Under the radar spring AAU studs: the first wave

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, I'll be recapping some of the best under the radar players that I've seen this spring. These are players who aren't playing on shoe teams but have had productive AAU seasons where they've shown that they can play at the college level. Let's get started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2341422"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6839c35353b64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Every time I watch Gordon play, I'm wow'd by his ability to run the show and be a floor general. He's so unselfish with the ball, always looking for kick ahead passes in transition and making the simple spray out passes in the half court once he gets paint touches. In the pick and roll, he's super decisive and really understands how to play at his own pace. He also has some scoring chops and can shoot it from the outside, especially once he gets hot. The Brewster Academy point guard is having an excellent season for NSSA on the New Balance circuit, and I think high D3 schools should be all over him despite his lack of size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hilton Lyare","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"BC High","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"MCIB","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6839c35353c23"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lyare is the definition of under the radar. He plays for a Mass Commanders team that doesn't get the notoriety it deserves, and he didn't make the BC High basketball team this past season (an absolute joke). I've seen him give too many guards hell to believe he can't find his way onto a college roster. The 5-foot-10 point guard is super quick laterally and has excellent hands, making him one of the better on-ball defenders I've seen this season. His size will certainly limit his recruitment, but the unsigned senior can absolutely find a D3 fit. Perhaps a prep school will take him for a post grad year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hilary Lyare","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"BC High","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"MCIB","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6839c35353cb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Just like his brother, Hilary is ridiculously underrated. The 6-foot-2 guard didn't make his BC High team and despite his numerous high-scoring performances for MCIB, he hasn't gotten enough press. However, I'm very confident Lyare can find a college fit as a result of his ability to relentlessly attack the hoop and finish athletically at the rim. He's quick and jolty with the ball, and when he gets going to his strong left hand, he's difficult to keep off his line. His shot is definitely an area for improvement, but he should still be able to find a home (either in college or at a prep school) next year regardless.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2494138"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6839c35353d00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I saw Bilolo for the first time last weekend, and I was shocked I hadn't heard about him before. Perhaps it's because he plays for an under-the-radar AAU team (Team Versatility) and goes to public school. But, he'll certainly be known soon. The 6-foot-2 guard is going to Bridgeport Prep for a post-grad year next season and is going to wow college coaches with his explosiveness, especially in transition. He has a great handle while moving at fast speeds and can elevate with great body control at the hoop. Will be very curious how Bilolo adapts to the prep school level next season, and I could see him getting D3 and D2 looks if it goes as I expect it to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2696676"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6839c35353d48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ames is underrated purely as a result of living in Maine and not playing for a shoe team. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is a lot more athletic than people think he is and does literally everything on the basketball court. Offensively, he can pass, dribble and shoot and has a good feel for offensive movement both with and without the ball. Defensively, he's a workhorse who can guard multiple positions and will fight his behind off in the paint against larger mismatches. Ames is going to have a monster senior season at Camden Hills, but I think his real opportunity to jump on the scene is if he does a postgrad year at a prep school in 2027. I see high D3 or D2 hoops in his future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2873298' first='Omar' last='Grullon']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rocky Hill Country Day","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Basketball Dojo","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6839c35353dd0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grullon has really impressed me this season with his point guard play for Basketball Dojo on the Puma circuit. The 5-foot-10 guard has an explosive burst to his dribble game and can really elevate and finish at the rim. Despite being right-hand dominant, he has a knack for converting with touch off the glass using his left hand, and he can also step out beyond the perimeter and knock down shots when the defense overplays his drive. Grullon is an unsigned senior and is probably not getting the looks he deserves because of his lack of height -- perhaps a postgrad year could help his recruitment, because he definitely warrants a college roster spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->