EPL Available Bigs
The first season of the Elite Prep League, featuring some of the top post graduate teams from the mid-atlantic, has gotten underway with many of the seven teams playing well against some of the top competition in the country. There…
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Continue ReadingThe first season of the Elite Prep League, featuring some of the top post graduate teams from the mid-atlantic, has gotten underway with many of the seven teams playing well against some of the top competition in the country. There is tons of talent for the next level in the league, and with conference play getting started we decided to take a look at some of the top available prospects in the league. Here, we take a look at some of the top forwards available.
James Morrow | 6’8” PF | Fork Union ’23
Morrow looks the part as much as any prospect you’ll find in the EPL, as the 6’8” forward has a great build and is a good athlete who has a lot of upside moving forward. He runs the floor hard and can finish above the rim and through contact, he’s a good defender who can protect the rim and can move his feet when switching on wings and guards and he has good hands and soft touch around the rim. He’s still somewhat of a project but in the next few years he could develop into an absolute steal at the next level.
Don Douglass | 6’9” C | Fork Union ‘23
Douglass is another big man for FUMA who has had a nice start to the season and he’s probably their most consistent weapon when it comes to a post scorer. The 6’9” South Carolina native has great fundamentals and touch in the paint, he seals well and provides a big target and he’s absolute money with the jump hook and has counters to it too. He’s a high motor and tough guy in the post and can score efficiently and rebound as well.
Javen Foster | 6’6” F | Massanutten ’23
Foster is still somewhat of a project, but there’s no doubt you can see the long term potential in him with his big time athleticism. While he may be a little undersized for the position, Foster has broad shoulders and long arms to go with his explosive bounce which allows him to play above the rim and rebound against players bigger than him. While he’s still a project offensively he’s able to make plays that others simply aren’t and when he plays with a motor he can be very productive.
Aaron Hall | 6’8” F | Combine ’23
Hall is another very intriguing long term prospect, as the 6’8” hybrid forward is a walking mismatch with his mix of athleticism and perimeter skill set. He can play anywhere between the 3 and 5 depending on the lineup they throw out there, he’s a good shooter when he’s left open and he can get downhill and play above the rim whether he has the ball or is crashing the glass. He’s put up big numbers and had highlight reel plays early in the season and will continue to be one of the more versatile bigs in the league.
Mike Montano | 6’7” PF | Hargrave ’23
Speaking of versatile big men, Montano comes off the bench for a very deep Hargrave team and gives them a change of pace with his ball skills and ability to be a mismatch at the five spot. He has good mobility and is able to run the floor offensively and move his feet defensively, he can rebound on the defensive end and start the break with the ball in his hands and in the half court set he can put it on the deck and get by slower bigs or he can knock down shots off the catch too. He’s starting to play with more urgency and a better motor and that will only boost his stock more moving forward.
Keyshawn Mitchell | 6’10” C | First Love ’23
Mitchell caught my eye when I watched First Love in the National Prep Showcase and could be one of the gems in the EPL this year for coaches who are willing to do their homework. At 6’10” he has a lanky frame that should fill out in a college weight room, he runs the floor hard and plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor and he’s able to protect the rim defensively and finish above it offensively. He has a good base skillset that will only improve and his best basketball is still a few years away, but he could be a steal with the right development.
Brave Rutsindra | 6’11” C | Mt. Zion ’24
Rutsindra is another big man who has his best basketball ahead of him, and the 6’11” big man has great physical tools and a lot of room to continue to develop moving forward. He has a ton of reach and is able to challenge shots without leaving his feet, he has good hands and feet in the post to catch and make a move in the post and he can crash the glass and rebound well on both ends of the floor. He has time to continue to develop and he’s already showing that development so far during the season.
James Moore James Moore 6'9" | PF Olympus Prep | 2024 State #237 Nation NJ | 6’8” PF | Mt. Zion ‘24
When it comes to pure talent, Moore may be the most intriguing big man in the league as the 6’8” junior has a lot of tools that translate and still has a lot of room to get better as well. He’s a big time athlete who can run the floor and can make highlight reel plays at the rim when he gets downhill, he can step out to 18 feet and knock down shots consistently and defensively he’s chock full of potential with his athleticism and length. He has shown flashes of brilliance against some very high level competition and as he becomes more consistent he’ll only see his stock soar moving forward.