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.