A two-time state champion who made sure to extend his high school career for at least one more game, Wheatley was consistently able to impose his will up front while punishing an undersized Riverside lineup. The Florida Gulf Coast commit was effective operating inside and out but made a point of not settling for anything away from the rim, playing patiently but aggressively on every catch while consistently attacking the basket as a faceup scorer on his way to 15 points. Wheatley never stopped in his pursuit of the ball while shining as a dynamic athlete around the rim on both ends of the floor, racking up eight rebounds and a pair of highlight-reel blocks. He added a clutch 3 off the catch late in the game to extend the Burrs’ lead to multiple possessions. The versatile forward is a nice high-upside addition for the Eagles to build with into the future.

Fresh off a All-PCL First Team selection, Wheatley took advantage of an undersized Prep lineup to put up nine points in limited minutes. The Florida Gulf Coast commit used his size, length, athleticism, and motor to make an impact near the rim on both ends. He was effective as a finisher via offensive rebounds or faceup drives and came out of nowhere to prevent a pair of Prep buckets with wildly explosive blocks all the way at the summit. Wheatley’s two-way versatility should make for a nice piece to Pat Chambers’ rotation at the next level.

Wheatley was a menace on the defensive end frequently finding ways to turn defense to offense. He scored 16 points in a win over Colonia. He was very effective running the floor in transition. Kingston kept the defense on his toes with his floor spacing ability and converted several threes.

13p 4r 1a 3b 1s vs SJC

-Really have enjoyed his development over the years as a very raw undersized big to an extremely versatile wing that does a lot for a scrappy West Catholic team. The skill progression shown through in an improved handle but more specifically on a nice rip-through drive from the wing that ended with a stop n pop 2-foot floater that hit nothing but net. With the strength, athletic tools, lateral mobility, and improved skillset– I think he will be a great addition for any LM-MM D1 program.

Wheatley posted a monster June and now the offers have started to come in. Earlier this month he received an offer from Merrimack and now Manhattan has sent one his way. During the high school live period, Wheatley buried threes, thrived in the open court, and slashed to the basket for catch and lay-ins.

Wheatley made a killing on the interior showing he is a threat from the dunker spots off dump off looks. He also was able to score through contact. He has good timing when going up to alter shots with his branchlike arms. He was a threat to stretch the floor with his perimeter shooting. He can operate out of the two man game with his guards in the half-court. Wheatley also showed that he can be a threat as a slasher moving without the basketball in his hands. He should have a multitude of division one programs monitoring him in June and July.

Wheatley recently received an offer from Merrimack and after his 31-point outburst in a win over DeMatha, I would expect that more offers will coming pouring in during June. Against DeMatha this athletic, hybrid-forward caught everyone by surprise when he popped 7 triples. Wheatley buried treys from all around the arc, including a couple over the top of double teams. In addition to displaying a much improved 3-point stroke, Wheatley thrived in the open court. Wheatley also proved he could slash to the basket for a catch and lay-in. On defense, Wheatley provided solid rim protection.     

We touched recently on how Wheatley had been excelling in a smaller role on the EYBL circuit with Team Final , but the returning All-PCL standout looked comfortable as ever stepping back into his place as West Catholic’s two-way focal point. Despite the narrow loss, the athletic and increasingly versatile forward had spurts of dominance with his explosive play around the rim and expanding skillset on the perimeter. Wheatley put a lid on the rim for stretches at a time as the primary rim protector while also showcasing his impressive ability to slide his feet on with smaller guards away from the basket. He left some points on the table with easy finishes he usually converts, but still managed to stand out as the bona fide D1 prospect that he’s established himself to be.

The numbers haven’t necessarily been gaudy but anyone who’s watched Team Final this spring would be remiss in failing to note the progress of Wheatley in the frontcourt. Coming off a quietly impressive All-PCL campaign, the versatile hybrid forward has continued his consistent play while condensing down into a complementary role off the bench in the EYBL. Wheatley has been effective as a versatile play-finisher offensively, working the baseline for athletic finishes inside or spacing the floor for catch-and-shoot 3s. His versatility extends to the other end where he’s impressed playing bigger than his size for a smaller team. Low-majors have started to prioritize the young rising senior with some mid-majors beginning to recognize his potential as a long-term bet.

The key presence in the frontcourt for the Burrs, Wheatley was active and efficient in going about his business while displaying his versatility and athleticism as a modern hybrid forward. Wheatley continues to show progress as a mismatch 1-on-1 scorer across a variety of situations, getting the Burrs’ scoring started with a pretty post move to a swift lefty finish. He also remains a lynchpin of West’s culture of aggressive on-ball defense with his ability to move his feet on the perimeter but also clean things up along the back line. His ability to space defenses out to the arc with consistency remains the key swing skill as to whether his recruitment can take off above the low D1 territory where it stands currently.