The Come Up: 2025 Part 1

<p>These first five 2025s got significant playing time in their freshman campaigns. They were important players to their teams even in their first seasons of high school ball and played well above their age. I’ve already seen some of the progress these players have made through the early spring season and they should be impact players when the high school season returns. Keep an eye on these guys and don’t be shocked when their names start popping up.</p> <p><strong>Shelton Henton</strong> 6’3 SG Interlake</p> <p>Last year I did a write-up on this kid and apparently, he read it. I talked about his good length, excellent hands defensively, and his want to take on the opposing team’s best players. He played with great instincts even as a player still getting adjusted to the high school level, but I thought his lack of a consistent outside shot was holding him back. So far into spring, it looks like he’s proven me wrong. He was at the Under Armor Rise Event in Indianapolis April 8-10 and his wetter was on full display. He was knocking them down off the catch, with a rhythm dribble, and using that consistency behind the arc to set up drives when defenders overcommitted. The jumper opened up tons of space inside for Henton to operate and led to buckets in bunches at the rim. It’s early in the spring but he is a determined player and the next thing I want to see from him is to start finishing those drives with some rim stuffers.</p> <p><strong>Javon Barbee</strong> 6’2 SG Franklin Pierce </p> <p>At first glance with Barbee, you see a lanky kid who has fluid movements, a good handle, and a confident outside shot. He’s a talented player in the early stages of his growth, both physically and mentally. He looks like someone who could turn into a next-level player. When you dive deeper you see even more reasons to buy in. His head coach at Franklin Pierce also happens to be his father. He has two older brothers, Jalen, who most recently played at Elite Prep, and John John, who graduated from Franklin Pierce in June as the school’s all-time leading scorer. As if those two didn’t provide enough competition at home, his sister, Zionna, also started for Franklin Pierce and was an all-league player. My point is this kid already has the beginnings of the physical tools, but when you factor in his family’s successes and the support system they can be, this is a guy that is primed to make big steps, learn from mistakes and make the most of his opportunities. </p> <p><strong>Jeremiah Harshman</strong> 6’1 PG Annie Wright</p> <p>Harshman is part of a revival of sorts at Annie Wright. When I tell most people about the up-and-coming Gators and the talent of the guys coming out of Annie Wright, the first thing I get in return is, "Isn’t that an all-girls school?" Well, for those slow to the draw, Annie Wright has quite possibly the most talented class of freshmen and sophomores in the state. Martin Kaupagner and Hunter Carter highlight the names leading the way, but Harshman is one to watch who could sneak up on fans distracted by his more eye-catching teammates. Harshman looks like a point guard and plays like a point guard, but often he plays off-ball too when Carter is running the show. Because of this backcourt dynamic where either player can handle the ball and make plays, Harshman has had to develop a well-rounded game. He has the eyes up and can handle the ball with ease, can get to the rim, and finish around defenders. What he is still working on is that outside shot. I did see improvement throughout the high school season but it has to be an area of focus going forward. Defensively, he’s shown all the right stuff; an aggressive mindset, good hands, and nice lateral movement. At times he can get beat being over-aggressive, but he will learn on that as time goes on. He's under the radar for now, but not for much longer.</p> <p><strong>Quincy Scott</strong> 6’3 SG Columbia Burbank</p> <p>Scott is part of another young core over at Columbia Burbank. The Coyotes went 24-3 last season and I wouldn't hesitate to say they could even improve on that record in the coming year. Scott showed last year he could consistently contribute in every category and can be an impact player on both sides of the court. He has the athleticism to steal passes and block shots and does a good job staying active on the boards. At the shooting guard spot, he's got great length and can body up smaller defenders or take on posts when necessary. He's really a well-rounded player that when he gets going, can take over a game. I saw it in a regional matchup against Ilwaco last season. It was a tight game and Scott had played well, but late on he turned it up a notch and got hot from long range, sealing a postseason victory for his side. I would expect him to take on a larger role next season and put out more performances like that on a consistent basis.</p> <p><strong>Jordan Agosto</strong> 6’0 PG Nathan Hale</p> <p>Agosto might be the rawest player on this list, but he has characteristics and skills that stand out right away as highly valuable. He was one of the few players Nathan Hale could count on to get their own looks on a consistent basis which was all the more important given how much he handled the ball as a freshman. The team didn't fare well during the season but Agosto was thrown into the fire and didn't look overwhelmed too often. His confidence and work rate showed he has the mental strength to be a prime-time player. The one thing that was missing was the consistency in finishing plays. I mentioned he has the skills to create his own looks, but he struggled to complete those plays at the rim and with the jump shot. He wasn't off by much though and that should be an area he can vastly improve on, and if he does, you could see a highly-skilled player who rises the ranks as fast as anyone. Agosto is a bit harder to project but he is close to being a breakout player in the next year.</p>