Prep Hoops Live Atlanta: Prospects to Watch For in July
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Who did we see in Atlanta that we think college coaches should get to know as they continue watching talent through July? Here is my Pool A list and why! Alijah Adem Alijah Adem 6'2" | PG Spring Valley |…
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Continue ReadingWho did we see in Atlanta that we think college coaches should get to know as they continue watching talent through July? Here is my Pool A list and why!
Alijah Adem Alijah Adem 6'2" | PG Spring Valley | 2024 State #174 Nation NV of Chosen Few (6’2 2024 PG). Adem once again had a highly productive playmaking weekend including games of 28 and 27 points. The thing that really caught my attention was how often Alijah won so many 50-50 battles with his man with a physical separation, footwork, or using his upper body to find leverage. And also impressive was the touch that Adem had coming out of those one on one moves using one hand scores or a leaning or falling away score to finish.
David Amoakohene of DMV Stags (6’7 2023 Big). Somewhere out there in the world of college basketball there are coaches who love a hard working, highly active big man that can move over on the ball screen as well as fight back to his man without his team giving up ground, and then go the other way and battle in the paint! David is that type of hardworking player that can be taught and work hard to become more skilled, but already has the physical ability and the fight to be what he needs to be. I watched David score 18 points on 7 of 9 field goal shooting (made all four foul shots) plus he grabbed 15 boards.
Anquan Boldin of Ball 4 Lyfe (6’5 2023 Wing). It doesn’t matter what 17u event you attend, from EYBL to the local D2 AAU event, or from Team USA 17u tryouts to the good ole Prep Hoops Circuit, you won’t find many as explosive as Boldin. He is the high level athlete. Lateral defensive steps, floor runs, quick off his feet, and body control on the lift, Boldin is elite athletically. And this past weekend we saw him make skilled plays to score more than we have all season meaning the skills are improving (he hit a game winning jumper showing amazing body control at the buzzer) including his three point stroke as he hit four threes in the opener. Division two schools keep offering, and some D1s were watching. He will be at IMG this coming winter.
Aiden Harris of DMV Stags (6’6 2023 Wing). Harris has recently picked up a couple D1 offers and you can see where these schools are coming from instantly when you watch Aiden. Harris has a great mix of mid-range abilities, touch, and feel around the basket finishing in various ways. Loved how he turned off angles in the paint to quickly finish and use his strength to knock players off their base into his attempts. Harris also has the potential to be a high percentage shooter with range but also a player that can move down a position allowing his team to play a bit smaller while stretching the floor with skill.
Mason Jones Mason Jones 6'5" | PF St. Andrew's Episcopal School | 2023 State MD of Team GRIII (6’7 2023 SF). Committed to Ball State and I couldn’t stop thinking about how solid of a get this was for the Cardinals. Jones is a strong 6’7 that is always on the move. Agile, athletic, sure. But combine that with the constant effort he puts in and you have a player that is tough to move with and if you do, Mason is so strong he can control the defender or move through the defender. Had a game winning jumper and it sounds like that part of his game is growing, but to me just his consistent effort in getting to spots at his size is very impressive.
Matthew Moore Matthew Moore 6'7" | PF Hillcrest | 2023 State IL of Chicago Lockdown (6’8 2023 PF). A 15 & 15 game, a 12 & 12 game, and a 14 & 9 game, not many players in this event had that type of near double double consistent production in a high level game. Moore is your physically ready for college type of active big with the agile potential to play defense the way colleges ask their frontcourt players to compete with these days. I was also pleasantly surprised by the skills of Moore. He can surely add to his skills and needs to continue to refine them but the all effort especially on the glass and boards really caught the eye.
Joel Speckman II of PLUTO Prospects (6’9 2022 Forward). Seeing Speckman was a fun little blast from last year’s past. Speckman had a great 2021 summer playing on the Circuit and he looked even better this weekend. Speckman did so much of his work around the basket last year but he looks more agile and looks more comfortable facing the basket than when we last saw him. Speckman is playing at Hargrave Post grad next so he is back in the 2023 class, and looking like a scholarship prospect once again.