Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
New York, NY (Future150) -- Heading into his junior season, the buzz around Albany City Rocks wing Anthony Gaines was mostly regional. The New Hampton Prep product was arguably just as good of a football player as he is a basketball player, and projected as a nice option as a defensive stopper on the wing moving forward.
Fast forward a few months, and things have changed completely. The 6-foot-5 New York native may be a bit positionless, but in today's game, that is considered an asset. His versatility has allowed him to play anywhere from shooting guard to center on this City Rocks squad, and he has been a major reason they qualified for Peach Jam again this season. Because of that, he has moved up 58 spots in the rankings to 92.
Averaging 15.7 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists through the regular season, Gaines has emerged as a league MVP candidate; but that's not important to him.
"I'm not focused on my individual success, I'm focused on our team being successful. I will play anywhere I'm needed and do anything this group needs me to do," Gaines said of his breakout campaign.
While he needs to improve his three point shot and ball handling a little bit, Gaines' rebounding, defensive versatility, and ability to score at the rim has college coaches more than intrigued.
Providence and Cincinnati are the latest to offer, joining the likes of George Washington, Dayton and George Mason. Rhode Island, Michigan, DePaul and Temple have all shown serious interest in recent weeks as well.
With Peach Jam just a few weeks away, expect that list to grow even more after the first live period. Gaines has certainly proven he can play at the high-major level, and now the goal is to win Peach Jam.
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