Willow Canyon High School (16-2) has become one of the elite programs in the state over time, and excellent Head Coach Joe Colletti and his very experienced coaching staff have their best chance to win it all this high school season. Willow Canyon is an extremely talented team, and the emergence this season of two of the very best freshmen in the state, to go alongside the talents of 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior guard Kaleel Kelly, has Willow Canyon on another level. Kelly has more than paid his dues, while helping build the Willow Canyon program into what it is today. It is now his time to be recruited, and this young man is well deserving. Here is why I believe that Kaleel Kelly will be one of the top unsigned recruiting targets in the spring for the 2025 Class.
Kelly has had an excellent high school career for himself, and he is having a strong senior season for Joe Colletti and his staff. A very strong and well built physical guard prospect, Kelly has teamed up nicely this season with stud freshman prospects, 6-foot freshman Maurice Carter (18.5 ppg) and 6-foot-3 freshman Jaydon Hayes (12.1 ppg). With Carter and Hayes producing at a high level immediately this season, Kelly has complimented these two young performers with his size and experience, as well as his ability to defend and make plays for himself and others. Kelly is a very good scorer of the basketball, but he is also a versatile performer that can play multiple positions for his team, which he has proven with this year's group. Kelly is currently averaging strong numbers in his senior season - posting 16.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per/game this season. He is coming off a 25-point performance this week in his team's nice 81-65 win over Centennial High School.
Currently, Kelly is receiving strong recruiting interest from numerous Division-II programs and junior colleges, and he is also hearing from several Division-I programs as well, although he has yet to receive an offer from a Division-I program. According to Kelly's club coach with The Factory, Kenny Mullins, Kelly previously received strong interest from Cornell University, and several other Division-I programs, but many college programs are waiting until the spring to identify their needs for next season. Kelly will eventually have to make a college decision for himself, but I believe he is worthy of much higher college recruitment than he is currently receiving.
Kelly is an immediate impact guard prospect at the collegiate level, when you consider his college-ready physical frame, his ability to defend opposing guards and also create off the dribble with a physical approach to the game. While he is still looking to improve his shooting stroke from longer ranges, his ability to get into the lane and finish is a valuable attribute for a college program.
It will be very interesting to see which college programs look to get involved with Kelly this spring, and also which level he ultimately decides to land at. Regardless, college programs are missing the boat on this one, as he is among the state's top unsigned prospects in Arizona's 2025 Class.
I will continue to follow Kelly's play this season, and his college recruitment, as well as the Willow Canyon program, as they look to compete for an Open Division State Championship this season.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: A skilled point guard prospect with a slick handle of the basketball and a very good overall feel for the game. Has a college-ready body with excellent size and strength on his muscular frame. Can be a floor general that can also score the ball. Has good overall versatility as a player. A good shooter that is still improving his shot from longer ranges, but sets up his strong drives through the lane with his ability to score the basketball. A good finisher that is crafty in his approach to the game. A very good ball handler and passer that sees the floor very well. Pushes the ball up the floor to the open man. Plays fast and can play in a half-court set. Understands the two-man game. A very good sleeper prospect at the combo-guard position.