Watch List Sleepers to Know in the 2025 Class
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There are certain qualities players show you early on that resonate with winning basketball; IQ, work rate, leadership, and poise are a few. These players all possess at least one of these qualities and though they didn’t crack our Top…
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Continue ReadingThere are certain qualities players show you early on that resonate with winning basketball; IQ, work rate, leadership, and poise are a few. These players all possess at least one of these qualities and though they didn’t crack our Top 50 in the 2025 class, they all have the ability to grow into players any team would want. These guys play with some qualities that you just can’t teach and that is why they are my sleepers to know in the 2025 class.
Walker is a guy you can count on to pester opposing guards for all four quarters. He has an energy that is infectious and spurs on the team’s defensive effort. On offense, he’s a quick guard who can play both point and the off guard. He has a nice long-range shot in development, but he can definitely get hot from outside. The thing that stands out with Walker is his work rate and drive. He’s a player who leaves it all on the floor when he plays and you can tell he does not care who is standing on the other side, he wants to win.
Jones is truly flying under the radar at St. George’s. Even as a freshman last season, he was leading the way at the point. He was the one communicating with coaches, setting up the offense, and spurring action. He is exceptional at finding space on the court, whether it’s for his own shot or passing through the defense to teammates for open looks. Jones’ jumper looks good but if he can get that part of his game to fall more consistently, he’ll be a serious player in 2B. He will be an exciting player to watch grow over the next three years.
Smith is another young guard who makes a statement on defense. He’s not too tall yet, but he has a long reach and great lateral quickness that enables him to cut off drives, contest shots, and get steals. He is a solid offensive player as well and is a big threat to take the ball coast to coast or execute a well-run fast break. With Smith, it comes down to poise. I watched him more than a few times in big games where his side was clearly the underdog, and Smith was focused, determined, and unwavering in his effort.
The lone big man in this list of sleepers, Doyle might not have a ton of finesse to his game yet, but the big guy works. He plays through contact and as a big man, can take a beating inside and continue to fight. He is a force on the glass and has the potential to be a real double-double threat if he continues to work on his moves inside. Doyle is already a strong kid and is one to keep tabs on as his continues to grow.
Trotter is a player with good quickness, good skill, but an excellent IQ. It’s not just that he can attack and make plays. It’s that he knows when to make his moves. He plays with a rhythm that gets defenders on their heels or relaxing for a split second, then he makes his moves blowing by them to the hoop. He’s a solid defender, solid passer, and doesn’t force the ball into bad areas. I can see him getting some decent minutes this season at Arlington, but the real treat is a future backcourt with him and Leyton Martin Leyton Martin 6’0″ | PG Arlington | 2025 State WA in the years to come.