Early June Recruiting Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2477739' first='DJ' last='Wilbur']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No more Top 10 players in 2025 remain uncommitted after Saturday's latest development. See the latest news below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&lt;&gt; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560719' first='Trey' last='Pearson']</strong> (John Paul II) visited Carbondale, Illinois and left town with another D1 offer. SIU offered [player_tooltip player_id='1560719' first='Trey' last='Pearson'], the former #1 overall prospect in 2026. Pearson is the starting point guard for Brad Beal Elite 17u. An assistant coach for Michigan State University is trying to get 'eyes on' Trey later this month at BCAT. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&lt;&gt; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658056' first='Parker' last='Pounds']</strong> (Briarcrest Christian) picked up an offer from Rhodes College. Parker is a 6-foot-5 wing for P7 Elite 17u and a former State Champion from when Briarcrest won in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&lt;&gt; <strong>Christopher Washington Jr. </strong>(Providence Christian Academy) earned an offer from Memphis University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&lt;&gt; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2477739' first='DJ' last='Wilbur']</strong> (Red Bank) earned his first offer, as Maryville College reached out and offered. Raul Placeres is the head coach for Maryille's Saints. Maryville College is one of two Division III basketball programs in Tennessee, and they have a recent history of recruiting the state exhaustively. For example, the 2024-2025 squad featured: <strong>Reed Kemp</strong> (Franklin), <strong>Jaylon Green </strong>(Knox Webb), <strong>Kobe Franklin</strong> (Lenoir City),<strong> Jackson Garner </strong>(Clinton), <strong>Kyle Cloninger</strong> (Morristown East), <strong>Chase Morgan</strong> (Concord Christian), <strong>Darius Martin </strong>(Knox West), <strong>Hayden Treadwell </strong>(Bearden), <strong>Davis Ernsberger</strong> (Maryville).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for DJ himself, he is a jet-quick guard with improved toughness in the lane. Growing up Wilbur was one of the smaller guards on his teams, but he adapted through mental growth and basketball maturity, both of which embedded in his game the last year+. "[Maryville] offered him after team camp yesterday," said Red Bank Head Coach Nick Fike. "Played a really tough first half against Knox Webb."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilbur earned All-District his junior season, averaging 11.5 points per game along with 4.0 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game, and 2.0 turnovers per game. Wilbur lead the team in assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&lt;&gt; The top uncommitted player in the Class of 2025, <strong>Victor Okojie</strong> committed to UMass-Lowell. Okojie is an Irish-born forward with Nigerian heritage. He played for Hamilton Heights Christian Academy. It is a basketball program outside of TSSAA, so most basketball fans in Tennessee are unfamiliar with his game. In 2013, UMass-Lowell ascended from Division II to Division I. Okojie has D1 length and agility. His outside shooting and on-ball defense need to improve long-term, but the upside is exciting and surely why he gained so many D1 offers throughout the recruiting process. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/VK1Okojie/status/1931340560016486615","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/VK1Okojie/status/1931340560016486615 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&lt;&gt; Sewanee evaluated the Tennessee Heat players. TN Heat is a team composed of Nashville-area homeschoolers and they have some talent. <strong>Carson Dismang</strong>, <strong>Thatcher Bond</strong>, and<strong> Jacob Banker</strong> are all three scoutable players from the Class of 2026. Both Carson and Jacob are 6-foot-7, or taller. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->