My 5 Favorites from the Freshman Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we round out our coverage of this year's Prep Hoops Carolinas Showcases, there are a few prospects who stood out above the rest and earned extra recognition. These 5 prospects are members of the Class of 2029, or current Freshman, and caught my eye. Check them out and put them on your radar before it's too late:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2419233' first='Kai' last='Lowery'] (Northwestern) - First up on this list of my five favorite freshmen is [player_tooltip player_id='2419233' first='Kai' last='Lowery']. Lowery attends nearby Northwestern High School where he saw big minutes as an 8th Grader, allowing him to gain a valuable head start when it comes to experience. Even his speed and athleticism don't jump out at you, but it always feels like he's a step ahead of the opponent with his processing ability. Kai is both a great passer and scorer, but consistent finishing that will come as he matures physically will take his game up a level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2469365' first='Sullivan' last='Templeton'] (Wando) - Sullivan made up the other half of Team 5's dynamic duo alongside Lowery. He is a more traditional inside player with well-drilled fundamentals. Templeton has a strong, solid base with good footwork, keeps the ball high after receiving passes and hauling in rebounds, and uses his shoulders legally to create space. In this setting, he is physically gifted enough to punish smaller matchups by controlling the offensive glass and finishing through contact at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2897212' first='Austin' last='Dunleavy'] (Wando) - Dunleavy is the second Wando Warrior on my freshman favorites list. He was one of the best shooters in the gym on Saturday - no matter the class or event. Austin was comfortable spotting up all over the floor, whether in the corners, on the wings, or from deep straightaway range. But as the threes began to fall, defenses began to play tighter on him. This allowed Dunleavy to show his ability to make plays off closeouts as both a driving finisher and a playmaker for his teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2856553' first='Ryan' last='Curry'] (Bishop England) - I went into the weekend thinking Ryan was primarily an off-ball shooter and left knowing he was already one of the best Point Guards in South Carolina's 2029 Class. Although he did have success from behind the arc, Curry proved that he was much more than just a spot-up shooter. He has unique vision and feel for a player his age, as well as the scrappiness on both ends to make up for his smaller stature. Ryan is also well-polished with the great size neutralizer, the floater.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2956782' first='Mj' last='Thomas'] (Lejune) - Rounding out my freshman favorites list is the lone North Carolina prospect of the five, [player_tooltip player_id='2956782' first='Mj' last='Thomas']. Thomas might turn into a Wing down the line, but at the Prep Hoops Carolinas Freshman Showcase, he was a dominant interior presence. He was excellent on both sides of the glass with a combination of size and athleticism. He frequently turned second-chances into points, was strong with the ball when he got it, and even showed bounce that portrays him as a lob threat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->