Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Pottsville, PA (Future150) -- After stops at the Adidas Gauntlet, Nike EYBL, Under Armour Association & Pitt Jam Fest, the dust has settled on another spring AAU season. Before we gear up for the summer, it's time to take a look at several prospects who have seen their stock rise while playing against elite competition.
Quade Green Assists His Way Into Elite Status
Coming into this AAU season with a third-straight Pennsylvania state championship in hand while winning PIAA AAA Class Player of the Year honors, you would think that the buzz would have been higher on 6-foot floor general Quade Green entering April. Well, after leading his PSA Cardinals to a 10-1 record in Nike EYBL action (good for 1st in Division C) while leading the entire league in assists at a record-breaking 10.2 per game, it's safe to say the buzz has never been higher on the Neumann-Goretti (PA) guard.
New offers from Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma & Texas A&M poured in after the April live periods, joining an already impressive list including Maryland, Michigan State & Syracuse. Now, the question becomes, how much higher can his stock go? For now, we feel very good about his status as a 5-star lead guard with legitimate McDonald's All-American potential after proving he isn't just a scoring combo guard.
Regardless of Position, Anthony Gaines Sees Rapid Rise In Profile
More and more these days, college coaches are looking for "basketball players" instead of pigeonholing them into a position, something that has proved very successful at the college and pro level. One particular prospect who fits that bill is 2017 wing Anthony Gaines of the City Rocks. Is the 6'4" New York native a shooting guard? Is he a small forward? Honestly, it doesn't matter what position he is, because he's been destroying EYBL competition this year while averaging 17.9 points & 10.4 rebounds per game. A ferocious competitor and explosive athlete, Cincinnati and Providence are the latest schools to offer scholarships, but they won't be the last. No matter where you put him on the floor, it's becoming a guarantee that he will produce, and in large numbers.
Lonnie Walker & Romeo Langford Showing Wing Dominance
The offer list is as impressive as it is long. Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida State, Kentucky, Syracuse. Those are the offers that Lonnie Walker IV has picked up...since April. The electric 6'5" SG has been hidden from major media outlets for most of his high school career while playing at Reading High School (PA), but this AAU season while playing his second 17U circuit with Team Final, he has blossomed into a star while averaging 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, while also proving to be one of the league's most efficient perimeter shooters. His stock continues to rise, and has the look of a top 20 player nationally in his class.
In the 2018 class, Romeo Langford has proven to be a wing who has racked up an even more impressive offer list since April began than even Lonnie Walker IV. The 6'4" SG has seen offers come in from Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, NC State & Vanderbilt...as a prospect a year younger. An incredibly gifted scorer and elite athlete, he's been dominant on the Adidas circuit so far this season, and he gets better each and every time we see him play.
Other Notable Stock Risers:
Bryan Antoine, 2019 SG, Team Rio National: The gifted 6'5" wing is as smooth as he is skilled. He looks comfortable bringing the ball up the floor, and shows the ability to knock down perimeter jump shots with ease from a standstill as well as off-the-bounce. The freshman has the hoops world at his fingertips, and it's going to be fun watching him develop.
Geo Baker, 2017 SG, DC Blue Devils: The 6'2" combo guard has proven to be one of the most deadly scorers that our staff has seen so far this AAU season. While he doesn't play on a shoe circuit, that hasn't stopped the flood of recent offers. Kansas State, Rutgers, Rice, Drexel, Fairfield, New Hampshire, Central Connecticut State, Duquesne & Penn have all put their hats in the ring for his services.
Mo Bamba, 2017 PF, PSA Cardinals: Another prospect who has used the Nike EYBL as his own personal playground is the 6'11" post. Averaging 12.7 points, 13.9 rebounds & 3.1 blocks per game, he's proven to be one of the two or three most dominant big men in American, regardless of class.
David Beatty, 2017 SG, Philly Pride: The powerfully built 6'4" wing has had an excellent spring on the Under Armour circuit, and it's showing with his recent offer list. Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Pittsburgh & Virginia have all offered the penetrating shooting guard in recent weeks, and the St. Benedict's Prep (NJ) product should continue to mount more offers over the months of June and July.
P.J. Fuller, 2019 SG, Seattle Rotary Style: While playing behind Jaylen Nowell, Kevin Porter Jr. & Daejon Davis in a loaded Rotary Style backcourt, the 6'3" Garfield (WA) product is showing enough in spot minutes to garner serious attention from high-major schools, including offers from Tennessee and Washington. Right now, he's at his best when using his wiry frame to attack the hoop and make plays in transition.
Jordan McCabe, 2018 PG, Wisconsin Playground: Known for his flashy ball-handling skills and a number of mixtapes over the past few years, the Kaukauna (WI) prospect has recently picked up a Minnesota offer, in large part due to his progressions as a natural lead guard. He's becoming a better vocal leader, and is showing that he can run a team at an elite level. More offers are on the way.
Cormac Ryan, 2018 G, Middlesex Magic: The 6'5" combo guard has a sky-high basketball IQ, an excellent frame, and a plethora of scoring skills. A high academic prospect as well, Davidson and Rice both offered scholarships in the month of April, and Tony Bennett and Virginia have been spotted at a number of Middlesex Magic games over the past few months. We will continue to monitor the New York native into the month of July.
Isaiah Stokes, 2017 PF, Team Penny: Brother of NBA D-League MVP Jarnell Stokes, bloodlines have certainly fared well for Isaiah too. The 6'8" power forward has an excellent frame and even flashes perimeter skills as well, with consistent range out to the three-point line. Iowa State, Ole Miss & Tennessee are all keeping in contact with the Memphis prospect, and you can expect more schools to get involved now that he's made it official that he wants to pursue basketball instead of football at the college level.
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