Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
New York, NY (Future150) -- On Saturday many of the top underclassmen flocked to Baruch College in New York City to participate in the Jim Couch Showcase in an effort to prove they are at the heads of their respective classes. The freshmen and sophomore classes were featured prominently, while there were a few juniors in the group as well.
Here’s who stood out:
Thon Maker, 2016 C, Carlisle School: Maker was the best prospect in the gym this weekend. That is saying a lot given the fact that some of the top members of the freshmen and sophomore classes from around the country where in attendance. He blocked everything around the rim and attacked the basket off the dribble. Maker is a devastating blend of skill and athletic ability and looks to be far and away the top player in 2016.
Payton Pritchard, 2016 PG, West Linn: One of the more consistent players in the camp, Pritchard showed why he is so highly regarded, setting teammates up and hitting shots. During the scrimmage he got hot in a hurry, knocking down multiple threes and showing off his range.
Matt Ryan, 2015 SG, Iona Prep: Coming in as one of the top shooters in the camp, it was more of the same for Ryan. His ability to get his shot off over smaller defenders as well the ability to shoot of screens makes him a dangerous scorer. The talented wing has seen his recruitment really take off in recent months and it would appear that this is only the beginning.
Cody Riley, 2017 PF, Sierra Canyon: Riley is the number #1 player in his class and proved as much on Saturday. The big man can score on the block or face up and attack. Physically he looks like he could play in college right now. He is an imposing forward that blocks shots and rebounds incredibly well. As long he continues to add more facets to his game he will continue to keep his perch atop the 2017 rankings.
Justice Kithcart, 2016 CG, Hillside: One of the more under-the-radar players to come through the camp, Kithcart was a pleasant surprise. His speed and ball-handling ability are impressive and he plays with a high motor. During the scrimmage he ran the point guard position well while still getting to the rim and finishing. He will be one to keep an eye on in the future.
Tomas Murphy, 2017 SF, Prout: The youngest Murphy brother impressed once again. He is very skilled and showed the ability to face up and attack as well as step out and hit shots. Murphy also has a nose for the ball and is a beast on the glass because of that. It will be interesting to see how he develops down the road. If he continues to grow he could end up more like big brother Eric than Alex. Either way, his future is bright.
Quade Green, 2017 PG, Neumann Goretti: Green would appear to be one of the next great guards to come out of the Neumann Goretti pipeline. He is quick with the ball in his hands and excels in transition. He has good vision and can balance scoring and distributing the ball. Look for the Philly native to have a stellar freshman year backing up Miami (Fl) commit JaQuan Newton.
Jalek Felton, 2017 CG, Mullins: The Nephew of New York Knicks point guard Ray Felton, there is no denying that Jalek has good genes. Like his uncle, he is quick with the ball in his hands and can get to the rim with ease. He has the ability to play either guard position although at this point he looks more like a scorer than a distributor. He also has great athleticism and length, making him a good defender.
DJ Harvey, 2017 SF, DeMatha: Another talented wing prospect, Harvey has the versatility to play multiple positions. At 6-foot-6, he has great ball-handling ability and court vision, making him ideal to play a point-forward role. He is also a big time athlete that had multiple finishes above the rim. It would appear that Harvey can be as good as he wants to be.
Jordan Tucker, 2017 SF, White Plains: Tucker is a big time shooter who is just beginning to realize how talented he is. At 6-foot-6 he can get his shot off over smaller defenders. In addition, he is athletic enough that he is able to beat bigger defenders off the bounce. Tucker should make White Plains more than competitive this season.
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