Next Up: 2030 Prospects to Track

The 2030 class is just getting started, so there's still a lot of basketball to be played before we know exactly where everyone fits. That's what makes the watch list important. The Expo gave us another chance to evaluate several freshmen we've tracked throughout the summer, and this group showed enough to enter the high school season firmly on our radar. Some may find varsity minutes early, while others will need time to adjust, expand their games and learn how to impact winning within a role. We're not rushing the process, but these are names we'll be following closely as their freshman seasons unfold.    Bennett caught my attention last month because he already plays with a patience that can't be taught. He wasn't trying to just push out highlights plays every time he touched the ball but it was about process for him and that matters. I also liked his footwork, how he used his shot fakes and his overall understanding of spacing which helped him create mismatches and strengths but he didn't over dribble. Bennett is a high IQ player who appeared to make the right decision often. He looked comfortable in a showcase setting which I know can translate when he starts playing high school ball. Now, I want to see him become more of a consistent threat by just getting to his spots and applying pressure over and over. As the confidence and skill catch up with his feel, there should be opportunities to turn those smart plays into more scoring and playmaking. He easily makes the watch list.     Beatty brought one of the more aggressive approaches from this group the last time that we saw him which sticks with me, and I'd rather have a young player who has to learn when to attack than one you're constantly trying to convince to be aggressive. His first step created problems, and once he got defenders moving backward, he could get into his pull-up or create space for iso baskets. The offensive skillset is one he will be able to work with and as long as he keeps adding parts to his game, he will be a name to know in this class that I could see ascending rather quickly. His freshman year should be about sharpening the decisions that come after he makes a move and then seeing what alternative counters he can hit after. Just having a plan on the floor. Learning when to attack, pull up or make the next pass could turn that aggressiveness into a real strength that we are sure we will see. He makes his watch list debut.     Royal was completely new to me, so him getting out and showing that he could compete no matter who he's up against let me know that I should keep tabs on him moving forward. His size already naturally stood out, but I was more interested in how he understood how to use it. Royal shielded defenders on finishes, worked different angles around the basket and set screens that actually created space for his guards. Those are translatable plays. He wasn't doing anything overly complicated, and he didn't need to which is typically difficult for young players to understand. Those are useful habits for a developing frontcourt player. Now I want to see how his game responds to bigger and more physical players. If he can become a dependable rebounder and defender while continuing to develop around the basket, there could be more here that could make him a very dangerous player. I'm curious to see what kind of prospect he develops into.     Benard is a player who could make his impact in games without needing to dominate the ball to be effective. We saw him about a month ago and the lefty gave us something to make sure we had him on our watch list. He finds opening in the defense, he moves without the ball and also showed he could work the mid-range area. I liked the competitiveness too. He stayed involved and found smaller ways to contribute when the ball wasn't coming his direction. That's probably where his development starts. Benard isn't a complete ball handler yet, so adding more comfort off the bounce would open up another part of his game. For now, cutting with purpose, defending and making shots when opportunities arrive can give him something to build on while the rest catches up. He's an interesting player who I feel will continue to add.     Bunch is a workhorse with a great motor and he moves well. When we saw him, that's the first thing that stood out for us was the full on effort that he played with. He chased loose balls, competed through contact and stayed involved even when it looked as if he was out of the play. That matters, especially for a freshman trying to find his way onto the floor. This would surely earn him some minutes as it's these culture shifting plays. The motor can be Bunch's calling card while his skill set continues developing. He'll eventually need to establish where he can consistently help offensively, but effort gives him a head start. If he becomes a guy coaches can trust to rebound, defend and bring energy every time he's called, there will be opportunities to grow from there. We made sure to put him on the watch list after we saw him play and we're sure we'll be seeing more of him.

The 2030 class is just getting started, so there's still a lot of basketball to be played before we know exactly where everyone fits. That's what makes the watch list important. The Expo gave us another chance to evaluate several freshmen we've tracked throughout the summer, and this group showed enough to enter the high school season firmly on our radar. Some may find varsity minutes early, while others will need time to adjust, expand their games and learn how to impact winning within a role. We're not rushing the process, but these are names we'll be following closely as their freshman seasons unfold.