It has been difficult to keep up with the major roster additions this off-season for local prep power Hillcrest Prep. While other prep programs in the state are developing and some prep programs are changing, it has been an historic spring and summer for Hillcrest, as the program has flexed their muscles - adding numerous elite national prospects to a program that is no stranger to having pros on their roster.
Their latest addition to an historic toster for next season at Hillcrest Prep, Top-20 national ranked 6-foot-7, 175-pound rising junior wing prospect Keon Edwards. Edwards is currently ranked among the nation's elite prospects in America's 2021 Class, and will join an historic roster that now includes numerous other nationally ranked and elite national prospects. Edwards will be inserted into a prep roster that already includes the nation's top overall prospect in the 2021 Class in 6-foot-8 junior forward Michael Foster. These future pro prospects will be joining the nation's top prep backcourt already in 5-star 6-foot-5 senior guard Kyree Walker and 4-star 6-foot-5 senior guard Dalen Terry.
Hillcrest had recently also added one of the nation's elite guard prospects in America's 2022 Class, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Dior Johnson, but Johnson recently decided to instead move to Fairfax High School (CA) in Los Angeles, CA.
Edwards previously attended national power Findlay Prep (NV), but after the school recently decided to shut down their program, Edwards was left looking for a new home. Now joining Hillcrest Prep, Edwards will help to round out one of the most talented prep rosters the nation has ever seen.
It is only fitting that the Hillcrest Prep program would reach new heigths in their level of basketball talent, since the historic prep program is no stranger to having an absolute loaded roster filled with pro-level talent. Hillcrest Prep previously produced NBA Lottery picks DeAndre Ayton (NBA #1 overall pick - Phoenix Suns) and Marvin Bagley (NBA #2 overall pick - Sacramento Kings), and has had loads of national talent on their rosters since the school was formed by Nick Weaver and Matt Allen. With the significant rise in basketball talent in the state of Arizona over the past several years, it is only right that the program that pioneered prep basketball in the state rises to completely another level.
Much like the program's recent addition of Michael Foster, Edwards is a long, athletic and skilled wing prospect with excellent versatility and an ability to make shots from the perimeter with unlimited range on his shot - making him very difficult to defend for opposing team's. He is an excellent slasher and finisher and thrives in the open floor.
A native of Houston, Texas, Edwards currently already has a long list offers from Memphis, Texas, Baylor, LSU, Florida State, Arizona State, TCU, Minnesota, Cal, Virginia Tech, Washington State, Arkansas, SMU, Texas A&M and Detroit. Many more college programs will be soon looking to get into the mix for the gifted junior wing prospect, so this list of college programs will only continue to grow a great deal over time.
I look forward to watching this Hillcrest Prep team take the floor next fall, as will many members of the nation's basketball community of scouts and media, but to see this team play you may have to travel as they will be featured on one of the nation's best national schedules ever. All I can say is that if you get the chance to see them play next season, make the most of the opportunity - it may not come twice.
