Next Up from the 2025 Class
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It’s always fun looking into the future and with these players, the future might be coming real soon. These guys have the stuff to make a big impact heading into their sophomore seasons and are definitely players to keep an…
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Continue ReadingIt’s always fun looking into the future and with these players, the future might be coming real soon. These guys have the stuff to make a big impact heading into their sophomore seasons and are definitely players to keep an eye on as the season progresses and they garner more minutes on the floor. Each of these players is in position to grow a great deal in the coming year and has the potential to be a high-level player as their high school careers continue. Take a look at some promising names in the 2025 class.
Makai Daniels
Makai Daniels
Daniels makes his way over to North Central for the 2022-23 season after playing with Shadle Park last year. He’s a big 6’6 forward that uses his strength to get to the rim and finish high above the defense. He’s agile, quick with the dribble, and has a strong foundation that sets up his moves. Daniels is going to wow some people this season as he teams up with two other high-profile players on North Central. He showed up big over the summer for Oregon Prospects with a smooth, strong style of play that makes him an impact player to watch.
Petty is another player on the move after last season. He now joins the Auburn Trojans and has a chance to be a key player off the bench for the reigning 3A champs. Petty is a long guard who plays a physical style of defense that irritates offensive players and leads to mistakes. He stays in front, hounds the ball, and has great defensive awareness and anticipation that helps him play lockdown defense. Petty is also an asset offensively, taking it strong to the rim and sprinkling in some shots from outside. He plays with great confidence and should make a big leap in his sophomore season.
Struss is a bigger guy who is kind of in between a big and a wing player at this stage in his development. He has the strength and size to grow into a post player, he shows good passing instincts from the interior to diving guards or players flashing off screens. But he also has good mobility for his size and the ability to guard both posts and players on the perimeter. Struss can go a few different ways in his development, but he has a good looking jumper that could grow into reliable shot, and if he continues to grow, he has the look of a big, strong post who already shows the right thinking around the paint.
Dykstra already has a good feel for the game, good spatial awareness and the ability to get his own shot off. He plays with supreme confidence and has the ability to get in rhythm scoring the ball. He suits up for a pretty deep team, but Dykstra makes smart plays and should make the most of whatever minutes he gets this season. I like his potential going forward, especially if the crafty guard can get a bit stronger. He has a knack for scoring the ball and if he gets even stronger, has the potential to draw more fouls and really rack up the points.
This guy is new to Washington, coming up from California and landing at Bothell. He’s a long, wiry player with some real ability playmaking on both ends of the floor. He has the length and enough bounce to send shots back and disrupt drives inside. On offense, McLaughlin is dynamic scoring the ball near the rim and has good feel for creating off the dribble and dropping dimes in tight space. He’s an interesting prospect that looks like he has a lot more growing to do. He’ll be one to keep tabs on this season and should get some good opportunities with the Cougars this season.