Next Up Recruits Camp: Mike’s 2025 Standouts
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The Next Up Recruits Camp featured over a hundred prospects who were competing in Lexington for a day filled with competitive basketball. In this article I’ll spotlight some 2025 prospects who stood out at the event. Armelo Boone KY #8…
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Continue ReadingThe Next Up Recruits Camp featured over a hundred prospects who were competing in Lexington for a day filled with competitive basketball. In this article I’ll spotlight some 2025 prospects who stood out at the event.
One of the top prospects at the camp, Boone was showing off his impressive athleticism with numerous dunks in transition. When he got downhill and a lane to jump, it was usually ending in a slam dunk and two points for his team. A couple of his dunks even had defenders on him with one nasty poster dunk that got the gym jumping. Defensively, Boone was one of the top defenders at the camp with his strength, quickness and tenacity on that end of the court. Easy to see why Boone received an offer from Eastern Kentucky the day prior to this event.
In what was maybe my favorite individual battle of the day, Sperry and Boone were going back and forth shot for shot at the camp. Sperry started the game with back-to-back-to-back LOUD 3-pointers, including two that were 30+ feet. Sperry was another one of the top athletes at the camp and used his burst and ability to create space to score the basketball at a high level. When watching him on the basketball court, it’s easy to see how Sperry is also one of the top football prospects in the state as well. With his athleticism and talent, he should receive Division I interest in both sports and should have plenty of options on what he wants to do at the college level.
An undersized guard, Howard was setting the table for his team and showing off a wide range of offensive skills from the point guard position. Leading his team by getting them into the offense in the half-court and running the pick and roll at a high level with Malachi Moreno Malachi Moreno 6’11” | C Great Crossing | 2025 State #21 Nation KY on his team, Howard was racking up easy assists to the cutting center. A microwave shooter from 3-point range, Howard was able to get hot in a hurry from long distance with the ability to pull-up off the dribble. For his impressive performance, Howard got a well-deserved selection to the all-star game at the conclusion of the camp.
Marr had a solid outing at the camp and earned a spot in the top 40 all-star game. A strong wing guard who scored 15 PPG as a Sophomore, it was good to see Marr against some top competition at an event like this with talented players from all over the state. I thought Marr played with good defensive instincts that allowed him to get a handful of steals when I was watching him play. A good shooter from the outside, Marr hit one really tough off the bounce pull-up from 25 feet. Based on what I saw on Saturday, Marr seems like a prospect small college programs will target starting next spring.
Preston Wade
Preston Wade
The only out of Kentucky prospect featured in this article, Wade was a force in the paint. Blocking shots and being aggressive defensively, few players controlled the paint on both ends like Wade did. In the all-star game at the conclusion of the camp, Wade even stepped out and hit a couple 3-pointers and was one of the more confident big men I watched all day. Lots of upside with this forward with his size, length and flashes of perimeter shooting. A prospect Tennessee high school basketball fans should start to hear more about this winter.