2025 Rankings: Untapped Potential
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One of the most difficult aspects of evaluating prospects is weighing “what a player could be” vs “what they currently are”. As prospects make the jump to their junior year, waiting on consistent production to match the potential of players…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most difficult aspects of evaluating prospects is weighing “what a player could be” vs “what they currently are”. As prospects make the jump to their junior year, waiting on consistent production to match the potential of players becomes difficult. Here’s a group of prospects that still have some of the higher ceilings in the class.
After a quiet winter, Hancuff has turned the corner this spring. He’s a high motor, big time athlete who makes his impact felt on both ends. To go along with his height, he has a long wingspan which helps him regularly finish with authority at the rim. On the defensive end he’s eager to help with rim protection and attack the glass. The Edmond Memorial Bulldog also shows promise as an off the ball mover in the half-court, good passing instincts and pushing it himself off rebounds.
Among the players on this list, he has his own personal recipe for success most understood with his high motor playing style. It’s just now a question to see how has handling and shooting improve.
Nickens exploded on the scene as a freshman as one of the most gifted athletes to enter the Oklahoma high school ranks in recent years. The athleticism, especially end to end speed, are still at the forefront for his high ceiling. The success has happened in high school, as he’s been a key part of back to back State Championships for Millwood. This spring has seen an up and down session while playing nationally for Texas program Drive Nation. His jumper remains streaky and it feels like his basketball skill level hasn’t quite kept pace with elite natural traits.
Another question with the longterm projection of Nickens. Will he chose football or basketball? The same speed, explosiveness and intensity that makes him stand out on the hardwood have led to even more success as one of Oklahoma’s top football recruits. And in this state, football usually wins out over basketball. The football offers have rolled in but there’s still a path for the outstanding 405 prospect to excel in basketball as well.
There have been few prospects in recent years that have his combination of size and athleticism. Adams has moments where he can take a board or steal and go coast to coast with amazing agility for a player his size. But there are other games where he floats along the perimeter, settling for jumpers and not crashing the boards. After a disappointing ending to his high school season where he came up short of a Class 5A State Tournament appearance, he has had a quieter spring than expected.
Even with his upside as a perimeter player, Adams is still as the stage where he should be an inside player first. His quickness and touch around the rim should have him be a monster on the low block. Not to mention the “easy points” he should rack up with second chance points. Yes, with his developing skillset there should be moments of stepping out for the occasional three and drive to the rim. But imposing his wheel around the rim this July with Team Trae Young would likely see his recruiting soar.
If/when the light comes on for Adams, he would be among the state’s very best prospects regardless of class.
Kerr’s combination of height and potential to develop into a floor stretching weapon give him a rare ceiling in this state. After a mix bag of viewings this past high school season, the lanky forward prospects has shown promise this month at Owasso. While there is still progress to be made at putting his physical gifts to use around the basket, there have been good signs of Kerr becoming a more consistent player. Right now he’s more of a face up threat, but as he starts to fill out he should become a more impactful player around the rim., on both ends of the court. With the level of competition and team he’s playing on, it’s easy to project a big jump for Kerr this winter. Hopefully like others on this list, Kerr will see a huge jump in his production and college recruitment.