Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Springfield, MA (Future150) -- After the dust settled on day one of the 2014 Spalding Hoophall Classic, there were several elite prospects who stole the show on the first day of action. Here are some random thoughts from the Future150 staff..
- It's clear that Shaqquan Aaron is going to be an immediate impact player at Louisville next year. Having such a diverse game is going to be a problem for anyone who gets in his way on the college level and beyond, as it was for Bishop O'Connell (VA) yesterday. While his statistics don't jump off the page at you, his ability to be a scorer/creator/post player can't be stressed enough. On the day, he totaled 11 points, five assists, four rebounds & three blocks.
- St. John Bosco (CA) star 2015 guard Tyler Dorey didn't make the trip to Massachusetts this weekend. The newly minted Arizona Wildcat commit was shut down by his father after failing to meet certain academic standards on a final exam, which were set forth by the family, according to Dinos Trigonis. While it's disappointing that Dorsey isn't here to show off his skills, it's definitely refreshing to see a family uphold academic values ahead of basketball.
- Since transferring from Indian Land (SC) back home to Lincoln (NY) this fall, 2016 point guard Rakym Felder has seen substantial improvement in his game. While he has always been more of a shooting guard, he is now working on becoming a full time PG for the next level. Built like a truck, the 6-foot-1 southpaw showed excellent speed from end-to-end Saturday. He also displayed a tighter handle than we saw from him over the summer. According to him, schools such as South Carolina, Villanova, Notre Dame & Virginia Tech are beginning to track his progress.
- Rainier Beach (WA) junior wing Dejounte Murray is seeing his recruitment pick up on the West Coast. After talking to him on Saturday, he claimed interest from "Pretty much the entire Pac-12", with most recent interest coming from Arizona, Colorado, Stanford & UCLA. Right now, he lists offers from Cal, Gonzaga, Oregon, Washington & Washington State. Another versatile wing on an absolutely loaded team, Murray finished his game yesterday with seven points, seven rebounds, five assists & four steals.
- Lincoln (NY) senior small forward and Seton Hall commit Desi Rodriguez continued his strong season with a big performance in his teams 90-66 win over Houston powerhouse Yates (TX). He scored 25 points while shooting 10-16 from the field. He also pulled down nine rebounds, showing his ability to be a rugged Big East style forward. Great day from the 6-foot-5 wing.
- UNLV is getting one of the most high upside prospects regardless of class in 2014 swingman Dwayne Morgan of St. Frances (MD). The 6-foot-8 small forward continues to tease us with his potential, but he showed flashes of what he can become at the next level. Almost pulling off a big upset of St. John Bosco (CA), he led the charge for his team, accumulating 13 points, three rebounds, three assists & two steals. With continued development, he will be a star on the West Coast in the coming years.
- If you're looking for an elite athlete AND shooter in the sophomore class, one name to keep track of is Prime Prep (TX) wing Terrance Ferguson. While his game is still developing right now, there is no denying his upside. He scored 13 points Saturday, knocking down three very deep 3-point baskets. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard currently has offers from SMU, Texas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma & Baylor.
- Huntington Prep (WV) power forward Thomas Bryant is developing into one of the nastiest forwards at the high school level. With an endless motor and a consistent mean streak, the 6-foot-10 post is beginning to really round into a top 20 player in the 2015 class. In their win against Prime Prep, he totaled 11 points and 12 rebounds. Syracuse, West Virginia, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova have all offered him, while Kentucky is showing serious interest.
- A 2017 big man who made an impact yesterday was Prime Prep (TX) power forward P.J. Washington. The 6-foot-7 Texas product is a blue collar forward with a nose for the ball. He has had a big season so far, and has considerable potential. Expect Big 12 schools to begin offering soon, with SMU already showing interest.
Comments:
Be the first to post. Just use the form below.