Texas and found a home at Airline. He is an explosive guard who can score around the rim but has a feathery touch from distance. Coleman may be a true sleeper in Louisians’s 5A. [player_tooltip player_id="1213812" first="Jordan" last="Davis"] (6’0" / CG / Ouachita) - Jordan is a mirror image of older brother Jamal who won district and all-state honors for the Lions a couple of years ago. He is a better defender and appears to be more consistent shooting the rock which makes him very scary. [player_tooltip player_id="1127249" first="Nick" last="Dyer"] (6’1" / PG / BTW-Shreveport) - To be honest, the Lions are a better team when the ball is in his hands. Dyer has a high IQ and plays whatever pace Coach Sykes wants him to set for the night. He is a mid-range assassin as well. No one shoots the mid-range J better. Felix Gissendiner (6’4" / F / Carroll) - It will be very hard to replace the interior presence that the Bulldogs had last year. However Gissendiner is an active rebounder who is quick off the floor. He is also good in transition which will help the guard-oriented Bulldogs run. [player_tooltip player_id="1206569" first="Devin" last="Helaire"] (6’2" / CG / Natchitoches Central) - Helaire will fill the role [player_tooltip player_id="927978" first="Devonte" last="Snow"] and C.J. Carpenter played before him. He is an athletic guard who can flip defense into offense quickly. If his jumper is working, Chief opponents will have long nights trying to defend him. Jacolby Jackson (6’2" / SG / BTW-Shreveport) - Jackson is one of those players that may lead the team in points and rebounds when the game is done but goes about it in an unassuming way. He is not flamoboyant or flashy but he puts the ball in the basket from anywhere. Trevon Jackson (5’11" / CG / Airline) - The Viking combo guard got a wealth of experience playing on and off the ball in June. His shooting from three was very impressive and showed that he cannot be left uncovered for long. Jackson will be a key player for a young Vikes team. Rickey Johnson (5’11" / CG / Carroll) - Johnson spent team camp and summer league play burning up the nets from deep. He can catch fire quickly and will go on runs by himself. Johnson is also have quick defensively and is very active in trapping situations. [player_tooltip player_id="970124" first="Juvian" last="Keys"] (6’3" / SG / Wossman) - There were some games this summer where Keys was flat out the best player on the floor. Keys has three level scorer ability. Will he get those looks, only time will tell. Keys has the ability to be one of the top players in NE Louisiana. [player_tooltip player_id="1130730" first="Kerrick" last="Morris"] (6’2" / SG / Southwood) - Morris may end up being one of the better players in north Louisiana considering his usage rate will greatly improve. He has a burner from three and is a good man-to-man defender. If the Southwood bigs do their job, he will have open looks galore. [player_tooltip player_id="1127252" first="Kyron" last="Reed"] (6’2" / CG / Captain Shreve) - The summer is the best time to learn new responsibilities and Reed definitely did that for Captain Shreve. He is a good spot-up shooter who is adding point guard to his resume. His improvement may be the key to a Gator title run. Tyren Thomas (6’4" / F / Zwolle) - On most nights, Thomas will be the most athletic player that the Hawks have on the floor. He can rebound and run the floor as good as anyone. Thomas will fly under the radar because he plays in class B but his game high level written on it. These players were not on any of the circuit teams but are very talented players. I will not be surprised if many of these players get invites to the various elite camps where some of the low DIs and other divisions will get a look at them. This list of players can definitely help programs on various collegiate levels.