This weekend, 360 Hoops, located in north Scottsdale, and local trainer BJ Letcher, put together a workout of some of the state's best unheralded basketball talent at their facility for our Arizona Preps' staff to evaluate in an intimate setting. The workout included some very good sleeper prospects in participation, and here are the top prospects that I evaluated on the day . . .
CJ Nnorum 5-11 JR PG/SG Cactus Shadows High School
Nrorom is a well-built, physical guard prospect with a superb shooting stroke with unlimited range, and a nice overall feel for scoring the basketball. He is very compact in size but has the body that suggests that he is ready now for the college level. He has good explosiveness off the dribble and a nice handle of the basketball, which allows him to make plays consistently off the dribble, while being able to stop and pop from almost anywhere on the floor. Shot the basketball very well in the evaluation, and also showed an advanced offensive skillset. He is a good finisher as well and can both guard positions on the floor. I would like to see him focus defensively, where, if he can become a stopper, then he could raise his level of play and exposure to college coaches. One of the elite performers on the day. A good sleeper guard prospect for the 2019 class.
Skyler Certo 6-4 JR SG Notre Dame Prep
Certo is a nice overall skilled talent that makes the game look very easy for himself and is capable of making plays for others. He plays at a very good pace, and is a big-time shooter of the basketball with unlimited range on his shot, and a quick release. He has a nice length of body, which allows him to make plays, but he will need to still add some serious size to his thin frame to maximize his potential as a player. A very good ball handler and passer that sees the floor very well, and even sees plays before they happen at times. Has the potential to become one of the better prospects in the class in the state. I definitely want to see him again to observe his development as a college prospect over the next year.
Sam Goulet 6-5 JR SF Cactus Shadows High School
Goulet is a long, rangy but skilled wing prospect with a nice overall feel for the game and a nice overall offensive skillset. He is still growing into his body a great deal, so he still needs to develop physically a lot to maximize his play on the floor. He also needs to improve his overall motor to reach his full potential as a player. He has a good shooting stroke with range, and is able to get his shot off effectively, while also being able to attack the basket off the dribble and make plays. He is a very good passer of the ball. Has a good overall feel and is fundamentally sound. Has good upside.
Knox Riddle 5-8 JR PG Cactus Shadows High School
Riddle was the top sleeper prospect of the day and also the top performer. Riddle, while very small in stature and size, is a very skilled and tough guard prospect with an advanced offensive skillset. He was strong in drills and showed nice work ethic throughout the day. He is a superb talent for his size, able to make plays off the dribble for himself and his teammates in a close, small setting - showing that he can create space for himself and also make plays from anywhere on the floor. An excellent shooter with unlimited range on his shot, and some boogie off the dribble, allowing him to get past defenders almost at will and finish strong in the paint. He has an excellent handle of the basketball and looks like former Chaparral HS star guard Brandon Hoffer. He is also a very good on-the-ball defender. A very good sleeper prospect for a smaller college program.
Keeon Falsafi 6-2 JR PG Bella Vista Prep Academy
A skilled point guard prospect with a good overall feel for the game, a nice knack for scoring the basketball. He has a pure shooting stroke with range, and is able to stop and pop from anywhere on the floor. He is fundamentally sound - able to score from deep or off the dribble with the ball in his hands. He is a good penetrator and finisher. Sees the floor well and makes players around him better when he is on his game. A good ball handler with some stuff in his bag. Knows how to create space on his shot. A good sleeper prospect for a smaller college program that still has time to develop.
Hayden Lage 6-1 JR SG Cactus Shadows High School
Lage is a well-built physical guard with a good shooting stroke with range on his shot, which he is able to get off well against defensive opposition. He is compact physically, and is able to play both guard positions on the floor, but is at his best from the shooting guard position, where he can catch and shoot. A good ball handler and passer. A solid defender. Good rebounder for his size. Has a good overall motor and good toughness.
Jeff Meyers 6-6 JR PF Horizon High School
Meyers in an athletic post player that is still developing physically a great deal. While not yet overly aggressive as a player, he needs to develop his confidence as a player on the offensive end of the floor. An active rebounder that rebounds outside of his area and competes hard on both ends of the floor. Very quiet as a player still. Runs the floor hard. An OK finisher. Has good hands and feet. Very good potential over time, but he needs time to develop still.
