The Hillcrest Prep National Team is currently 21-4 and headed for the National Tournament this weekend, after winning another major tournament this past weekend. Hillcrest Prep heads to the national prep tournament as the #2 overall seed in the event - a tremendous accomplishment for an Arizona-based prep program. No other Arizona team has ever accomplished such an honor.
To achieve such an honor nationally, Hillcrest defeated three different programs this season that were ranked in the USA Today Top 15 this season. Hillcrest is led by the nation's top 2017 basketball prospect and future NBA Lottery pick, 7-foot-1 junior post DeAndre Ayton. Ayton is currently averaging over 30.3 points, 16.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per/game. Ayton is a sure-fire NBA Lottery pick in the 2018 draft, and has an unbelievable ceiling as a pro prospect.
Hillcrest is also full of other college prospects on their roster. Here is an evaluation of each of these college prospects that have contributed a great deal this season to the success of the Hillcrest program (In no particular order) . . .
Channel Banks 6-4 SR PG/SG Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2016 Class
Bigger-sized combo-guard prospect that already has offers from Middles Tennesse State, Prairie View and Colorado State. Banks is a mid-major talent and will flourish at the next level. He is an excellent 3-point shooter that has the ability to get to the basket and finish in traffic. A very good rebounder with good toughness. A good defender that plays passing lanes. A big-time sleeper prospect.
Julian Payton 6-1 SR PG Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2016 Class
The son of NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton. This younger Payton is very quick and shifty and can get anywhere on the court, almost whenever he wants. He has a 5.5 assist to 1.1 turnover ratio. He is a lock-down defender and is an underrated scorer - averaging over 11.5 points per/game this season. He is a solid college prospect with a high ceiling if he grows and matures physically. He already holds offers from Texas Southern and Drexel.
Darrien Knowles 6-3 SR PG/SG Hillcrest Academy Prep - 2016 Class
Combo guard prospect that can score from anywhere on the floor. He has very good work ethic and is a very good athlete that can finish in traffic and gets to the foul line quite often. He is a very good 3-point shooter - knocking down 48% of his attempts this season. Darrien holds offers from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Cleveland State, and is being recruited by several Horizon League and MAC schools.
The Hillcrest Prep Academy post-grad team is also full of college talent. Here is some more evaluations of that talent . . .
Ted Mcree 6-5 Prep SG/SF Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2016 Class
Mcree has scored 40 points or more in 3 different games this season. He is lock-down defender and also a big-time scorer, that can get the the rim almost at will. He has a smooth mid-range jumper and can shoot the 3-pointer with the best of them. He is a very nice sleeper prospect that will help a program win at the next level.
Sam Harvey 7-0 Prep C Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2016 Class
Harvey is from England. He is a terrific shot-blocker and a solid rebounder - averaging over 12 rebounds per game this season. Still raw offensively. Runs the floor. Size and length give him serious upside for the future. A solid college prospect.
DeMarre Walker 6-1 Prep PG Hillcrest Academy - 2016 Class
Very strong guard physically. A very good ball handler. He is a left handed performer. Has good potential for a smaller college program.
Isaiah Ross 6-4 Prep PG/SG Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2016 Class
Combo guard that plays multiple positions . Has very good size and is a good overall athlete. A superb 3-point shooter that also has a great one dribble, pull-up game. He is a solid rebounder and defender. He currently holds offers from University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and IPFW, and is also being recruited by a number of other college programs.
Cauis Covering 6-5 Prep SF Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2016 Class
Covering is a bigger, left-handed wing. prospect with very good athleticism. He plays with passion and heart and has very good work ethic as a player. He can really get to the basket and score. Played for the Men's Romanian National team as an 18-year old. A very good looking sleeper prospect.
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