Basha High School's gifted and athletic 6-foot-11 senior post Devin Kirby suffered a horrific injury last season during the McClintock Holiday Shootout basketball tournament - causing him to miss much of his junior season, and also all of the spring and summer AAU/club competition. Kirby is now back on the basketball court and healthy, and, as a result, college programs are quickly taking notice.
While other top-rated Arizona prospects spent the summer months looking to improve their recruiting stock, Kirby would have to watch his closest friends compete on the club circuit - still recovering from his injury, or atleast not ready to compete at a high level.
Now fully recovered and looking to have a big senior season for himself, Kirby is a changed young man. After overcoming so much adversity in a short period of time already, Kirby would lose his grandmother this summer while away in Vegas for the Fab 48 with his Arizona Magic ballclub.
Kirby and his mother, Michelle Kirby, have been through a lot together over the past few years, and there is nothing that this family cannot handle. The extreme obstacles that they have had to overcome together will ultimately make them much stronger - especially Devin Kirby, who as a result of his challenges will now become a much hungrier and motivated player. This motivation, I believe, will make Kirby a serious high-major division-I prospect.
Kirby is beginning to pick up recruiting steam. He recently took an official recruiting visit to Loyola-Chicago, then an unofficial recruiting visit to Arizona State University last week. On Thursday, he received a scholarship offer from Montana State University and head coach Brian Fish.
Kirby has not indicated when he will make his college decision, but his mother advised me this summer that she wanted him to sign with a school this fall. It remains to be seen when Kirby might make his decision. If he waits until the spring, he would become state's hottest unsigned prospect.
Kirby also currently has offers on the table from Grand Canyon University, Rice, Brown, Georgia Southern and Dartmouth.
High Major offers are right around the corner for Kirby, as he is also generating strong interest from Wake Forest, Cincinnati, San Diego State, Cal, Stanford, Utah, Indiana, Virginia, San Diego, San Jose State, Cal Poly, Southern Utah, Portland, Portland State and Weber State.
The younger brother of current college post Maurice Kirby (Loyola-Chicago commit via Virginia Tech transfer), Kirby is regarded as one of the elite prospects in Arizona’s 2016 class by our Arizona Preps’ staff.
Kirby is also an excellent student, a common characteristic in the Kirby household, and carries a 3.2 CUM GPA.
Arizona Preps will continue to follow this recruiting process closely and bring you any updates as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Kirby suffered a season-ending injury as a junior, but now he is back, new and improved, and ready to compete at his highest level. As a result, Kirby should quickly begin to realize much of his potential as a college prospect – blocking shots, rebounding, running the floor hard and finishing strong at the rim over defenders. Kirby has excellent upside as a college prospect, and has more potential than any other prospect in the state of Arizona, outside of Marvin Bagley. With continued hard work and development as a player, Kirby should develop nicely into a high-major prospect, as a result of his size, length and overall skill level as a college prospect. Look for Kirby to continue his development as a prospect, as his best years are still well ahead of him. The future looks very bright for Kirby.
