With Arizona's 2014 class being so loaded with top-notch talent for college programs, many top-rated prospects in the class soared well below the recruiting radar and became steals for smaller college programs. One prospect that exemplified this fact was Desert Ridge High School's 6-foot-8 senior forward Cameron Chatwin. A rapidly-developing wing prospect that emerged on the recruiting scene this high school season, Chatwin blossomed into a serious division-I prospect with loads of upside and a wide array of skills.
This week, Chatwin decided to end his college recruitment, rather than wait for a division-I program to offer him a scholarship, although he is a solid mid-major division-I prospect. Chatwin has signed with Saint Martins University (WA), a division-II basketball program. Chatwin visited the college program during the high school season and chose the program at the end of the day.
Chatwin is a talent and caught my attention last spring and summer (2013). Each time I watch him perform, Chatwin stands out with his unique ability to step outside and shoot the basketball with nice range. His fluidity as a prospect, combined with true size and length make him a very attractive prospect with nice upside. Chatwin has grown physically a lot just in the past year – growing in size and stature. This suggests that he still may not be done growing, and could squeak in another inch or so. Especially when you consider his length of body and broad shoulders.
Chatwin has excellent versatility as a player, able to step outside or score from around the painted area. He could develop into a small forward in the future for college. Very few prospects possess Chatwin’s combination of size, length and ability to shoot the basketball.
After the Desert Ridge basketball program struggled mightily during the 2012-2013 season and finished with a dismal 9-16 overall record on the season for head coach Greg Ream, the team improved a great deal during the 2013-2014 season - winning 17 games on the season. Chatwin's emergence as a college prospect really helped the team turn things around this past season. Chatwin averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per/game this season.
Chatwin is also a member of the Morman religious faith, so he plans to take his two-year Mormon mission in the future – although it is still unclear as to when he will begin the mission.
Congratulations to Chatwin on this amazing accomplishment for him and his family. This young man is a wonderful example of what student-athletes in Arizona should be like, and I am sure he will be very successful in all his endeavors in life.
