January Stock Risers, Including a Prospect You Haven’t Heard Of

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we continue through the winter season, here are a few players who I have been able to see in person recently and have caught my eye. One of these guys is a player who is a superstar overseas, but I can almost guarantee that you haven't heard of him yet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Keiji Koshi","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_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":"Omaha Concordia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-697946c6bbc3a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Koshi is a player that very few people in Nebraska have heard of, but he is a fascinating player in an interesting situation. He is a foreign-exchange student from Japan who is ineligible to play varsity basketball this season due to the transfer rules, so he can only play JV this season as a sophomore. However, Koshi is not your average foreign-exchange student, as he played for Japan's 16u national team, where he averaged 17.8 ppg at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a quick guard who can get downhill with ease, but he never seems rushed. Once he gets penetration, he is crafty with his finishing as he has great touch at the basket that pairs well with a soft floater. He is also a very good passer who can make all of the reads. The most impressive thing about him is his shooting ability, as he was over 43% for Japan in that Asia cup and it is easy to see why. He is able to shoot it from deep as well as off the dribble, so defenses have to constantly be aware of where he is. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only knock on him is his size and especially how that will affect him on the defensive end, especially as he keeps moving up and playing higher-level basketball. He is crafty on the ball with his hands, which allows him to make up for it for now. It will be fascinating to see what he does against varsity competition in Nebraska next season and how college coaches in the US see him at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>/<a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u16-asiacup-2025/teams/japan/397247-keiji-koshi">https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u16-asiacup-2025/teams/japan/397247-keiji-koshi</a></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":"Parker Volk","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_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":"Doniphan-Trumbull","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-697946c6bbcd5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Volk has burst onto the scene this winter after having last season affected by injury. He is the kind of player that I would love if I was a coach building a team, as he is an athletic wing who can really shoot it. He is very dangerous from deep and will shoot it from anywhere. He is also really solid inside, as he likes to back down defenders where he can score or pass it with patience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is averaging 18.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 1.5 apg this season as a leader for an exciting Doniphan-Trumbull team. Earlier I mentioned his shooting ability. His percentage on the season is 49%(!) from deep on 67 attempts. When you combine this with his size and athleticism, it is no wonder why he has been one of the top players in the state this season. </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":"Myles Parker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lincoln Northwest","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-697946c6bbd60"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Parker is a long guard who is a very intriguing prospect. His combination of size, athleticism, and skill should put him on some coaches radars as he continues through his junior season. You just don't see that many guards with his size and explosiveness that often. He is most dangerous in transition, where he is able to get downhill quickly before the defense can get set and explode to the rim. He is also good at finishing around the rim in the half-court, where he often requires defenses to send help at him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parker is averaging 14.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 3.2 apg this season as a junior for Lincoln Northwest. The biggest deciding factor in where he ultiamtely ends up as a prospect with be his shooting ability. You can tell that he is comfortable taking almost any kind of shot, but right now he is 21% from three and 48% from the line. Because of all of his other intangibles, if he is able to grow in this area then he will be one of the best players in all of Nebraska next season. </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":"Drew Kulus","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_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":"Omaha Concordia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-697946c6bbde7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kulus is a genuine three-level scorer who demonstrates all of the traits of a veteran who has played a lot of basketball. He is dangerous around the rim, as he is very patient and often makes the right decision. His ability to finish around the rim makes him dangerous, and he has a really nice mid-range fade that he can get off whenever he wants. He is also a good shooter, as he is 34% from deep on 80 attempts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is averaging 17.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 2.3 spg as the leader for Omaha Concordia this season. To go along with his offense, one of the things that impressed me was his defense. He is a physical defender who moves his feet well and does a good job of making opposing guards uncomfortable. This mentality also shows up on the glass, where he is a force, even though he is a guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2976986"],"_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-697946c6bbe3b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The other part of Doniphan-Trumbull's dynamic duo, Poppe, is a dynamic guard who is one of the top guards in Nebraska. He thrives when playing downhill, whether that is in transition or in the half-court. He uses his quickness and 6'2 frame to get to his spots and make things happen. He can score at all three levels and can hit difficult shots when needed. What makes him so dangerous is that he can shoot the three as well, which means that it is difficult to give him a step on the drive or go under screens. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Poppe is averaging 16.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.7 apg, and 2.9 spg for Doniphan-Trumbull as a Senior. Not only does he stuff the stat sheet, but he is efficient as he does it, as he is 63% from two, 34% from three, and 84% from the line. He is also an active defender and rebounder, where is quickness and athleticism help him out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->