2029 Roundtable: Safest top 10 bet, biggest future riser, more

With the debut of our <a href="https://prephoops.com/maryland/rankings/maryland-high-school-boys-basketball-2029-class-player-rankings/">2029 player rankings</a>, but content continues to flow and we look to put a bow on things with a roundtable from our scouts addressing three questions below!   1. Who in the top 10 do you feel is the safest bet long term?   Colby Giacubeno:   With two of us already being big fans of Sidwell Friends' Elijah Schneeburg (count me as number three), I'll go elsewhere with this question and side with [player_tooltip player_id='2800822' first='Toby' last='Echebi']. At 6-foot-6 with length, athleticism, and intriguing skill that has continued to improve over time, Echebi is in a spot at Largo High School and running with [program_tooltip program_id='2078457' first='Team' last='Durant'] that many hope can follow the Cam Ward path. I'm not placing those standards on Echebi due to the fact that Ward IS the standard in this new age of high school basketball in PG County as he stayed true to the public school route, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't early similarities between the two.   Aaron Proia:   Elijah Schneeburg. He already has the requisite height and build needed to succeed as a point guard in this league, and the feel is pretty advanced for a prospect in this class. Earning early playing time in a program like Sidwell indicates a safe long term floor.   Van Johnson:   Elijah Schneedburg an impressive looking prospect. I love his overall skill set and ability to impact the game playing and defending playing the game 1 through 4. For a freshman to do that on varsity is impressive. And I look forward to Elijah being under tutelage of the Sidwell program. I look for Elijah to be the next prospect to come out of the program and thrive on the collegiate level.   Will Lloyd III:   [player_tooltip player_id='2802004' first='Harlem' last='Nunez']   On top of the 6'6-7” height, Harlem carries some unique wing characteristics as a freshman that makes his game a safe bet for the long-term. Played on the Dominican Republic National team over the summer that helped him prepare for the tough national schedule and deep roster on Mt. Zion. Has some offensive tools that give him a nice foundation to build upon as his varsity career progresses.    2. Who outside the top 10 could you see making the biggest rise as this class enters their senior year?   Colby Giacubeno:   There's uncertainty on how quickly his rise will take place, but I have stock in Clinton Grace's [player_tooltip player_id='3068851' first='Jamar' last='Sims']. Standing close to 6-foot-7 and packed with some of the most explosive athleticism that you'll find in the local class, he lines up to be another young talent in head coach Devin Paige's stable. Clinton Grace's roster is one of the more talented in the DMV including our No. 2 overall prospect in this class, [player_tooltip player_id='2536485' first='Nas' last='Abraham'], who will be a key piece in their rotation. Seeing where Sims end up in the minutes contributions will be interesting, but the potential has me intrigued.   Aaron Proia:   [player_tooltip player_id='3068853' first='Hakeem' last='Oyekan']. There aren't many middle schoolers that are windmilling at 13, a year later he's all of 6'4 and harnesses those athletic tools with a physical aggression that you usually don't see that young. Wouldn't be shocked to see a steady rise from him that might vault him into that top 5 sooner than people would think.   Van Johnson:   [player_tooltip player_id='2981285' first='Yusuf' last='Zaid']. Intrigue with Yusuf size and plug in play two-way ability. Comfortable playing the 1 facilitating or playing off and scoring the ball from all 3 levels.   Will Lloyd III:   [player_tooltip player_id='2981285' first='Yusuf' last='Zaid']   3. What are 2-3 key evaluation points you will use to determine a “successful” freshman season?   Colby Giacubeno:   The first for me is coachability. These prospects are still early in their high school careers obviously, but I want to see how they take to their coaches. Do they embrace their role? Do they handle corrections (or criticisms) correctly? Do they allow their mistakes to impact the possessions to follow?   Second would be their growth throughout the season. I don't invest a final decision in one performance. Whether they had the game of their life or a game where the film should immediately be burned, I'm always reminding myself that the season is a marathon. As long as the prospect showed growth within his skill set, his body, or his attitude, these are all things that can help me gather whether or not their freshman campaign was a success or not.   Aaron Proia:   1. Do you get markedly better as the season goes along–whether that is freshman team, JV, or with the big show on varsity? The prospects that maximize their ceiling make the most of their minutes whether it's 4 or 14. Those year-to-year progressions add up to the highest possible outcomes on the back end. You might start 5 and finish 200, you might start 200 and finish 5. Focus on the daily wins and the rest will take care of itself.   2. Run YOUR race. Development isn't linear, the opportunity you get out the gate will be different from others on your AAU team. Focus on getting better every day, tuning in the outside noise, and locking in with your teammates and coaches.    3. Do your coaches enjoy coaching you, and do your teammates enjoy playing with you? Flowing against the stream will bury deserving players at the end of the bench–and the competition level will only rise with each level you reach in basketball. Don't make it an uphill swim.

With the debut of our 2029 player rankings, but content continues to flow and we look to put a bow on things with a roundtable from our scouts addressing three questions below!