With the spring evaluation period upon us, and college programs still in pursuit of top available prospects around the country, there are still numerous prospects still available in Arizona's 2019 Class. With so many unsigned and uncommitted prospects still available in the state, here are more of my top available prospects still on board for the spring for college coaches to take a very hard look at (in no particular order) . . .
Jaret Allen 6-6 SR SG/SF Deer Valley HS
Allen (pictured) is a long, thin and rangy wing prospect that is able to play several positions on the floor. His length is very intriguing, as he looks as if we will continue to grow a great deal over time. A big-time shooter of the basketball with unlimited range on his shot, and a quick release that allows him to get his shot off almost at will. A big guard prospect with an advanced skill-set. Fundamentally sound. Able to score inside and out. As he adds more size to his thin physical frame, then we will see his game progress really nicely. A nice looking prospect that has a twin. Will improve a great deal over time, as he has tremendous upside as a prospect. Father played professionally.
Jordan Mains 6-6 SR SG/SF Pinnacle High School
Mains missed his entire senior season due to a surgery he had, which was very unfortunate. He is a very skilled and sharp-shooting guard prospect that still has a lot of upside as a player, and has the potential to become an excellent basketball player over time. A fundamentally sound prospect with an ability to stretch the defense from almost anywhere on the floor. He has a nice ability to catch-and-shoot the basketball with unlimited range. He is a good ball handler and passer, and has very good versatility as a player - capable of playing several positions on the floor. A good defender that plays passing lanes and also plays with excellent energy on the court. An active rebounder that competes on both ends of the floor. He will need to continue to focus defensively and on rebounding though over time to maximize his potential as a player. An excellent shooting guard prospect with excellent potential for the future.
Dana “DJ” Hawkins 6-6 SR SG/SF Eduprize HS
DJ is coming off winning a state championship at Eduprize. A good-sized 2/3 prospect that is able to play either as a shooting guard or as a small forward on the floor, but should see his time as a small forward full-time for the collegiate level. He has good size and very good versatility as a player. Can make plays around the paint and from mid-range, while also being able to make shots with range - able to score from all (3) levels. An active rebounder and defender, Hawkins is a high-energy prospect with a good competitive spirit. A good finisher. Has good potential for the future. The younger brother of Arnecia and Armani Hawkins, whom both played high-major division-I basketball for college women's programs.
Chase Courtney 6-9 SR PF/C Hillcrest Prep Academy
Courtney is just beginning to realize his potential as a player and come around. After suffering injuries in the past, and as a upperclassman, Courtney is now beginning to get physically stronger and more athletic, which is now allowing him to finish much stronger around the rim and make plays in the paint. Has solid footwork and a good offensive repertoire, and it suggests that he will only continue to develop his overall offensive skillset over time. A solid shooter with range, and a good low-post scorer with a good jump hook. An active rebounder and a capable shotblocker. Runs the floor and finishes. Has upside. Son of former NBA player Joe Courtney.
Brandon Savage 6-7 SR PF Deer Valley HS
Savage is an active post prospect that competes on both ends of the floor hard and runs the floor very well. Still a little raw offensively, Savage has developed a great deal over the last year and is improving a great deal – suggesting that he will only continue to improve much more, as a result of his tremendous upside. Savage is capable of playing both post positions, but is at his best as a stretch four-man. He has a very good jump hook and solid low post moves now with good overall footwork. He is also able to step outside and shoot the basketball with good confidence. A very good shotblocker and a very active rebounder that plays with good intensity. Has a bright future ahead of him.
John Olmstead 6-10 SR PF/C Morenci High School
Olmstead is a rare find in our state, as he possesses excellent size and length. He is also very skilled and is a good overall athlete. He has a very good jump hook, which he can get off quite easily and seems to be very accurate with it, even while contested. He has good low-post footwork and, overall, has good hands and feet which allow him to run the floor quite well and finish plays around the paint. He runs the floor well. Olmstead is also an active rebounder and shotblocker with good timing - keeping balls in play that he blocks. He will need to add some serious physical size to his very thin frame over time, and, as he matures physically and gets much stronger, he will see his game really develop. Because his skill level and level of mobility are already intact, as he adds strength he will maximize his potential as a player.
Jalen Williams 6-3 SR SG Shadow Mountain HS
An excellent defender with loads of athleticism and physical talent, that enjoys defending the opposing team's best player. A big-time dunker in traffic or in the half-court set, which is very impressive for his size. Williams is a highly competitive and focused individual that wears his game face the entire game. He is a good shooter with a nice left-handed shooting stroke. He has some range on his shot as well, and is a very good mid-range player. A good ball handler. OK passer. Active rebounder. Excellent finisher. An intriguing prospect. Will play football in college at a high level. Transferred to the state of Arizona from Brookside Christian High School in Stockton, CA.
Miles Houston 6-9 SR PF Hamilton HS
Low post player with good size and length. A very good athlete. Runs the floor hard and is a solid finisher around the basket. A good shooter out to 15 feet, and takes high percentage shots in the offense. A good low-post scorer with good footwork and a good jump hook. An active rebounder. A good shotblocker. Has very good potential over time and has very good upside. With continued hard work, he should development into a solid low to mid-major prospect. A stint in the junior college ranks would benefit him nicely.
John Price 6-8 SR PF Peoria HS
A nice, skilled 4-man prospect with excellent potential for the future. Price is a good-sized, 4-man prospect with excellent toughness. He will need to continue to work very hard, but, if he does, this young man has the potential to open many eyes. As a college prospect, Price runs the floor hard and is a good finisher. He also has good hands and is a good finisher around the basket, keeping the basketball up high on rebounds. He is an active rebounder and also has solid low-post moves, although he is still raw and needs continued development as a scorer, but he should progress nicely over time. Has some upside.
Takari Fields 6-7 SR PF Arizona Compass Prep
Fields is a strong low post player with a strong frame and lower body. He is a strong rebounder and finisher inside the paint. He enjoys physical contact and is a good finisher inside the paint. A left-hander, Fields has a good jump hook now and still needs to develop his low-post moves to maximize his potential as a player. He is a solid shooter out to 15-feet. A solid low post defender, although he is foul prone. Runs the floor. A solid passer. Has very good upside with long arms.
Shekeedren Bryant 6-5 SR SF Cesar Chavez HS
A versatile and also strong and athletic wing prospect that handles the ball and makes plays off the dribble for himself and others. A good creator with the ball in his hands. A good mid-range shooter that still needs to add more consistency to his shot from longer ranges. Very good in the open floor. A good finisher with very good athleticism. An active rebounder. A good defender that plays with good intensity on the floor. A good sleeper prospect.
Emad Elniel 6-5 SR SF Independence HS
Elniel is a high-wire, lengthy athlete with a nice overall skill level, which allows him to make plays that many players cannot. He is a rangy athlete that plays well in an up-tempo style of play. He pushes the ball up the floor and is capable of playing several positions on the floor. He is a solid shooter with range on his shot. An active rebounder and a very good overall defender that plays passing lanes. He is a very good scorer in the open floor as well. A good overall sleeper prospect.
Ethan Spry 6-7 SR PF Scottsdale Christian HS
Spry is a skilled post prospect with excellent footwork around the basket, and an ability to score the basketball from inside and out. He is at his best around the basket and from 15 feet and in, where he is able to make plays at the rim, while getting defenders off balance and scoring around and through his defenders. He is very crafty inside the paint, and is able to score with either hand effectively around the basket. As a result, Spry is also able to get to the free-throw line quite often, where he is also a good free-throw shooter. Spry is a good shooter of the basketball also out to three-point distance, but he is at his best from mid-range. This young man is also a good rebounder that keeps the basketball up high on offensive conversions, and also outlets the basketball well on the defensive end to guards to start the offense. He is a good offensive rebounder. Spry is a good low-post defender, and is also able to defend players on the perimeter, as needed. He will see his time at the collegiate level as a four-man.
Blaise Threatt 6-3 SR SG Chaparral High School
Threatt is a big physical guard prospect with exceptional physical strength and thickness to his frame. He is a skilled ball handler and passer and able to make plays off the dribble. A solid finisher. Has good versatility. Good shooter with range. Needs to get quicker but has good explosion to get past defenders. A very good rebounder when he focuses on it. With hard work, he will become a good sleeper prospect. Son of former NBA player Sedale Threatt.
CJ Nnorom 6-0 SR PG Cactus Shadows HS
Nrorom is a well-built, physical guard prospect with a superb shooting stroke with unlimited range, and a nice overall feel for scoring the basketball. He is very compact in size but has the body that suggests that he is ready now for the college level. He has good explosiveness off the dribble and a nice handle of the basketball, which allows him to make plays consistently off the dribble, while being able to stop and pop from almost anywhere on the floor. Shot the basketball very well in the evaluation, and also showed an advanced offensive skillset. He is a good finisher as well and can both guard positions on the floor. I would like to see him focus defensively, where, if he can become a stopper, then he could raise his level of play and exposure to college coaches. A good sleeper guard prospect for the 2019 class.
Isaiah Marin 6-4 SR SG Buckeye High School
Marin is a talented and skilled guard prospect with a nice overall smoothness to his game. He is a very good shooter of the basketball that extends the defense and he is also able to make plays for himself and others off the dribble. While he still lacks true size on his physical frame, it could help to limit his overall college recruitment. Whichever level he lands at he will be able to help over time, as he has very good upside as a college prospect. A good looking prospect.
Connor Braun 6-7 SR PF Valley Christian HS
Braun is a nice-sized post prospect already with a very good body and an ability to run the floor nicely and make plays. He is an active low post player that can step outside and shoot the basketball with a soft touch. He needs to become more consistent in his shooting stroke, but he is aggressive and competes. An active rebounder. Capable shotblocker. With hard work this young man will develop into a serious recruiting target over time. Has a bright future ahead.
Walter Talley 6-7 SR SF Planet Athlete
Talley is a skilled wing prospect with an ability to play inside and out and score the basketball from the perimeter. He is able to score effectively around the paint, and also has a nice ability to step outside and shoot the basketball as well with a good shooting stroke. He has very good versatility as a player - allowing him to play multiple positions on the floor, although he is at his best currently as a small forward or wing. Talley has a good handle of the basketball, so he is capable of playing in the open floor, but his best asset is his physical toughness and ability to rebound and finish around the basket. He has a very good mid-range game, which allows him to score effectively around the paint and from the perimeter. Talley is quicker than most power forwards on the perimeter, and he has the size to overpower most smaller players - taking them into the post as needed. Has overcome a lot to become a serious college prospect once again. Had a high scoring game of 33 points this year against Findlay Prep (NV).
