The recruiting process is beginning to narrow down for Westwind Prep's talented 6-foot-8 senior forward Zylan Cheatham. The ultra-athletic wing prospect narrowed down his list of schools early this week in prepeparation for making his college decision later this fall. Cheatham has indicated that he still plans to make his decision on a college this fall, after taking official recruiting visits and then making his college decision on his birthday, November 17th.
The last 6 months have been very busy on the recruiting front for Cheatham, as he has received loads of college interest, with some schools recruiting him as a wing prospect and others recruiting him as a stretch-four.
Cheatham already possesses offers from such programs as Texas, Arizona State, Arkansas, Washington, Washington State, USC, Oregon, Cal, Memphis, Indiana, Gonzaga, UNLV, Miami, Nebraska, Purdue, Colorado, Oregon State, New Mexico, Utah State, Northern Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State, Utah and Southern Utah. Cheatham has also garnered serious interest from such elite-high major programs as Louisville, Arizona and Kansas.
This week, Cheatham decided to narrow his list of college programs to eight different schools, deciding that he will make his decision from the following 8 programs this fall: Arizona State, Washington, USC, Oregon, Memphis, Miami, New Mexico and San Diego State.
Cheatham has a very busy spring and summer, electing to leave his club program, the Arizona Magic Pump N’ Run-2014′s, in the spring for an opportunity to play on the Nike EYBL basketball circuit with the Nike-sponsored California Supreme (CA). Cheatham enjoyed his time playing with a loaded group of prospects, primarily from southern California – a group that would qualify for the prestigious Nike Peach Jam in Augusta, Georgia. On the team, Cheatham would team up with nationally ranked Arizona post prospect Payton Dastrup, a 6-foot-10 senior from Mesa Mountain View HS.
Cheatham would then finish the month of July while playing for the Magic Pump N Run in the Double Pump Best of Summer event in Anaheim, CA, and then in the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas, NV – respresenting the state of Arizona in both events.
While playing for the Cal Supreme, Cheatham often played the four position on the court – a fact that has caused many college programs and scouts to evaluate him as a four-man, rather than his natural position as a small forward. Cheatham understands that many college coaches are currently recruiting him as a four-man, although he would like to be recruited as a small forward. During his brief stint this spring and summer while playing for Jeff De Laveaga and the Magic, Cheatham saw much of his time as a guard and small forward. Whether he is recruited as a 3 0r a 4 prospect for the future will play a major role in his college recruitment and decision.
Cheatham’s most impressive attribute is his serious length and athleticism. He has really improved his shooting ability, but still needs to improve the consistency on his shot from deeper range on the floor. Cheatham handles the basketball like a guard and has shown a great deal of versatility as a player.
Cheatham is currently rated as the #46 prospect overall in America’s 2014 class by ESPN.
Arizona Preps will continue to follow Cheatham's recruitment closely and bring you any more updates as they continue to develop.
