Arizona's 2014 class of prospects has been billed as one of the top classes of prospects in state history, if not the best, and while some prospects in the class have not lived up to the billing, one prospect in the class continues to receive loads of high-major division-I interest. Mesa Mountain View High School's talented 6-foot-10, 235-pound senior post Payton Dastrup is one of the elite post prospects in the country, and, as a result, has garnered significant recruiting interest from numerous high-major and elite-high major division-I programs across the country.
While playing this spring and summer with the Cal Supreme (CA) Nike-sponsored club program and competing in numerous Nike EYBL events, Dastrup has seen his list of college offers soar.
Dastrup's list of college offers is very long, as he already possesses offers from such programs as Kansas, Ohio State, Florida, UCLA, Virginia, St. Johns, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, USC, Boston College, BYU, Cal, Colorado, N.C. State, Oregon State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Utah, Utah State, UC Davis and Washington State.
Dastrup is a rare find among today's college prospects, as he is a true post player with excellent physical size and strength. He also has good lift off the floor and plays the game with a professional approach to the game - taking care of his body and preparing for each contest.
Dastrup reported this week that he plan to make a fall college decision before the start to his senior season, and that he plans to take official recruiting visits in the fall. He has already taken unofficial recruiting visits to Florida, Virginia, Stanford and BYU. He plans on taking official visits in September and October.
When asked about what he will be looking for in a college program, Dastrup had this to say, "Being able to come in as a freshman and start, or be a contributing factor like a sixth or seventh man,” said Dastrup. “And then I want to have a good feel for my teammates and the coaching staff. I don’t want any coaches that are at the end of their contract or assistants that are kind of iffy if they want to be there or not.”
Dastrup has also indicated that he plans to take a two-year Mormon mission after graduating from high school, and will not compete in college until the 2016-2017 college basketball season.
Arizona Preps will continue to follow the college recruitment of Dastrup closely this fall, and bring you any recruiting updates from him as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Dastrup is amng the elite low-post prospects in the country - possessing a large body with broad shoulders, size and strength. He is a physically well-put-together post prospect that already possesses the body of a high-major division-I post player. Possessing broad shoulders and being built like a tank, Dastrup is an absolute load physically. A strong low-post scorer with good athleticism for his size, Dastrup is an excellent finisher already around the basket and enjoys physical contact. Very well-coached in the Mountain View system, Dastrup is much like that of former Kansas star post and current NBA forward Nick Collison. Has very good and strong hands, a good motor and runs the floor hard. Has good low-post footwork and good low post moves. Has developed a good ability t shoot the basketball out to 15-18 feet, but does his best work inside the painted area. A big-time low-post prospect that with continued hard work could play at the NBA level in the future.
