Local '25 Stock-Riser Candidates

Every year, our area churns out high-level talent for each division of college basketball. With the fierce coaching and player competition coupled with loaded rosters, sometimes prospects save their best for last. We want to spotlight some local seniors that have a real good chance to improve their stock and garner more interest from college coaches as their senior year progresses.    -Massaquoi has an intriguing blend of skills that give him some positional versatility at both ends of the floor--contributing as a guard, wing, and small ball 4 for Jackson Reed. Massaquoi will mix in a poster dunk to remind you that he can get off the ground but he can also muscle his way to the rim past defenders and score off of putbacks around the basket. If he can prove that he can be a knockdown C+S threat from the perimeter and ratchet up the motor to consistently be one of the most disruptive defenders in the area-- all of the college interest he's seeking will come to fruition. With Fort leaving HS to enroll at Georgetown early, Massaquoi will need to excel in a bigger role as a scorer and leader for this JR team to continue its recent run of success.     -One of the bigger stock-risers of the summer, Richards has a chance to pop onto college coach's radars with his blend of midrange shooting, defending, off-ball movement, and rebounding. As Richards steps into a bigger role in a thin Bulldogs frontcourt, his value as a prospect that's willing to do whatever it takes that night to help his team win will likely be on display. Richards can guard up two positions, has improved his conditioning to show off a better vert and endurance running the floor, is a vocal defender and respected teammate, and has put in the work to be a viable C+S threat for the talented senior duo of Reibe+Stevens to find in the halfcourt.     -One of the best available shooters in the area, Roche has put in the work on his body and ball skills to develop into a well-rounded SG prospect. The senior guard can hit shots coming off of screens, reacts well to closeouts and stunts, and has improved his decision-making operating out of side PnRs. I think Roche will surprise people with baseline drives that lead to explosive finishes at the rim or jab+goes to get paint touches when teams close out hard on him off the catch. Roche will need to perform at a high level in a bigger role alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1489079' first='Miles' last='Franklin'] for the Lions to reach their ceiling     -Mobley uses a herky jerky change of pace with the ball in his hand to throw his defender's timing off and get to his spots in the halfcourt. He's much more comfortable creating his own offense off the bounce, utilizing a sidestep or stepback to shift his defender and get off a clean look. Mobley will need to add in more upper body strength and straight line speed to get past his defender more consistently to see and execute on better passing windows that those drives would create. But he's a name to monitor for Division II programs.     -Barning is an intriguing W/F tweener that should step into a bigger role for the Lions this season as a prospect that can rebound, knock down jumpers from the high post, and switch 3-5 at the defensive end of the floor. The timing and IQ of his screens, dives to the rim, and fades for a pick n pop combines to give him a much better feel in the halfcourt. If he can improve his help rotations to serve as a shot-blocker from the weakside that deters drivers from attacking the rim, he will only add more value to his team and in return-- his recruitment.     -Explosive downhill driver that has added to his scoring bag since the end of the last high school season despite an injury that held him out of stretches this summer. Curtis transferred into Prince George's Christian Academy (formerly Shabach) and will step into a bigger role as a guard that can play both on and off the ball alongside Mundey in the backcourt. Liked that Curtis is utilizing his pivot to create easier scoring opportunities in the paint while adding in touch shots off of 2 feet and faders from the midpost to score at a more consistent level. A tenacious on-ball defender, he can impact the game by forcing turnovers and getting the Eagles out in transition

Every year, our area churns out high-level talent for each division of college basketball. With the fierce coaching and player competition coupled with loaded rosters, sometimes prospects save their best for last. We want to spotlight some local seniors that have a real good chance to improve their stock and garner more interest from college coaches as their senior year progresses.