Arizona's 2020 class of prospects is special and has gained loads of national recognition over the past year and also this high school season. With other prospects in the state already gaining much attention, Mesquite High School's talented 6-foot-5 freshman wing prospect Xavier Dusell is an elite young prospect in the state that is right in line and quickly making a name for himself.
Before entering the high school ranks a year ago, Dusell was regarded as an elite middle-school prospect in the state, and he did not disappoint during the high school season. Dusell turned in a very impressive freshman season for himself. While the team struggled to win at a high rate, Dusell was a consistent performer for Mesquite on a nightly basis.
Dusell averaged 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2 assists per/game in his freshman season - big numbers for a freshman prospect at the 5A varsity level. These numbers will only improve a great deal over the next year, as Dusell matures physically and also next season under new head coach Carlos Artis, who will add a lot to the development of Dusell as a player.
Artis was one of the best scorers the state of Arizona has ever seen in the high school ranks, when he laced up his shoes for Washington High School in the late 1980's and early 90's (1991 graduate). Artis previously held many scoring records in the state before the emergence of Mike Bibby and Lawrence Westbrook.
Dusell is a special talent as well - possessing excellent size and versatility as a player. Dusell is capable of playing several perimeter positions on the floor, while having a strong handle of the basketball and a nice perimeter shooting stroke with range. He is able to make plays for himself or others off the dribble, and is a sure mis-match for opposing defenders - able to score inside and out. As he continues to mature physically, I look for Dusell to be able to post up more, which will make it even more difficult for smaller defenders to guard him. Currently, he likes to score from the perimeter, where he is much more comfortable at this stage in his young career.
Much like fellow 2020 Class members Niko Mannion (Pinnacle HS) and Jason Harris (Desert Ridge HS), who have already received major national recognition, Dusell is in the same mode - a national level prospect with loads of high-major potential for the future. The last time we saw a class this special was the 2014 class, which is regarded as the best class of prospects since Mike Bibby and Richard Jefferson graduated from the state in the mid 1990's.
Look for Dusell to begin generating loads of division-I interest and college scholarship offers, as soon as more college coaches get a chance to see him perform. Currently, Dusell is traveling on the club circuit with Team Harden, a heavily Adidas-sponsored program in the state organized by NBA star James Harden.
I look forward to following the progress and recruitment of Dusell over the next three years of high school basketball, as this young man is definitely another big-time talent in the state that will soon become a household name.
