Colby’s April Stock Risers: 2023 Wings and Bigs
The month of April included two live weekends where prospects had the ability to showcase their skills in front of college coaches from all levels. As usual, we witnessed a few rise above the rest and get their spring started…
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Continue ReadingThe month of April included two live weekends where prospects had the ability to showcase their skills in front of college coaches from all levels. As usual, we witnessed a few rise above the rest and get their spring started with big performances, scholarship offers and plenty of talk throughout the internet. For this article, I’ll be taking a look at some wings and bigs from the local 2023 class who fit the mold described above.
For the 2023 stock-rising guards, click here!
Jamie Kaiser Jamie Kaiser 6'6" | SF IMG Academy | 2023 State #67 Nation FL | New World
Kaiser is the clear leader for this category as he used the April live weekend as a springboard to get his name into the national spotlight. Rhode Island, Utah State and Wisconsin all extended offers over the span of a week thanks to his play on the 3SSB Circuit with New World. The 6-foot-6 wing caught attention with his blend of size and shot-making from the perimeter. His versatility on the defensive end makes him an attraction to high major programs as a long-term prospect that could have quite the impact at the collegiate level. Kasier recently completed an official visit to Wisconsin.
Jayden Ross | Team Melo
Word is starting to spread pretty steadily about Ross, a 6-foot-7 wing who has been a key contributor for Team Melo 17U. His frame, upside and versatility to go with his shot-making ability from three and mid-range make for an intriguing prospect with a high ceiling. UConn offered after a productive weekend in Indianapolis and while already holding offers from the likes of Virginia Tech, Penn State and others, more high major programs are looking to get in the fold in the near future.
Omarion Reid | Team Melo MD23
Reid is a 6-foot-6 bruising big that loves to battle in the trenches. He has a frame that a Division I football coach would love for their offensive or defensive line, but Reid is strictly a basketball guy who I think can turn into a potential DII sleeper. He runs the floor with purpose, is always in the thick of things on the glass and finishes efficiently on his over-the-shoulder hooks. Reid isn’t a guy who is going to play out of character. He knows what he’s best at and sticks to it, which ultimately helped his undersized Melo squad walk away with some nice wins at Pitt Jam Fest.
Tobi Raji | District BC
Raji was a guy who I thoroughly enjoyed watching because of his relentless effort. Even if Raji wasn’t scoring, it didn’t impact his body language, communication as the anchor of the defense or his effort in doing the small things to help his team. At 6-foot-7 and nearing 6-foot-8, Raji has a frame that should fill out nicely over time and help him finish through contact by the rim with regularity. He’s another big that I saw during the month of April that hung his hat on his strengths and didn’t try to overdo anything that was outside of his skill-set and that would ultimately hurt his team’s chances of winning.
Jadyn Brown | Team Melo
Brown is a prospect that I’ll be monitoring closely as summer progresses. He has a great, long frame at 6-foot-6 with ball skills that should develop over time and make him into a secondary ball-handler for stretches. He made shots off the bounce after getting to his shots in the mid-range and creating space while also being an efficient marksman from the wing beyond the arc off the catch. His length and athleticism make him a viable defender for 3-to-4 positions. Going forward it’ll be about building confidence and becoming consistent for Brown.