National Prep Championships: Underclassmen to watch

As is annual tradition, the top prep schools in the country will convene next week to crown an undisputed national champion as part of NERR's National Prep Championship. With the nature of prep school being such that it's dominated by post-grads and older players, only a select few underclassmen figure to play a factor among the 18-team field. We take a look here at the handful of young prospects to watch next week in West Hartford.    The most consistent difference maker among the NEPSAC's 2027 class, Edema is a force to be reckoned with inside on both ends. With elite size and mobility, he patrols the paint as an active shot-blocker before taking off down the floor for rim-runs. Edema also continues to show enticing flashes of an expanding offensive skillset, whether scoring 1-on-1 in the post or making simple reads along the perimeter. His blend of size, athleticism, and motor with a track record of improvement already point to clear upside for the highest levels.     Among the highest upside prospects in all of New England, Hawkins took a bit to get his sea legs within the prep school waters but has looked increasingly comfortable and effective down the stretch of the season. A slender wing guard with striking length and movement skills, he excels getting out in transition for smooth and athletic finishes. In the halfcourt, Hawkins shows a strong court sense and is a reliable spotup shooter, with flashes of second-side playmaking. Physicality is still an issue in all facets of the game as he's still in the early phases of his physical maturation, but Hawkins' length and well-rounded skillset figure to catch high-major eyes as soon as this summer nonetheless.     It's rare to see a young prospect enter the NEPSAC ranks for a AAA contender and actually increase their consistency and production, but that's exactly what Whyte did after coming north from the CHSAA. The former St. Raymond (NY) wing guard was the most impactful perimeter player among NEPSAC 2027's with his physical tools and dynamic scoring ability. With a well-built frame and quick-twitch athleticism, Whyte showed an uptick in his offensive polish both as a ballhandler and shotmaker. He has great tools for the defensive end as a playmaker and on-ball stopper. The most important trend for his ultimate translation to the highest levels was the progress Whyte showed through the season in generating his offense efficiently and within the flow.     A new-age stretch '5' with evident long-term upside, Mark takes a back seat in terms of minutes and production while playing a backup role for Edema. The reason for intrigue is obvious though with Mark's rare blend of size, mobility, and floor-spacing ability. He's shown to be a dynamic shooter from the frontcourt with a quick release and versatility across translatable actions. While he's still thin and is most effective on the perimeter, Mark shows a willingness to mix it up and throw his length around on the interior. We'll hope to see more of his progress in an expanded role in an AAU setting but the building blocks are all there for a highly intriguing prospect.     It's been a season of development for Kalonji since arriving in the U.S. this fall from the DR Congo, but the flashes have become increasingly consistent as he's grown more comfortable throughout the year. Strikingly long with exceptionally quick feet, Kalonji makes most of his impact as a rim-runner and versatile frontcourt defender. He shows good timing as a shot blocker with the mobility to play comfortably away from the rim. Offensively, he's mostly a finisher at this stage but shows glimpses of ball-in-hand skill to potentially build on over time. We'll look to see him turn flashes into full games moving forward, but the foundation Kalonji shows is certain to draw intrigue from a wide range of D1 coaches sooner than later.     As productive a freshman as there was in New England last year while leading Catholic Memorial (MA) to the state semifinals, Adamson has taken a step back in his output behind a litter of highly-recruited upperclassmen at CATS. Nonetheless, he uses his minutes to showcase the aggressive two-way instincts and well-rounded skillset that have him on early high-major watch lists. A physical downhill wing guard, Adamson shows solid on-ball skill and pace while operating at multiple levels. He's a tough-nosed defender with versatility across the perimeter, and an increasingly consistent perimeter shooter to boot. We'll look to see him boost his production back to normal levels while playing with his age group in AAU, but there remains a lot to like as Adamson bides his time in pursuit of a national title.     It's rare to see a true freshman making any type of impact on the prep scene, let alone for a national title contender, but Muhammad has bucked the trend with his steady contributions off the bench in the MZP backcourt. A well-rounded guard who plays both on and off the ball, he plays with a steely composure that truly belies his age. Muhammad shows to be a reliable shotmaker across situations with a balanced skill level off the bounce and signs of playmaking feel. We'll get a more extended look at his game among his age group in AAU, but the ability to contribute to winning at a young age in such a cutthroat setting bodes well for Muhammad's long-term outlook.

As is annual tradition, the top prep schools in the country will convene next week to crown an undisputed national champion as part of NERR's National Prep Championship. With the nature of prep school being such that it's dominated by post-grads and older players, only a select few underclassmen figure to play a factor among the 18-team field. We take a look here at the handful of young prospects to watch next week in West Hartford.