National (Dave Telep)
Recently, Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers forward DeShaun Thomas made an unofficial visit to Ohio State. The trip got us thinking: who’s next?
When it comes to the Class of 2010, Thomas has the early inside track on being that guy. An incredible physical specimen, Thomas turned in a huge high school season and has been ripping through the 15-and-under AAU circuit. A man amongst boys in that age group, Scout.com considers Thomas the top 2010 prospect in America.
Why are we talking about young guys so much before the summer officially begins? Because they’re making headlines. At least 6 members of the class have made college decisions already. Most recently, Columbus (Ohio) native Jared Sullinger opted to commit to the hometown Buckeyes. By the way, Sullinger is a legitimate beast!
Watch out for …
Forward Jereme Richmond who picked Illinois already. Plus, Floridian Brandon Knight is a guard who has been hot on the AAU circuit. Plus, here's something to remember: the point guard crop in this class is in position to be one of the strongest in years.
West Coast (Greg Hicks)
The best freshman in the West Coast class of 2010, at least to date, is clearly Jeremy Tyler. The 6-foot-9 PF/C from San Diego (Calif.) High, is one of the better young post prospects that we’ve seen in some time.
Tyler has a very good body, with extremely long arms, and he moves very well. But it’s not just his physical traits that make him such a unique prospect. Tyler also has a very high skill level for a young post. He’s got a terrific touch with range to 18-20 feet. He can also score in the post and he has terrific natural instincts and feel. He can already pass out of the post – something that many post players take awhile to learn. With his length and agility, as well as instincts, Tyler has a chance to become an excellent shot blocker.
At this point in time, he’s a good, not great, rebounder. That will definitely be an area that he can improve upon in the future. Overall, though, Tyler is an exceptional prospect. If one assumes just a reasonable rate of progress, Tyler should end up one of the best players in the country for 2010.
Watch out for …
Kendall Williams, 6-2 PG Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Los Osos, is another very talented freshman prospect. While he’s not at the level of Tyler, and hasn’t received nearly as much attention to date, Williams is a kid that you’ll be hearing from in the future.
East Coast (Mike Sullivan)
In the past few weeks, it's become quite noticeable in the New York City area that one of the best players in the 2010 class is 6-foot-6, 232-pound Jayvaughn Pinkston of Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, New York. Pinkston has rapidly developed a name for himself in one of the country's richest basketball areas.
What makes Pinkston so impressive is his ability to dissect a defense in the low post. Jayvaughn already has a knack for scoring points around the basket against much older defenders. He recently played at the Five Star tournament held on the campus of St. John's University, battling against the best big bodies in the event and faring well. The Red Storm are just one of the area teams that has expressed an early interest in Pinkston's skills.
Seton Hall, Rutgers, and Connecticut are all aware of the freshman at Loughlin. Pinkston has a chance every night to play against steep competition in the very talented New York City Catholic League. So it's likely because of the competition level he runs up against during the high school season that his game will continue to upgrade as each season expires.
Watch out for …
Phil Pressey is a player that competed last summer for the Boston Athletic Basketball Club. The small, but very effective guard demonstrated leadership skills in both the 16 and 17 and under Super Showcase held at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Pressey continues to improve his game. The 5-foot-7, 145-pounder from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts has a bundle of energy and the ability to score from anywhere on the court. He often can be seen zipping by defenders and accelerating to the basket. The son of former NBA player Paul Pressey, Phil showed over the past year that size won't prevent him from scoring points either.