One junior college prospect that will look to have a big sophomore season for himself is Cochise College's returning 6-foot-8, 220-pound sophomore forward Justus Rainwater. Rainwater played very well recently in Las Vegas at the All-American JUCO Showcase Elite 80, a high-level junior college event organized by basketball aficionado Jerry Mullen.
At the event, Rainwater was among the top overall prospects that I observed. In an event where the majority of players in the competition look to score the basketball, Rainwater played extremely hard on both ends of the floor and showed an excellent motor. He rebounded hard, ran the floor and finished very strong at the rim - glaring qualities for a junior college front court prospect.
I caught up with Rainwater at the event, and he advised me that he is still unclear as to which schools are currently recruiting him, but that he is eager to be recruited and prove his worth to college programs at every level.
This young man is an excellent sleeper prospect for a smaller division-I program, as he has excellent toughness and a high motor, and is a man on the basketball court that competes at a high level. He is a very strong finisher around the basket that plays high above the rim, and is willing to give up his body for the sake of his team. He is a winner that plays for the right reasons and plays the game the right way - a testament to the fact that he plays for historic Cochise Junior College head coach Jerry Carrillo.
At Cochise last season, Rainwater was a role player on a talented team that will definitely expect much better numbers from him this high school season. I look for Rainwater to be one of the top overall prospects in the ACCAC this junior college season, and generate loads of college interest for himself. He is a fine young man with a great smile and a great attitude, on and off the floor.
Rainwater is also an excellent student and carries a 3.2 CUM GPA and has completed 32 credit hours thus far.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Rainwater is a high-energy athlete with a very high motor that plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He runs the floor hard, rebounds hard and finishes strong at the rim - glaring qualities for a junior college front court prospect. He is an excellent finisher around the rim and while slashing to the basket. He finishes strong over and around defenders, as a result of his tremendous tenacity on the court. This young man is an excellent sleeper prospect for a smaller division-I program, as he has excellent toughness and a high motor, and is a man on the basketball court that competes at a high level. He is a very strong finisher around the basket that plays high above the rim, and is willing to give up his body for the sake of his team. He is a winner that plays for the right reasons and plays the game the right way - a testament to the fact that he plays for historic Cochise Junior College head coach Jerry Carrillo.
