Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Benton, KY (Future150) -- The 2013 Marshall County Hoop Fest had an abundance of talent, and while all of the players couldn’t make our top players list, these up-and-comers should be acknowledged. They showed glimpses or played in complimentary roles to their senior teammates, but should be tracked due to their considerable talent:
Thomas Bryant, 2015 PF, Huntington Prep: Talent has never been an issue for Bryant, but there was some concerns that he needed to get more aggressive last winter. Fast forward to this year and the big man is a bundle of energy; grabbing boards, blocking shots, and scoring around the rim.
Miles Bridges, 2016 SF, Huntington Prep: It’s clear that he is still realizing how good he can be, but Bridges has unique upside. He has the tools to play anywhere from the two to the four and looks to be an elite level jack-of-all-trades type of player.
Levi Cook, 2015 C, Huntington Prep: Cook burst out onto the scene his freshman year due to his great hands and footwork in the post. He is a bit of a throwback big man in the sense that he is best suited playing with his back to the basket. Weight and conditioning is always a concern with a player of his stature but he seems to have lost 15-20 lbs. since this summer. He will give WVU a scoring presence on the block a la Georgetown big man Josh Smith.
Trevor Manuel, 2015 CF, Oak Hill: Manuel is a face-up big man who excels on getting out on the break and using his speed to blow past defenders. He needs to be more consistent but has all of the tools to be an absolute nightmare to guard. He plays in a supporting role to the Martin twins right now but don’t sleep on him; his time is coming.
Terrence Phillips, 2015 PG, Oak Hill: Phillips is the younger brother of NBA star Brandon Jennings, and recently has started to play like him as well. At 5-foot-10, he doesn’t have ideal size, but is quick, makes the right decisions, and is a lock down defender. Staying in front of him is a chore and he is constantly looking for his teammates. If Phillips continues this play his recruitment will hit another level.
CJ Walker, 2016 PG, Arsenal Tech: Consider this as us buying into what he brings long term. On a team littered with senior talent, Walker saw fairly limited action. He has good size, speed, and vision. Something must be said for how steady he was with the ball in his hands vs. Quentin Snider and Ballard. Don’t be surprised if he is one of the stars at Arsenal Tech next season.
Malik Dow, 2016 SG, Ballard: Another long term choice. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds with great leaping ability, it’s hard not to love his natural talent. Whether he puts it together and reaches his potential remains to be seen, but at this point he is a great defender and a good slasher. He is one to keep an eye on in the coming years for sure.
Dante Scott, 2015 SG, Atlanta Sports Academy: Scott is wired to score and will bring just that to Mississippi State when he sets foot on campus in a couple of years. He can put the ball on the floor or stroke it from deep. He needs to move better without the ball, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him develop into one of the better scorers in Atlanta.
Abdul Shanun, 2015 PF, Atlanta Sports Academy: Shanun is an interesting prospect; he might be rail thin now but has the frame to fill out in the coming years. He is a pogo stick athlete and has good timing on the defensive end of the floor. His offensive game is still very raw but the upside here is palpable.
PJ Washington, 2017 PF, Prime Prep: To play major minutes as a freshman at Prime Prep is no small feat, and the 6-foot-7 post looks like he will be a force down the road. He attacks the glass well and finishes shots around the rim. He looks to have the ability to face up and attack the rim as well, making him a potential matchup nightmare down the road.
Papa Ndiaye, 2016 PF, Quality Education Academy: Another post prospect that is far from a finished product, Ndiaye is already a good rebounder and has a decent stroke from the high post. He needs to hit the weight room if he is going to be a power forward but his handle isn’t great either.That being said he has the kind of frame and motor that draws interest from college coaches at this age.
Kwinton Hinson, 2015 SG, Quality Education Academy: He is a good slasher and defender. Equipped with ideal length for the wing, he is active on both ends of the floor and plays with a high motor. He must work to extend the range on his jump shot but it’s hard not to like the Future150 Alum’s upside.
Shawn Williams, 2016 CG, Prime Prep: The Future150 Alum saw fairly limited burn but showed his shooting ability while on the floor. He is more suited for the point guard due to him being just 6-foot, but it’s hard not to like his scoring ability.
Marcus Watson, 2015 PG, Moss Point: Another Future150 Alum, Watson is a pass-first point guard. He got into the lane and found open teammates throughout. He is incredibly unselfish, almost to a detriment; he must learn to hunt his own shot at times so defenses don’t play off of him and double team others.
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