With the end to the 2017-2018 high school basketball season, the spring evaluation period is now upon us, and set to take center stage for college coaches across the country, as programs look to fill voids for next season. While some college programs will be evaluating some younger talent this spring and summer, most programs will still be looking toward the 2018 Class this spring.
Here are some of the state's top available prospects, still remaining on the recruiting board this spring (In no particular order) . . .
TOP AVAILABLE 2018 ARIZONA HS PROSPECTS (CLASS OF 2018)
Both Gach 6-6 SR PG/SG AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
Gach is a superb basketball talent with loads of athleticism and a tremendous offensive skillset, which allows him to be very productive at a high level on the basketball court. He also has excellent work ethic and loves the game, and also enjoys putting in the time to develop as a player. He possesses an excellent handle of the basketball and a pure shooting stroke, with unlimited range and an ability to create his own shot. He has a very soft shooting touch and an advanced feel for the game. He also has unique athleticism, which allows him to get out on the break and make plays in transition - finishing above the rim in a variety of ways, which will bring the crowd to their feet this high school season. A can-t miss prospect. Still needs a test score. Many schools are waiting to see if he qualifies academically this spring to make offers.
Stephan Gabriel 6-8 SR SF/PF Hillcrest Prep Academy (Phoenix, AZ)
Gabriel is a very strong and athletic physical specimen that has very good overall toughness, physicality and ability to make plays on the floor. Gabriel is a force on both ends of the floor, as a result of his size and mobility, which he uses to bully opposing players and make things happen on the court. A solid shooter with range on his shot, but has a very strong ability to make plays off the dribble at the rim. Finishes well above the rim. A versatile prospect. Has big, strong hands and excellent lateral quickness on the court. An active and strong rebounder. Runs the floor hard and is an excellent finisher. A nice sleeper prospect. Could decide to become a post-graduate. Just received an offer from Bradley, and has offers from Fairleigh Dickinson, Maine, Wagner and Montana.
Dwayne Walker 6-3 SR PG/SG AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
Walker is a left-handed shooting guard prospect with combo-guard capabilities. He has a nice, pure shooting stroke with a quick release that allows him to get his shot off quite well, while also being able to put the ball on the deck and make plays at a high level for himself towards the basket. He is a strong finisher at the rim and has very good athleticism for himself - a very good attribute for a combo-guard prospect. Walker is a good ball handler and passer, but he is at his best scoring the basketball, which he does at a high rate. He is a strong rebounder for his size, which suits him nicely. He is also a capable lock-down defender and has excellent lateral quickness, while also being able to play passing lanes quite well. He is strong in the open floor where he thrives, and is a good slasher as well in the half court set. Still needs a test score to qualify academically.
Girr Ring 6-7 SR SF/PF Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, AZ)
Ring is a very big combo-forward with a nice overall skill level and good overall versatility on the floor. Capable of playing both forward positions and making plays for himself and others off the dribble. A good shooter with range on his shot. Stretches the floor. A good ballhandler and passer, that is capable of handling the ball in the open floor very well. A good rebounder that rebounds outside of his area. Runs the floor very well. A nice sleeper prospect and a steal this spring.
Christian Anigwe 6-9 SR PF Desert Vista HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Anigwe has a bright future ahead of him. A long, athletic post player that is still growing a great deal physically. Has excellent potential as a prospect. The younger brother of Cal’s Kristine Anigwe (PAC-12, Top 20 HS player nationally). An active four man prospect with a long wingspan. Runs the floor and is a good finisher. Good low post player with good footwork. Solid shooter out to 18 feet. Active rebounder and shot blocker. Still developing and learning how good he can be, but a nice overall talent. Sleeper prospect.
Jaden Lee 6-3 SR SG Mesquite High School (Gilbert, AZ)
Lee is a big-time athletic talent that is able to make plays for himself whenever he has the basketball in his hands. Can score from anywhere on the floor. As a result of his tremendous knack for scoring the basketball, he is at his best as a shooting guard, but has the potential to play as a point guard also. A good ball handler. An OK passer. A very good finisher in traffic and in the open floor. A good shooter with range on his shot. Very explosive. A good on-the-ball defender that needs to focus more on this area of his game, as he can become a lock-down defender at the next level. A really nice sleeper prospect.
Immanuel Allen 6-5 SR SF Shadow Mountain HS (Phoenix, AZ)
A tough, hard-nosed but skilled wing prospect that is capable of playing several positions on the floor. A good scorer from inside and out, and is able to score against bigger defenders. Has a good shooting stroke with some range on his shot, but is at his best from mid-range and around the basket, where he is an excellent finisher. A very good rebounder that plays bigger than his size suggests. A strong defender. A solid ball handler. A capable passer. A very good sleeper prospect that should get some serious attention this spring.
Rashad Smith 6-5 SR PG/SG Hamilton HS (Chandler, AZ)
Smith is a bigger guard prospect that is able to play both guard positions on the floor, but is at his best as a scorer. He is a very good shooter with excellent range on his shot, and a nice ability to make plays off the dribble for himself and others. He has an excellent handle of the basketball and is a very good slasher and finisher in the open court. He pushes the ball up the floor to the open man, and also enjoys having the basketball in his hands. He has good overall size and a quick release on his shot. A good athlete. An active rebounder but needs to continue to focus on this area of his game, which should progress nicely over time. A good on-the-ball defender that also plays passing lanes. Has upside as a player. A good overall guard prospect for the mid-major level, with very good potential for the future. A sleeper.
Meekness Payne 6-7 SR SF/PF Arizona Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
An athletic combo-forward that has very good versatility and work ethic. As a result of his work ethic and desire to be a player, Payne has developed a great deal in a short period of time. Payne is a very good shooter of the basketball and has some range on his shot, which opens up his ability to make plays off the dribble and around the basket. An active rebounder that rebounds outside of his area, and is also a very good finisher inside the paint. He has a good jump hook and good low post footwork as well, which allows him to play inside and out. A good mid-range shooter and performer. Runs the floor hard and is an excellent finisher in transition. A very good low post defender – capable of defending smaller players on the perimeter. A good passer out of the post. A strong sleeper prospect that will only get better over time.
Wesley Harris 6-6 SR SF Desert Vista HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Harris is an exciting performer with an ultra-live body and motor, and serious bounce off the floor - allowing him to make plays on the court that most prospects cannot make. Harris uses every bit of his good motor to make plays on both ends of the floor. To maximize his potential as a college prospect and to develop as a player, Harris will definitely need to shoot the basketball better and with range, but his ability to play above the rim is glaring and allows him to compete at a high level. An OK ball handler and passer. Another good sleeper prospect.
Kyle Fischer 6-4 SR SG/SF Sunnyslope HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Fischer is a really nice talent that has come into his own. Led his team to two consecutive 5A State Championships. A definite sleeper prospect that many will miss on. Has a unique offensive skillset, as he is very skilled and is able to create shots for himself and others almost at will. He is able to score inside and out. A very good shooter with some range, and is also able to set up drives to the basket. A good rebounder that plays bigger than his size suggests. A good defender that competes. A nice sleeper prospect worthy of a serious look.
Ian Burke 6-4 SR PG Brophy Prep HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Burke is a bigger point guard prospect with a good overall feel for the game, and a nice shooting stroke with range. A good handler of the basketball that keeps his head up and sees the floor. Pushes the basketball up the floor to the open man. A solid defender. Good rebounder. Fundamentally sound performer with a high basketball IQ.
Sam Beskind 6-3 SR SG Catalina Foothills HS (Tucson, AZ)
One of the more underrated prospects in the class, Beskind is a gifted guard prospect with a nice overall skill level, excellent toughness and very good athleticism. These attributes as a player make Beskind a definite sleeper prospect in the class that is worthy of serious college attention. Beskind is a strong performer on both ends of the floor, and is a load for opposing teams to defend. A very good shooter with range on his shot, Beskind is a very skilled guard prospect that extends the floor and is also very tough off the dribble to defend for opposing guards, as he has a strong physical frame and is very tough off the dribble. He is a very good finisher in the lane and in traffic over defenders, where he likes to draw physical contact and finish plays. Also a strong rebounder for his size that plays much bigger than his size suggests. A very aggressive prospect that competes at a high level on both ends of the floor. A good on the ball defender and team defender, Beskind is a two-way player.
Khot Anyieth 6-5 SR SF Peoria HS (Peoria, AZ)
Anyieth is a very talented and athletic combo-forward prospect that is able to play multiple positions on the floor, and, most importantly, defend multiple positions on the floor. He is a long, lengthy and rangy forward prospect with excellent toughness and a great motor. He accepts challenges on both ends of the floor and enjoys defending the opposing team's best offensive player. He runs the floor hard and is a very good finisher and scorer while slashing to the basket, or in the open court. Offensively, Anyieth can play either as a small forward or as a power forward. He is still very thin physically and will need to add more physical size and strength to maximize his potential as a player. He can score effectively around the basket with good footwork and a nice offensive skillset. He is an active rebounder and shotblocker with good timing. Defensively, Anyieth is a nice asset to any team, as he uses his superior length to contest and block/change shots. He also plays passing lanes very well, and makes it difficult for offensive players to get into any rhythm. This young man has excellent potential over time, and would be an excellent recruit for any smaller college program.
Dominic Mooney 6-0 SR PG Buena HS (Sierra Vista, AZ)
The best point guard in the class, Mooney is a serious talent from the point guard position on the floor. Very tough physically with a nice, compact body, Mooney plays both ends of the floor hard and brings the fight to his competition. He is an aggressive floor general that gets into the lane almost at will - able to create off the dribble and also finish in traffic. He also gets to the free-throw line often, as a result of his aggressive style of play. He is a very good ball handler and passer, and finds the open man on the floor. He also pushes the basketball up the floor every chance he gets, while also being able to finish well in transition. He is a good shooter of the basketball with good range on his shot. He also has a good mid-range game and is able to stop and pop off the dribble. He is an excellent on the ball defender and has very quick hands and feet, and also plays passing lanes. A nice prospect.
Barrett Keith 6-9 PF/C AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ)
Keith is a bigger low-post prospect that enjoys physical contact, rebounding and defending opposing low-post players - glaring attributes for a low-post prospect. He is a good low post scorer with nice low-post footwork offensively, a nice jump hook and an understanding of how to use his body to get good inside low-post position. He also has a soft shooting touch from the perimeter, out to 18 feet, but enjoys mixing it up inside the paint. He gets to the free-throw line quite often, as a result of his physical approach to the game. He also runs the floor well and is a good finisher in transition, and also in the half-court set. Not overly athletic, but he makes up for it with a high basketball IQ. A good looking low-post prospect, and a very good student-athlete.
Amarion Cash 6-3 PG/SG Mountain Pointe HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Cash is a legitimate combo-guard prospect that is able to play both guard positions on the floor, and also has a nice overall feel for the game. He enjoys having the basketball in his hands where he can create for others, but he does enjoy scoring the basketball. He is a good shooter of the basketball with a nice, left-handed shooting stroke with range on his shot. He has very good body control and is able to make plays for himself off the dribble. A good scorer in the open floor. A good ball handler and passer. A very good on-the-ball defender that also plays passing lanes. A fundamentally sound performer, Cash is a solid overall guard prospect with nice potential for the future.