With colleges able to communicate for the first time with the class of 2022, a big step in recruiting, it’s not a bad time to look at the class of 2021 players most affected by COVID-19 restrictions. One of the earlier Courtside Indiana Podcasts featured this topic, so there might be some crossover, but this article is being produced separately.
Every player who plays AAU has been impacted, as April is when most non-D1 schools get serious about recruiting the outgoing juniors/incoming seniors, so this could be an exhaustive list, but there are certain keyframes on the recruiting calendar that provide opportunity for players to raise their level of recruitment.
High Major Bubble
April is a time when high major programs start to broaden their search, early targets have started to settle in or transfers have changed recruiting priorities. It can also be a time when players push through into broader roles on the court, getting a chance how they have expanded their game.
DJ Hughes, Lawrence North – Recently receiving his first Power 6 scholarship when Butler extended an offer, Hughes’ first six offers up to that point were from mid majors. Anyone with history of his development knows he has expanded his game over time, and he plays with a great motor. At 6’7″, he’s at that stage in his skill development, especially with basketball going “smaller”, where he brings versatility to the power forward spot.
Hughes is likely getting close to projecting the ability to guard three positions at the HM level, definitely the PF and SF spots, and he wouldn’t get burned in short stints vs. SG or centers should teams switch a lot or have ball screen coverages that cause rotations to X out.
Kooper Jacobi, Silver Creek – Another motor guy for sure, and another guy who can guard multiple positions. There are times for Silver Creek when he is their primary ball handler, and certainly in transition he’s more than capable of making plays for others. The spring for him would’ve been about how consistent could he shoot from range.
Michael Eley, Fort Wayne Snider => Elevation Prep – Eley can get buckets. He is a high volume shooter, but he has to improve his 3pt consistency. He’s most effective when he can get downhill and to the rim. There are still some questions with him defensively, but no one can question how he rebounds his position.
He’s serving as a guinea pig by transferring to the newly opened Elevation Prep in Fort Wayne.
Blake Sisley, Heritage Hills – Offensively, he has the shot and the passing to make the grade. Sisley wouldn’t be impactful at the HM in the low post as a center, more of a catch/shoot (36% from 3pt, 50 attempts) or drop off scorer at that level, so the question becomes is what can he guard. The more comfortable staffs are projecting he can guard the PF spot (or the second big) in their league the more he would fit at the HM level.
Luke Brown, Blackford – Brown’s situation has been covered a lot. He’s a HM shooter for sure, and he has excellent vision. For a 6’1″ point guard has to go a long way to show he can guard at the HM level, having two definite HM skills is a must. No question, he is a willing defender, and that can go a long way.
The other aspect of this is can he produce vs. higher caliber of talent consistently. He hasn’t had the chance to show that consistently yet. Some of it based on injuries in the spring. Some of it not really sticking with a team throughout an entire summer. He’s not getting much D1 caliber competition on Blackford’s schedule.
Division One Bubble
Shamar Avance, Lawrence North – With one D1 offer under his belt, IUPUI, as with anything, it only takes one. His passing, motor and quickness/athleticism exceed requisite levels. He is a terror on defense, adjoined with his quickness.
Avance has a good mid-range game and has little issues getting to the paint. He makes great decisions from that area. Consistency from the 3pt line and how well he can finish at the rim through bigger players. The latter isn’t always easy to prove, even in the MIC, if there isn’t a lot of true D1 size around.
Naylon Thompson, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers – No reported offers yet, but the 6’4″ junior had an outstanding junior year, helping Luers go from 4 wins as a sophomore to 15 as a junior. Thompson shot 30% from the 3pt this past year at a pretty good sample size. That has to improve, but his quickness and length on the defensive translated to 2.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Brian Waddell, Carmel – Between an injury and mono, basketball for Waddell looked pretty rough before mid-January. It started to turn around after the turn of the calendar, and by the time February rolled around, he was producing at a consistent level to an occasional huge level. His best performance was his most timely, a 26 point performance vs. Westfield in the sectional final.
His movement off the ball takes takes full advantage of his 6’6″ frame and length, and as he got healthier, he was able to finish through contact more and improve his consistency from the 3pt line. Questions will be is can guard the wing at the D1 level.
Curt Hopf, Barr-Reeve – For obvious reasons, after having to sit the whole season due to a transfer eligibility ruling, Hopf was certainly looking to the spring to get his name back on social media feeds covering basketball. A good catch/shoot guy with 3pt range, he will have to show he can do that consistently. Hopf drives well for a kid his size, but who he can finish against is what has to be proven in the spring/summer.
Jaylen Carson, Crispus Attucks – Super long prospect, who anchored Attucks inside. He’s effective in the low post, but it’s probably not his best asset. He’s a rim run big, who is also good in ball screen action. There were times in games last year when he would disappear, and he has to show he can finish vs other bigs. Lots of ability on the defensive end of the floor. As Attucks will look to spread their offensive production next year, he should be more engaged on both ends.
Malik Stanley, Warren Central – In the wake of guards graduating above him the last two years, Stanley showed last year he can run a team…still full of guards. He’s a pesky defender, and while his size might be an issue, he’s not out there gambling to get it done. Stanley is also one the true players in the class who can really shoot off the dribble from mid-range.
Quimari Peterson, Gary West – Good outside shooter, who still needs to improve consistency from the 3pt line, and he is also one who can get downhill and score. Peterson rebounds his position well. Looking forward to him playing with a healthy Jalen Washington, as point guards who move the ball well seem to improve with more options around them, and Washington will draw a lot of attention.
D2 / NAIA
This group is squarely in the scholarship worthy camp. Just a question of which level.
Blake Barker, Columbus North – Sneaky athletic. Barker can put a guy on a poster. D1 leaping and improved laterally over the last couple of years. 41% from 3pt and the ability to get to the basket and finish, it wouldn’t be surprising if D1s started sniffing around.
Jadon Thomas, International – Thomas can really score, and he’s a motor guy. He’s competitive defensively, and offensively he’s not afraid to take/make the big shot. He never backs down from the moment. His playmaking could improve, but that’s really an issue when discussing if he can be a primary ball handler vs. a wing.
Lane Sparks, Greensburg – Look for his production and usage to go way up next year, not that he wasn’t getting touches the last two years. Sparks has gone from being the youngster playing alongside two D1 caliber perimeter players, to being the senior leader. The crafty scorer is outstanding at all three levels, and his 3pt shot and mid-range game translate to college.
Kyle Sanders, Western – One of the top shooters in the class. Defensively projection is an issue at the D2 level, but he’s a willing defender and pretty physical on the ball. His vision is at a high level.
Eddie Jones, Pike – Jones has D1 physical tools, and he certainly is aggressive with the ball. While he was second in scoring last year, all of his production was in the paint, mostly slashing or battling for offensive rebounds. Right now, he’s an undersized perimeter PF who can guard multiple positions. As he develops as more of a scoring threat outside the paint, this would be a good one to revisit.
Injury candidates
- Jalen Blackmon, Marion
- Koron Davis, Bowman Academy
- Chrishawn Christmas, Gary West
