#PH2K22 Live Preview July 8-10: Must Watch Prospects

We have finally arrived at the big first live weekend of the summer with the July 7th-10th live weekend. The Prep Hoops Circuit is down in Atlanta with loads of great prospects, teams, and coverage to fill you in on every detail on the event.

We start our preview coverage with some “Must Watch Prospects” from the Midwest who will be down in the ATL that college coaches, scouts, and fans must see.

Khalif Bettis Khalif Bettis 6'6" | SF Burnsville | 2023 State MN , 6’5 G/W, Minnesota Chill, 2023: Has unique movements on the court and is a really tough player to defend with his blend of size, ball handling ability, change of pace and power, and 3 level scoring. A great passer with his head always up the floor and can zip it to shooters or cutters for assists, great rebounder and push guard, can finish with athletic one foot finishes or power two feet explosive attacks in the paint. Solid shooter and can size up smaller defenders and rise up over the top. Has consistently been one of my favorite players to watch operate the last few years.

Jamaria Clark Jamaria Clark 6'2" | CG Doyline | 2023 State LA , 6’2 PG, OWE, 2023: I believe his nickname is “Juice” and if it is because of his game it is fitting because he brings the juice and energy from the point guard position. Plays with a ton of moxie and lead guard swagger on the floor with the game to back it up. A big time athletic guard with quickness and pace, is a maestro scoring and playmaking in transition, plays up and down, puts as much pressure on defense as he does on opposing defenses, and has top tier instincts and floor reading ability. Must watch point guard and a college level back court player. He can give ya big time scoring, big time playmaking, or both in any given game

Joshua Ofori Joshua Ofori 6'7" | PF Prior Lake | 2023 State MN , 6’7 G/W, MN Heat, 2023 (Pictured): A super long guard/wing player with positional versatility on both ends of the floor with the ability to guard 1-4 with his wingspan, lateral quickness, and tough frame and mindset. Really good as a screen and short roll player of sprinting out of screens to get some momentum downhill and help side defenses don’t stand much of a chance once he gets going towards the rim. Strong two handed dunker in the half court and also has the touch to go to layup game in traffic. Ofori has great instincts as a weakside shot blocker. He can be a spot up wing shooter as well with comfortability catching and firing.

Matthew Bothun Matthew Bothun 6'9" | PF St. Francis | 2023 State MN , 6’9 F, Minnesota Fury, 2023: A stretch 4 player in every sense of the definition and still has a ton of untapped upside. Great pick and pop player with efficient shooting off the short movements and catch. Has a rapid release of the catch and with his frame, is really hard to get a solid contest on. Continues to get better in the painted area bringing that soft touch from the perimeter down near the rim with soft finishes with either hand. Has the ball handling ability to shot fake or rip drive off a bounce or two. His very high upside with 6’9 shooting ability is must see.

Tyson Ruud Tyson Ruud 6'5" | SF Basehor-Linwood | 2023 State KS , 6’6 Wing, SSA Elite 2023 Black, 2023: A super explosive wing with inside out versatility, with the ability to seal catch and finish over smaller guards while being able to flash to elbows face up and attack with athletic bursts to the rim with long arms to finish around and over defenders. Ruud is also a terrific three point shooter from multiple spots from beyond the arc and can shoot off pin downs, trailing in transition, running ahead in transition, or as a spot up shooter. A terrific athlete who will make multiple plays per game above the rim whether its through momentum swinging dunks or big time blocks. Can use his speed to fly by help side to get to his rim rattling, or as we have seen before, dunk through the help side rotations.

Blaise Porter Blaise Porter 6'1" | PG New London | 2023 State #298 Nation IA , 6’1 PG, Iowa Barnstormers, 2023: Porter has a great blend of decisiveness, patience, athleticism, balance, and aggressiveness playing the point guard position. Another floor general with some game take over ability coaches will want to see. Can get downhill in the isolation game, through the flow of the offense, or in the ball screen game. Very efficient finisher getting all the way to the cup or if he is cut off or walled up has a nice over the top floater game that finds its way softly into the basket. Really does a good job of recognizing and exposing mismatches especially against slow footed bigs and makes them pay. Also a terrific passer off his aggressive drives and understands floor spacing.

CJ Lang CJ Lang 6'1" | CG Webster Groves | 2023 State MO , 6’2 PG, Gateway Knights, 2023: A defensive wizard on the floor who will be must see to operate disrupting the top tier guars at this event. Really takes the initiative and has the athletic ability and IQ instincts to stay in front and disrupt big time ball handlers. Also savvy playing passing lanes and shooting screening lanes to jump passes. Is a steal specialist and is a really good transition offensive point guard so it lends right into his play strengths. Has really good side to side dribble moves with solid rhythm and change of pace that make him a lethal downhill point guard. He is terrific at the point of attack on the defensive end and the offensive end of the floor. 

My 2024 Must Watch Player

Isaac Nyakundi Isaac Nyakundi 6'9" | C Macduffie School | 2024 State NLG , 6’9 F, Starks Elite: A big time prospect with a ton of upside and current game. The size and length for the rising junior stand out right away but he has some smoothness to his game with some handle ability in the open court, nice touch in the lane on either side, patience off the catch, and a fluid jump shot. Has a ton of tools that a can coach can unlock and use on the basketball floor. Really solid guarding ball screens and protecting the paint as well.