Since the end to the high school season, a lot has changed for St. Mary's High School's 6-foot-10 rising sophomore post prospect KJ Hymes. After seeing up and down playing time throughout his freshman season, the talented but young prospect has seen a dramatic rise in his college recruitment during the club season.
Hymes has had a fun ride this club season already. While playing for the Arizona Warriors club program this spring, and also alongside his close friend, superstar Marvin Bagley Jr., on their club team, Phoenix Family, Hymes has received loads of attention from college coaches. As a result, college coaches have marveled at this young man's potential for the future - resulting in two different scholarship offers and loads of division-I interest already.
Thus far, Hymes has received scholarship offers from Clemson and Grand Canyon University this spring, and he has also received serious interest from such programs as Virginia, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Each program has expressed that they will be looking forward to watching Hymes play this summer.
Hymes is the son of former South Mountain High School standout Kwame Hymes Sr., who went on to play collegiately at Pepperdine University in the mid 1990's. Recently, Hymes Sr. was also hired as an assistant coach at St. Mary's HS, and will now have an opportunity to work with his talented son throughout the remainder of his high school career, while also developing the other student-athletes on the team.
As a freshman for the Knights, Hymes averaged 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per/game on a team that finished 18-13 on the season, and was led all season by the play of Marcus Shavers. Shavers recently moved from Arizona to Texas, now resting the hopes of the Knights' program solely on the shoulders of Hymes. Hymes best performance last season was a 31-point effort in a 62-44 win by St. Mary's over Camelback HS - proving that this young man is a major prospect for the future.
Hymes is already off to an excellent start in his young career, and he should only improve a great deal over time, as a result of his tremendous upside. I look forward to watching him continue to develop and also continue to pick up many more college offers over the next 2-3 years of high school.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Hymes is a long and skilled wing prospect that gravitates to the perimeter where he has a very nice shooting stroke with excellent range already. He looks to be very comfortable on the wing and has already shown some nice skillsets that suggests he may develop into a wing over time. He also has a good understanding of the post position and has good low-post footwork and moves, which allow him to score inside and out. He is a good finisher and uses his length to finish plays over defenders, and possesses a good overall feel for the game offensively. Hymes is also an active rebounder and shotblocker, and should develop in both of these two areas over time - especially as he gains much more physical size and strength. His body is very thin now, but he should add muscularity over time with natural maturity and hard work in the weight room. Good passer and and has a nice overall feel for the game. Has excellent work ethic. Tremendous upside as a prospect. Will only continue to improve throughout his high school career - growing into an excellent college prospect.