For basketball enthusiasts around the state, the Kirby name has become commonplace and synonymous with basketball in the state of Arizona. A well known name throughout the state over the past 5 years, mother Miki Kirby has helped develop the sport of basketball as well as players in Northern Arizona and now Chandler, while her son Maurice Kirby recently graduated from Basha High School and now currently is on a full basketball scholarship with Virginia Tech University - a member of the ACC Conference.
Now it is time for younger brother, Devin Kirby, to now take center stage in the basketball community in Arizona. Currently a very young sophomore post prospect for Basha HS, after spending his freshman season at Florence High School last year, the 6-foot-8 sophomore prospect is now coming into his known as a player and as a prospect. In fact, Kirby has developed so much in such a short period of time, our staff here at Arizona Preps believes this young man is currently the best overall prospect for the future in Arizona's 2016 class.
While Kirby is no finished product as of yet and still has a lot of time and room for improvement, he has shown excellent promise as a college prospect and is growing like a weed - suggesting that he will grow into a long and versatile post player over the next 2-3 years. Unlike older brother Maurice Kirby who was a 6-11 true post player, this younger version is much more athletic, rangy and capable of playing on the perimeter, if need be. Devin Kirby has a very good skill level already and has the potential develop over time into a 3/4 combo-forward prospect. Attractive enough, Devin Kirby could grow into a 6-10 or 6-11 forward that will be able to play each position in the frontcourt - a very nice feature that would have high-major division-I colleges very intrigued.
While Kirby's numbers are not staggering now, look for this young man to begin to round into form nicely over the next year, as he gains confidence in himself and matures physically. A young prospect, while Kirby is a sophomore currently, he still is only 15 years of age, and recently just turned 15. He will graduate from high school as a 17 year old and could do a post-graduate year, if he and his family elect to, but that decision will be made later. Kirby won't need to, as he is an excellent student and takes many honors classes currently.
For Devin Kirby, who comes from very strong basketball bloodlines, it is just a matter of time before this young man becomes a significant household name within the state and has college coaches knocking down his door. Very rarely does the state of Arizona possess prospects that look like Kirby - tall, long and versatile. Whenever a prospect shares these attributes, college scholarship offers begin to pour in.
This season, for a rather young Basha team that is currently 10-13 on the season, Kirby has had several breakout performances, although nothing like we will see in the future. His best years are still well ahead of him, but he is developing fast, and is much further along than he was a year ago at this point.
While there are currently numerous young prospects in the state that are receiving loads of college interest already, look for this young man to become one of the better prospects on that list over the next year.
I will be keeping a close eye on this young man's continued development, and will look for him to emerge as one of the state's premier young talents over a short period of time. This Kirby should become the best one of all in a basketball family with rich tradition.
