’25 Climbers in the Top 50

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1330881' first='KJ' last='Neville']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2025 will be new next week. Consider this a sneak preview of what is to come with the release. The following players are entering the Top 50 or climbing from within the Top 50 to a loftier position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1330881' first='KJ' last='Neville'] (Bartlett / Arkansas Hawks 17u)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Neville plays with tremendous confidence now. For too long he was deferring to elder guards within the Bartlett system. Frankly, Neville was always a better shooter than Alston though not the same level of slasher. Early in his career KJ would go missing and now that is so rarely the case. He plays with the urgency of a veteran coupled with his elevated skillset. Neville's height for the position of guard, probably shooting guard is wonderful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259392' first='Jeremy' last='Jackson Jr.'] (Columbia Academy / Team Mookie 17u)<br><strong>Why?</strong> The improved defense elevated Jeremy. He was always a high-flying guard, but more slasher/leaper than two-way player. [player_tooltip player_id='1259392' first='Jeremy' last='Jackson Jr.'] used to come alive when the ball hit his hands and play a little stagnant otherwise. Now he appears more engaged throughout and defends at an extremely high level. Jackson Jr. is one of the Top 5 athletes in the class. He projects as kind of a Marcus Smart-type, if he keeps his commitment to defense. The one skill that is not quite there yet is his three-point shot, which can be very good or forgettable depending on the day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1549166' first='Collin' last='O'Neal'] (M.B.A. / Team Mookie 17u)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Nobody will rise more than Collin this pass through the 2025 rankings. He is four inches taller than when last we ranked and he makes big plays in big moments. With the poise of a point guard and the shot-making of a wing, Collin is solid and steady with above average skills. What more could you want from a guard? Read about his heroic finish to a LIVE period win for Team Mookie 17u in this story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/05/team-mookies-friday-night-spotlight/">Team Mookie's Friday Night Spotlight</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1971524' first='JaDyn' last='Lee'] (Munford / Boom City Elite 17u)<br><strong>Why?</strong> The winter was JaDyn's breakout season. Sure he was the best, or one of the best, hooper for Boom City last summer, but his consistent production for Munford this past winter helped the Cougars to 23 wins! He was not alone. Graduated senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215120' first='Murray' last='Norman']</strong> (Rhodes University signee) exceled too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1927473' first='Tarecous' last='Stevens'] (Fayette Ware / Boom City Elite 17u)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Much like Jeremy Jackson Jr, Tarecous was a guy we identified as a sophomore as special. Stevens had a ways to go with his skills at that time. You can be patient with a 6-foot-6 player though. Fayette Ware Head Coach Demarius Chearis helped Tarecous develop quite a lot and Stevens deserves credit too. For his junior year [player_tooltip player_id='1927473' first='Tarecous' last='Stevens'] averaged 9.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg with 1.6 bpg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578683' first='Clay' last='Payne'] (USN / Team Mookie 17u)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Yes, Team Mookie 17u impressed me this month. The program is on the rise regionally elevating their brand nationally thanks to a deep talent pool of largely mid-Tennessee hoopers. Clay won PrepHoopsTN Combine Defensive MVP way back in October, so his stock was quite high then. In the intervening months he became even more nimble with the feet. Payne was and is an elite offensive rebounder. Quick off of the ground. Great instincts. High effort. Payne's touch is not bad, but we do not get to see him take many mid-range or outside shots for high school or AAU. That might change in college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->