Next Up Recruits Camp: Mike’s 2027 standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Next Up Recruits Camp brought out talented prospects of all ages to Lexington to compete in a one day event. In this article I'll break down the freshman who caught my eye at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2026991"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Simpson looks like one of the top 2027 prospects in Kentucky after a strong showing on Saturday. An impressive athlete in transition, Simpson soared for a couple eye-popping dunks. An acrobatic finisher at the rim, Simpson was still getting to the paint and scoring against competition multiple years older than him. I also liked seeing Simpson use his length defensively to get some steals which led to fast break opportunities. This is a prospect Kentucky basketball fans will hear a lot about over the next few years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Obinna Ekezie","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Prolific Prep","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A kentucky native, Ekezie has already announced a prep school move to Prolific Prep for his freshman season. Maybe the tallest player at the camp, the upside is easy to see with Ekezie. Able to move his feet defensively and block shots, he's going to be a force for years as a rim protector. A little raw offensively as a play finisher, I liked the soft hands Ekezie showed and his willingness to run the floor. Ekezie also threw down a couple dunks when he got the ball in the paint all alone. One of the highest upside 2027 prospects I've caught in the early stages of their progression, Ekezie has the potential to be a nationally ranked prospect in due time.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1745583"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Keathley had an impressive showing and got a spot in the all star game at the conclusion of the camp. I thought he played with an impressive feel for his age, making the right pass off the bounce to open cutters or shooters. In the early stages of his physical development, Keathley wasn't afraid to mix it up and deflect passes and get after loose balls. Also showed the ability to hit open shots and drive to the basket, Keathley was one of the more productive 2027 prospects at the camp.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2046739"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Smith impacted the game in a variety of ways on Saturday for such a young prospect. The wing hit shots from the perimeter and didn't look outmatched physically against mostly older competition. Smith also flashed some ball handling ability to create for himself. Confident attacking with either hand, I liked that Smith wasn't afraid to go up with his off hand at the rim. This will be a name to watch in the 2027 class in Kentucky.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2120266' first='Trent' last='Cole']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Harlan Independent","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"An undersized guard who could make it rain from downtown, Cole specialized in knocking down shots from way downtown. As he adds strength through maturing physically and hitting the weight room, he'll be able to attack the rim easier and use his 3-point shot as a weapon to draw defenders to him and make the right pass. Cole has already played up an age group on the grassroots circuit and made an impact on varsity as an eighth grader.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d3a6b21b573"} /-->