Prospect Watchlist: Preseason Addition

The high school season is right around the corner and a lot of basketball has been played in preparation. We've seen a lot of basketball over the summer, which means there are some new prospects that have entered my radar in the area. Here are a few players that I will be looking for when the season gets underway.    Murphy has been on my radar since the beginning of summer due to his dominant stretch of play. Averaged 22 pts, 9 reb, and 5 ast thru 3 games of play with Cesar Chavez. Shows a great feel for the game, which was evident behind his immediate impact with CC Parkside after playing last season at Oxon Hill. Murphy is comfortable both on the perimeter and near the basket. Has nice touch and can extend his jumpshot to the 3pt line. Exerts real effort on the defensive side and hustles for blocks and rebounds. Murphy is a player I expect to help elevate a very new and improved Cesar Chavez roster.     Amonte is a strong lead guard that looks to set the tempo while he's on the floor. Does a nice job of setting up the offense and his teammates. While he enjoys getting his team involved, Johnson can absolutely fill it up the scoreboard. He's quick mixed with a strong base that helps him fend off defenders. He had quite an impressive summer as well, now catching the radar of some D-1 schools. Highly productive point guard out of Baltimore, now taking the reins at Springdale Prep.      A Smooth wing prospect with guard ability and small-forward frame. Kishann is a strong presence inside the paint and slashes to the rim well. He can bang down low with the bigs and clean the glass well. Smith sees the whole floor well and makes fair decisions with the ball that maximizes each Joppa possession. Can also knock down perimeter shots but must do it with more consistency to become a true 3-level threat. Smooth and sound wing that can complement any team well.        Ahlers is coming down from New York to Mt. Zion Prep this season, and is already catching stride. Saw him for the first time this summer, and came away extremely impressed with his offensive talent. He gets it done from anywhere on the floor, whether it be a tough lay, contested pull-up, or a C&S three-ball. Highly efficient player with a fluidity to his game that is rare to see, even from the top recruits. A new name to keep tabs on in the 2025 class.       [player_tooltip player_id='2705135' first='Jordan' last='Fox'] is an electrifying guard who can put up points in a flurry. He can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor and operates well in isolation situations. Stays unpredictable with the ball and creates many plays off the dribble with his quickness. Confident scorer who never settles and always looks for his shot. Fox is part of a large group of young incoming players for Avalon and he is certainly one to watch as he begins his freshman year.        Simmons left a strong impression with his solid play at the Prep Hoops 250 Expo last month. It was clear he had lead guard characteristics, as more and more teammates started to defer to him as the offensive initiator. Solid all-around player who defends first and foremost. He can shut down an offense's possession and take it down the floor and score singlehandedly. Deadly threat outside the arc as well. Entering his final year at Gaithersburg, Simmons looks to carry his off-season successes into a strong finale.       Pure scoring guard with a deep bag of tricks. [player_tooltip player_id='2639974' first='Seven' last='Wheeler'] breaks down defenses and can maneuver to his spots well, even through double-teams at times. Very good feel and handle, can shift right through waves the defense. Wheeler has good vision as a scorer and can consistently find gaps and defensive mistakes to exploit. Terrific shooter that can produce on or off the dribble. A confident and true scoring guard.        Electrifying scorer that had us tuned in during the summer. Graves made the transfer to Carroll and immediately got to work, putting up huge scoring numbers and showcasing his talent during both AAU play and camps/showcases. Can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. Has unwavering confidence to match his offensive talent. True big-game ability with potential to mold into a star 2027 prospect in Maryland.       Brooks has a solid game and a high basketball IQ. At his size, he can bully defenders and finishes well at the rim without the athleticism others possess. Very comfortable off the dribble and in the post, able to consistently make scoring plays and dimes his teammates up. Likes to showcase his guard skill on the perimeter, but knows he makes his biggest impact inside. Another new 2027 prospect that has some upside if he can further shape things out over his high school career.        [player_tooltip player_id='2492372' first='Leland' last='Harris'] is an aggressive scoring guard who will officially step onto the high school scene this month with Wise, although he made noise all summer before the 2024-25 season. He's quick and shifty with the ball and never lacks confidence in terms of finding and taking his shots. Clear to see the pop in his game. Intense energy on both ends with the ability to catch heat offensively. Has a chance to finish as a top guard in his class in 2028, if not already.

The high school season is right around the corner and a lot of basketball has been played in preparation. We've seen a lot of basketball over the summer, which means there are some new prospects that have entered my radar in the area. Here are a few players that I will be looking for when the season gets underway.