The Challenge: '26 Standouts

New Readers: Use code Proia30      -Great to see Rudusans back on the floor after missing the last two summers playing for his national team and dealing with injuries. He's one of the more underrated prospects in the area because all of the things that he brings to a basketball team. He's got great positional size, can really shoot it from beyond the arc, is a fantastic passer, and plays with a high level of feel at both ends of the court. He's in the right spot, communicates well, plays within himself, and scores within the flow of the game. Truly believe that MM coaches should be all over him as a prospect with a high floor that should be able to play pretty early in his college career.     -Thet will absolutely rocket up our rankings in the update later this week with impressive play in each setting that we've seen him in the past few months. Thet is a dynamic athlete that uses his length and vertical pop to be a menacing shot-blocker while also serving as a consistent lob-finisher for his team at the opposite end. The skill level has come a long way as he is taking and making open 3s while also putting the ball on the floor much more frequently than he was last season. Truly believe his best basketball is ahead of him but his value as a rim-rolling, paint-patrolling big with legitimate size sets his floor at a consistently-high level.     -First time seeing Bullie but the dual sport (baseball) athlete was impressive for Seneca Valley as a dynamic forward prospect that can play inside and out. Bullie moves well for his size and has tremendous balance around the rim, shown by one play where he almost fell over but regained his balance and spun on one leg to nail the floater off the window. He has a nice package of post moves around the rim, rebounds the ball at a high level, and runs the floor hard to protect the paint or serve as a roll/lob target at the opposite end. Want to see him communicate more on the back line of his defense to give his team a more cohesive and connected defensive unit.     -One of my absolute favorite role players in the area, Heflin's motor and willingness to do the little things make most of his minutes effective stretches for the Cougars. He's a great shot-blocker for his size, rotates really well to guard multiple possessions, and finds opportunities to sneak in to grab big offensive rebounds to either score on the putback or kick out to a teammate to set something up. His unselfish team-first approach as he plays his role to perfection is a big part of the reason why many expect OLMC to repeat as BCL Champions.     -Continue to come away impressed by Lee as he played well on a day that JC was missing a few of their guards. Lee was rotating well defensively in their amoeba defense to come up with deflections and guard several positions as a dynamic roving defender. The perimeter jumper is much more consistent as the shot prep and follow-through have become routine, with Lee lacing both of his three point attempts on the day. I really also liked that he's finding opportunities to put pressure on the rim in the halfcourt and is making good reads off the bounce. Lee came away with 10p 3r 1s 2/2 3P in the win. One of the more dynamic G/W tweeners that should have D2s all over him.     -First time seeing Howard but came away impressed with how dynamic he is even while playing alongside two other point guards. Howard can shoot it with range, could get open in a phone booth, has the ball on the string, and showed great vision in the halfcourt. He excels in transition and has a great feel for weaving through defensive double teams and ball pressure to get to his spots to make plays for others. Love how quickly his brain operates in chaos to process a play and come out of it much quicker than the average prospect whether it be loose balls, long rebounds, or defenses converging on him as he drives to the hoop.

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