One of the top guard prospects in Arizona's 2021 Class is soaring well below the recruiting radar, and for good reason. AZ Compass Prep 6-foot-3 senior guard Zayn Kimbrough is a superb guard talent that has overcome many obstacles over the past year, but is one guard prospect that recently caught my attention, and is well deserving of serious college recruitment.
Last season, as a junior for Williams Field High School, Kimbrough would only see action in (6) games, after AIA transfer rules caused him to sit for half of the season. Once he returned to action, Kimbrough would then suffer a concussion which would end his high school season. As a result, Kimbrough basically missed his entire junior season.
After hopes of making some noise on the spring and summer club circuit during the NCAA Evaluation Period, Kimbrough would again miss out, as the COVID-19 pandemic would impact any basketball action during the spring and summer - his final spring and summer of his high school career.
As a result, Kimbrough recently decided to transfer to state prep power AZ Compass Prep, where he will now complete his senior season with a loaded basketball program of college prospects. Unfortunately for Kimbrough, the first time college coaches will truly get to see him, will be at some point this high school season, when basketball competition picks back up.
I caught my first true glimpse of Kimbrough recently at the Southwest Basketball Camp, where he earned Top 20 All-Star Game honors, and was one of the best pure scorers and shooters of the basketball in the event. Kimbrough was electric on the court and proved that he has a serious skill for shooting the basketball with excellent range on his shot, and has a knack for scoring the basketball off the dribble, and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Kimbrough advised me that his natural position on the basketball court is as a point guard, and he has always played the position throughout his development as a player. He would like to be recruited as a point guard for college, and has very good size and a nice skill-set for the position.
Currently, Kimbrough advised me that he has heard from such college programs as Washington State, Northern Arizona and Army in the past, but he is not sure of their level of interest now, and is hopeful to raise his recruiting stock this high school season.
"I am a resilient person with a high work ethic," said Kimbrough. "I have always considered myself an underdog in every situation I have been in."
Kimbrough is a fine young man and is very well spoken - one of the best I have come across. He is also an excellent student and carries a 3.67 CUM GPA. He plans to major in Business Administration in college, and would be an excellent fit for a higher academic college program.
As a prospect, Kimbrough is a nice guard talent with a proven scoring ability, and an ability to create off the dribble and make plays for himself and others. He is difficult to defend for opposing guards as a result of his shooting prowess, and ability to make plays off the dribble. He is a very skilled guard prospect and resembles a younger Dion Waiters (NBA) offensively - a bigger guard that can handle the ball and make plays. He is also a good defender with quick hands and feet, and can play passing lanes.
While Kimbrough will compete for a loaded AZ Compass Prep program this season, this is definitely one guard prospect worthy of serious college recruitment, as he has a high skill level and is a well-rounded student-athlete.
I will be keeping a close eye on Kimbrough throughout his senior season, and look forward to watching him develop as a player, and as a college prospect. A spring signing would suit him nicely, as he should become one of the better guard talents available late.
