Karl Towns Jr.

"Towns has a unique skill set. Blessed with great size and agility, he's a strong perimeter player, especially for a big man. Also a shot blocker and rebounder, Towns is a unique big who will be projected to bring an impactful scoring touch to the Kentucky lineup as a freshman."

Dave Telep of ESPN made the above statement about Karl Towns Jr. in the recent article "Karl Towns Jr. Commits to Kentucky". Towns is a dynamic and special player with unlimited potential. The sky is the limit for this young man and his future looks bright.

 

Profile:
Towns is part of a rare breed of basketball players blessed with NBA size. Standing at 6'11" and weighing 235 lbs., he already towers over the competition. Just 17 years old, he dominated as a freshman last year at St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. Towns averaged a double-double in his first varsity season with 11.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game. Even more impressive were his numbers from behind the 3-point line, scoring 63 three pointers on the year. His performances as a freshman helped lead St. Joesph's to a state championship.

NBA Comparison:     
With unlimited potential, it is impossible to draw an accurate NBA comparison for Towns at this early stage in his career. Towns has a unique skill set for the center position and can virtually do everything on the floor. A legitimate post player who can score effectively on the block, he is a player that will get easy lay-ups and dunks around the basket. Couple those skills with his sweet mid-range and three point jump shot and Towns becomes a player no center wants to guard.  He also runs the floor, has solid ball handling skills, and is an effective defender and rebounder. Towns has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzski, and LaMarcus Aldridge with his all-around play, but with so much time left for his game to mature and improve he may soon redefine how the center position is played.

Conclusion:
Towns recently made two major announcements pertaining to his future. First, he reclassified from the class of 2015 to the class of 2014. With a GPA of 4.3, Towns was academically eligible to move ahead a year in school. Ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2015, he has now slid over to the No. 3 overall player in the class of 2014. The second major announcement Towns made was his verbal commitment to play for the University of Kentucky after he graduates. Towns will be a dominant force in high school and at Kentucky over the next few years and with continued improvement will be NBA ready sooner than later. 

Trevor Dunbar

"He is an elite talent at such a young age that can score from outside or inside. He has the uncanny ability to split defenders in the lane and can just as easily dish the ball out. His game is impressive."

This quote comes from an article written by Mark Knight of LeftCoastRecruiting.com. Currently in his junior year, Dunbar is a rising talent who may prove to be the best point guard in California this season. He is a blur with the ball in his hands, and has some of the best ball handling skills in the nation.

Profile:
Standing at 5'10" and weighing 160 lbs. Dunbar's future looks bright. A bit undersized for his position, Dunbar makes up for his lack of height with his excellent court vision and explosive speed. Pushing the ball in transition is where he excels, giving him the opportunity to score or set up his teammates. A lefty, Dunbar is able to keep defenses off guard as he finishes at the basket with both hands, passes effectively, and splits defenders with his dynamic ball handling. Currently, playing for St. Ignatius High School, Dunbar is primed to have break out junior season.     

NBA Comparison:
Dunbar's game has an uncanny resemblance to that of  Sacramento Kings' point guard Isaiah Thomas. With similar size, both guards push the pace with their speed and quickness creating opportunities for themselves or their teammates. Both players also have a solid jump shot that allows them to hit the open three and score on pull-up jump shots in the lane. Most importantly though, both Dunbar and Thomas have excellent court vision and passing ability. Necessary skills for anyone looking to play the point guard at a high level.

  




















Conclusion:
With continued improvement, Trevor Dunbar could become one of the elite point guards in the class of 2014 over the next two years. With USC, Washington State, Ohio State, USF, UCSB, and Portland University already showing interest in him, Dunbar will be a solid point guard for whatever university he chooses. Look for his name in the 2014 ESPN 100 Rankings when it is released later this year.

Tyus Jones

"Jones is the best point guard in America ... A college head coach will be able to turn the ball over to Jones as a freshman and be able to completely trust the young man. He plays with a maturity that is almost surreal for such a young player seemingly making the correct decision with the basketball every time down the floor."

This quote from NBEbasketball.com hits the nail on the head when it comes to describing Tyus Jones and his exceptional play. Every scout in country has seen him play and praised his game. The embodiment of a true point guard, Jones makes everyone around him better and his ability to command the game is unmatched.

   

Profile:

A member of the class of 2014 and currently in his junior season, Jones plays well beyond his years with the savvy and poise of a seasoned veteran. Entering his fourth season as a varsity player (he played varsity as a FRESHMAN) at Apple Valley High School in Minnesota, the 6'1" 171 lb. point guard is poised to have a monster year. In the past three seasons, Jones already has compiled 1,575 points and 588 assists. As a sophomore, he averaged 28.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 3.4 steals per game leading the Eagles to a (23-6) record. Ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 overall player and point guard in the class of 2014, Jones has yet to disappoint in any competition and has improved his game each and every year.         

NBA Comparison:

Tyus Jones' skill set and play style on the court can be compared to that of Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul. Both players are extremely poised and have command of the game when they are on the floor. More importantly both Paul and Jones have the unique ability to make the players around them better. They both have a deep understanding of the game and are able to make pinpoint passes that position their teammates to score. When these two players aren't distributing the ball they are scoring in a variety of ways. Layups in transition, three point shots, floaters in the lane, and pull-up jump shots are just a few of the ways they can beat you, making them nearly unstoppable. Chris Paul is considered by many to be the best point guard in the NBA, and at this rate Tyus Jones may be there sooner than you think.

 

Conclusion:

Tyus Jones is the best point guard in high school basketball because of his ability read the defense and make the correct decision whether to pass or score. Currently entertaining scholarship offers from Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Ohio State his decision will be monumental for recruiting in the class of 2014. Wherever he goes other top recruits will be sure to follow as they will want to play alongside this elite play maker.

Aquille Carr

"The most exciting player in high school basketball, regardless of class."

Anyone who has witnessed Aquille Carr play agrees that he is one of the quickest, flashiest, and most entertaining players they have ever seen. Carr is so exciting to watch that he has been deemed 'The Crime Stopper' in Maryland, because crime rates supposedly go down when he plays. Don't believe the hype? See for yourself in the video below, oh and did I forget to mention he is 5'6"!

Profile:

Standing at 5'6" and weighing 148 lbs., Aquille Carr is not your prototypical point guard. Severely undersized for his position, Carr has made up for his height disadvantage with explosive speed, lightning quick handles, a consistent jumper, and a Muggsy Bogues like dunking ability. Carr played his first three seasons of high school basketball for Patterson High School. In his sophomore year, Carr boasted a stat line of 32 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. During his three seasons there he logged 1,990 points and won two Maryland 4A state titles. Currently playing out his senior year at Princeton Day Academy, he surpassed the 2,000 point mark in his first game with a 32 point performance. Ranked as the No. 98 overall player and No. 26 point guard in the class of 2013 by ESPN, Carr's talents will be showcased at Seton Hall University next season.

NBA Comparison:
Aquille Carr can easily be compared to Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson due to their similarities in size and playing style. Robinson who stands at 5'9" is a guard who Carr has obviously modeled himself after. Both players possess explosive end to end speed, quick ball handling, excellent court awareness and exceptional scoring ability. These traits make both players instant spark plugs for their teams as they have the ability take over a game at any given moment.

Conclusion:

No one can deny that Aquille Carr is an exceptional high school basketball player. But, there are still many improvements he needs to make to his game if he wishes to have similar success at both the college and NBA level. Learning to play without the ball, developing a consistent pull-up jump shot, and improving his 1-on-1 defensive ability will be essential elements in this process. If Carr is able to refine these elements of his game, he may be able to have a collegiate and NBA career that mirrors those of Muggsy Bogues, Spud Webb, and Nate Robinson.     

Matt Jones

"His range extends past the stripe and his release is quick. To go with his long range shot, Jones has not only developed his one and two dribble pull-ups, but he has also turned himself into an impressive all-around scorer."

This is how Scout.com describes the exceptional shooter from the class of 2013. With his feet set, Jones can make defenses pay from almost anywhere on the court. Hitting three point shots with extreme efficiency is his forte, but he also has the ability to score off the dribble and make the extra pass when defenders run him off the line.

 

Profile:
Considered by many as best shooter in the class of 2013, Matt Jones is an extremely efficient shooter on the offensive end. Standing at 6'5" with a 6'7" wingspan, Jones has the prototypical build for a shooting guard giving him the ability to shoot over defenders, score in the paint and finish at the rim when necessary. As a junior, he averaged 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game and led Desoto High School to the regional finals of the Texas 5A state tournament. Jones continued to impress on the AAU circuit as he averaged 17.7 points per game and shot 48% from the 3 point line in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. Ranked as the No. 36 overall player and the No. 8 shooting guard in his class by ESPN, Jones will be playing for Duke University next season.     

NBA Comparison:
With improvement to his ball-handling, shot creation, and defense Jones can easily be compared to Ray Allen. Both players are athletic enough to make plays in the open court and at the rim, but their specialty is definitely shooting. Hitting shots from all over the court with a consistent catch and shoot motion is something both of these players do best. With continued hard work, Jones will become one of the elite shooters in college over the next few years and may become a 3-point specialist at the NBA level.

 

Conclusion:
Look for Jones to become an essential part of Coach K's offense next year at Duke. His game should improve tremendously under Coack K's tutelage and his ability to shoot the ball consistently will make him vital part of the offense. Keep an eye out for Matt Jones as he will undoubtedly be one of the best shooters in the college game over the next few years.  

Kasey Hill

"A textbook floor general, who is always in complete command on the court. Hill can get to wherever he wants on the court combining a tight and fluid handle with excellent court vision and feel for the game."

This is just some of the praise Kasey Hill received from Mike Grimala in the ESPN article Kasey Hill: Who do you think you are?. A dynamic point guard with superb passing ability, Hill is one of the most exciting players in the class of 2013.

Profile:
The fact that Kasey Hill is a pure point guard can't be stressed enough.  Standing at 6'1" and weighing 170 lbs., Hill excels in every aspect of his position. Passing, scoring, running the break, facilitating the offense, and creating turnovers on the defensive end are all part of his repertoire. A native of Florida, Hill has brought great success to the basketball program at Montverde Academy. Last year, he led the Eagles to a (22-5) record and to the finals of the National High School Invitational to the tune of 15.4 points and 7.2 assists per game. ESPN ranks Hill as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 9 overall player in the class of 2013. A commit to the University of Florida, he will undoubtedly bring excitement to the Gators program next year. Power forward Chris Walker (No. 10 in the ESPN 100) also joined Hill in signing to Florida.

NBA Comparison:
Touting a high basketball I.Q., a unique understanding of the game, and a pass first mentality Hill draws comparison to all star point guard Rajon Rondo. With electrifying speed and crafty ball handling skills both players can control the pace of the game and slice into the paint for easy layups. Running the break in the open court and creating scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates is where both these athletes excel. More importantly both players have the rare ability to impact the game without scoring, imposing their will with pinpoint passes to teammates in the half court set. All of these elements coupled with Hill's knack for stealing the ball further reinforces his resemblance to Rondo.

 




















Conclusion:
Kasey Hill will be a spark plug for Gators next season. With improvements on the defensive end and the development of a consistent jump shot, Hill could become one of the best point guards in the college game. His impact is immeasurable as he has the potential to lead Florida back to the Final Four.

Andrew Wiggins

"Measuring 6'7" with a 6'11" wingspan and a terrific frame for a prospect his age, Wiggins clearly has ideal physical tools for a NBA wing. He's a fluid and explosive athlete on top of that, capable of getting wherever he wants on the floor with his excellent first step and strong leaping ability."

Jonathon Givony's description on DraftExpress.com only scratches the surface of Wiggins' capabilities as a basketball player at the age of 17. Wiggins size and skill set combine perfectly to make him an exceptional player, and with hard work could propel him to NBA stardom.

Profile:
Standing at 6'7" and weighing in at 205 lbs., Wiggins is the top high school player in the class of 2013. ESPN ranks him as the No. 1 player and small forward in his class, undoubtedly making him the most sought after high school recruit in the nation. Entering his senior season at Huntington St. Joseph's Prep High School in West Virginia, Wiggins is prepared to tear up the competition and show college coaches once more why he is the best player in the nation. As a junior he averaged 25.0 points, 13 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game and led his team to a (24-2) record. Wiggins resume also includes competing on the international level. A native of Canada, he participated in the FIBA U-17 World Championships for the Canadian national team. An experience that propelled his development and helped Wiggins become such a dynamic player.

NBA Comparison:
Wiggins game draws a stark comparison to the play of Rudy Gay, the Memphis Grizzlies star small forward. Possessing terrific size and length at the small forward position, both players are able to significantly impact the game on the offensive and defensive end. Scoring in a variety ways is something both of these players do best. Slashing and finishing at the rim, breaking down defenders 1 on 1, shooting from the perimeter, posting up, and getting to the free throw line are all part of their offensive repertoire. Defensively, their length and athleticism make them bothersome to the opposition as they are able to guard multiple positions, block/alter shots, and rebound effectively.

Conclusion:       
Andrew Wiggins is a complete player with superstar potential at the collegiate and NBA level. With offers from Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State and Syracuse the future looks bright for this young star. Listen up when it becomes time for his college commitment, as his decision could have championship implications for the program he chooses.