Casa Grande High School has a long history of producing quality point guards over the years. Recently, the school produced star guard Blake Nash (South Florida signee, transfer to Texas Tech). Next in line for the school is 6-foot-2 prep point man Jonathan Milligan.
Milligan is currently rated among the top prospects in the country for the 2012 class, after an impressive showing last summer in the Reebok Breakout Camp where he was selected among the top overall prospects in the camp, and then again at last week's Reebok Breakout Camp again, where Milligan was among the best pure point guards at the camp again.
After a junior season for his high school program where Milligan averaged a team-high 14.9 points per/game, Milligan returned this past high school season and put up big numbers for head coach Robb Floco - averaging a team and league-high of 24.2 points per/game and 8 assists. Milligan was on fire throughout his senior season and validated his national recruiting attention that he has received over the past year.
Milligan's college recruitment has been high-major, as he has received considerable interest from such programs as North Carolina State, Clemson, Oregon State, Pepperdine, UNLV and USC, just to name a few. After a breakout summer performance last summer, Milligan has received phone calls from just about everybody.
In fact, last summer, as a result of his performance at the Reebok Breakout Camp, Milligan developed a strong relationship with NBA guard John Wall (Washington Wizards-NBA). Wall and Milligan have become very close, and now Milligan will be joining Wall's former prep school and competing on Wall's former AAU/club program this summer.
I caught up with Milligan at this year's Reebok Breakout Camp, and he informed me that he will be attending Word of God Prep in North Carolina next season, and will be playing for the D-1 Sports club program the remainder of this summer.
While Milligan informed me that he currently does not have a clear leader in his college recruitment at this point, it will be very interesting to see where Milligan will land after a year of prep school, since Milligan will now be one of the bigger names and top point guard prospects nationally among the 2013 class.
Milligan is an excellent prospect for the collegiate level. A pure-point guard prospect that gets everyone involved, has a excellent handle of the basketball and also has unique quickness and athleticism as a guard. Guard prospects with such athletic talents project very well at the collegiate level, as they are able to keep up with the speed of the college game. Milligan's ability to blow past defenders and keep defenders off balance is a very nice attribute. His athleticism also allows him to make plays at the basket over bigger defenders.
Milligan is a potential highlight reel each time he has the basketball in his hands, as he has very good explosion off the dribble and plays with an excellent motor. He has a flashy side to his game also, which makes him fun to watch. He is a very slick ball handler and is capable of creating his own shot on the floor at almost anytime.
Milligan is simply a unique basketball talent with serious potential as a player. This young man has the "It Factor," as he possesses a special quality as a player that he was born with - you can't teach it.
Milligan still has some work to do in the classroom, but should be able to change things with a year in the prep school ranks.
Arizona Preps will continue to follow Milligan's college recruitment throughout the remainder of the summer and next season while in the prep school ranks - bringing you updates as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Milligan is an excellent prospect for the collegiate level. A pure-point guard prospect that gets everyone involved, has a excellent handle of the basketball and also has unique quickness and athleticism as a guard. Guard prospects with such athletic talents project very well at the collegiate level, as they are able to keep up with the speed of the college game. Milligan's ability to blow past defenders and keep defenders off balance is a very nice attribute. His athleticism also allows him to make plays at the basket over bigger defenders. Milligan is a potential highlight reel each time he has the basketball in his hands, as he has very good explosion off the dribble and plays with an excellent motor. He has a flashy side to his game also, which makes him fun to watch. He is a very slick ball handler and is capable of creating his own shot on the floor at almost anytime. Milligan has a nice shooting stroke with range on his shot, and also a quick, one-dribble pull up jumper from mid-range when being defended. His crisp handle of the basketball also allows for him to get shot opportunities at anytime in the offense. He has a very good feel for the game and is a good passer that sees the floor well. Milligan has the potential to become a big-time play maker at the collegiate level. He is also capable of becoming a lock-down defender at the collegiate level, as a result of his excellent lateral quickness and quick hands. An excellent sleeper prospect.
