GRBA National Championship – 8 Prospects to Watch
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The final live period of the summer is upon us. While the Peach Jam and other shoe circuit events capture a lot of the national headlines, there are still several great independent events taking place this weekend as well. NY2LA…
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Continue ReadingThe final live period of the summer is upon us. While the Peach Jam and other shoe circuit events capture a lot of the national headlines, there are still several great independent events taking place this weekend as well. NY2LA has The Final Chapter out in Wisconsin, Prep Hoops is hosting The Last Dance in the Chicago area, and the GRBA National Championship is a long-running annual event that draws a lot of talent. I’ll have boots on the ground in Fort Wayne covering the event from start to finish. Before tipping off, here are 10 Class of 2023 prospects that college coaches should get eyes on before the summer wraps up.
Jeremiah Alexander (Beech Grove H.S. 2023/Indiana Elite Central 17u): This long, athletic 6’3″ guard won a Class 3A state championship with Beech Grove and went on to have a successful AAU run as well. Alexander is a winner with the toughness he brings on both ends of the floor. Has a lot of defensive tools, but also can create his own shot offensively off of the dribble. Good pull-up jumper.
Austin Cripe Austin Cripe 6'3" | SG West Noble | 2023 State IN (West Noble H.S. 2023/5Star 17u): One of the best pure scorers in northern Indiana. Cripe has a long, lean frame and has routinely been putting up 25-30 point performances throughout the spring and summer. He is at his best when driving and slashing to the basket were he can use his athleticism to elevate and finish. Holds a Goshen offer with more Crossroads League interest.
Nolan Cumberland Nolan Cumberland 6'3" | SG Tippecanoe Valley | 2023 State IN (Tippecanoe Valley H.S. 2023/Summit City Elite 17u): Cumberland is an under-the-radar scorer that is deserving of some more attention. The 6’3″ guard is coming off of a 5-1 weekend in Grand Rapids were he leading Summit City Elite in scoring at 15.5 points per game. Very good jump shooter who can get hot in a hurry from beyond the arc. Quite a bit of Division III interest right now.
Dylan Derda Dylan Derda 6'7" | PF Penn | 2023 State IN (Penn H.S. 2023/5Star-Windy 17u): Long, lean 6’6″ forward. Derda rebounds his area well, can disrupt shots around the rim defensively, and will get out and run the floor on the break. He has showcased the skill level to face-up out to the 15-foot range offensively as well. Small colleges looking for size that has some raw tools should give him a look this weekend.
Andrew Hedrick Andrew Hedrick 6'0" | PG Columbia City | 2023 State IN (Columbia City H.S. 2023/Focus Premier 17u): This point guard can really score the basketball and has shown in consistently throughout the summer. Hedrick is a good athlete who elevates well on his mid-range jump shot and flashes some explosiveness around the rim. He can get by his man off of the bounce and finishes in a variety of ways inside. Definitely one for small colleges to evaluate this weekend.
Grant Leeper Grant Leeper 6'7" | C Homestead | 2023 State IN (Homestead H.S. 2023/Indy Heat Red 17u): Leeper is an athletic, physical presence around the basket who recently got his first offer from Goshen. He is really good on the roll, can rim-run out in front of the defense, and gets vertical around the basket to protect the rim. Very good rebounder on both ends of the floor with a great motor. His finishing ability offensively, along with his rebounding and defensive abilities give him a high floor at the next level.
Ethan McComb Ethan McComb 6'1" | SG Center Grove | 2023 State IN (Center Grove H.S. 2023/Marlin Academy Elite 17u): McComb is a very good shooter from the perimeter and has shown in consistently throughout the month of July. Handles the ball well too, so he can be a primary ball handler if needed, but the shooting ability allows him to play off the ball as well. Good small college guard prospect.
Gage Sefton Gage Sefton 6'4" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN (Blackhawk Christian 2023/Indy Heat Red 17u): The Crossroads League offers continue to stack up for Sefton. The 6’4″ guard was offered by Bethel while visiting the school last week joining the likes of Huntington, St. Francis, Grace, and Indiana Tech who have extended scholarships. Love his size and shooting ability on the perimeter. Should have a bunch of coaches at each of his Indy Heat Red games this weekend in Fort Wayne.