Aaron Gordon

“He's got a very good frame that should make him a strong player in college and is a terrific athlete who competes every possession.”

That’s how Scout.com describes Aaron Gordon. An exceptional athlete in the class of 2013, Gordon is one of the most exciting high school players in the nation that is fueled and ready to have a huge senior season.

Profile:

Hailing from San Jose, California, Gordon has been a dominant force for Archbishop Mitty High School. Standing at 6’8” and weighing about 210 lbs., Gordon has been asked to play both the forward and center position during his high school career. Despite his position, Gordon has the unique ability to defend every position on the floor, from point guard to center. In his three years at Archbishop Mitty, he has led his team to an (84-15) record, with only 5 losses in the past two years. During his sophomore year, Gordon averaged 16.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game and lead his his team to the California Division II state championship. He also had the prestigious opportunity to play for the USA U16 national team. While playing for the USA U16 national team Gordon led the team to a 5-0 record, averaging 17.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, and 4.6 assists per game. He is currently the No. 7 ranked player in the class of 2013 by ESPN, and the No. 2 ranked power forward. 

NBA Comparison:

Right off the bat, Aaron Gordon draws rave comparison to the Los Angeles Clippers star power forward Blake Griffin. Both Gordon and Griffin play above the rim, playing the game with power and aggression. Having the ability to get over their defenders to finish with strong dunks and layups makes it extremely difficult for opposing players to guard them in the paint. Both players also do a great job of hustling, getting loose balls, and protecting the rim on the defensive end. Gordon has the potential to become a star power forward in college and the NBA as long as he continues to improve his perimeter game and uses his length, power, and athleticism to his advantage.

  

Conclusion:

Aaron Gordon is a freakish athlete, and one of those names that you will undoubtedly be hearing in the next few years. He has already shown that he can dominant games in a variety of different ways, whether it be by scoring, rebounding, or blocking shots. He has a wide skill set coupled with amazing athleticism for such a young player.

Looking ahead, Gordon is currently considering playing basketball for Oregon, Kansas, Arizona, California, Washington, or Kentucky next year. Keep an ear out for his college decision, as he his one of the most coveted recruits of 2013.

Katin Reinhardt

"Reinhardt has effortless NBA range, a lightning quick release, excellent fundamentals, and the ability to hit shots in a variety of situations."

Joe Treutlein's description of Katin Reinhardt couldn't be more accurate in his article on DraftExpress.com. A highly touted recruit from the class of 2012, Reinhardt is an exciting freshman guard to watch for at UNLV this college basketball season.

 

Profile:
A native of Dana Point, California, Reinhardt attended Mater Dei High School. This 6'5",  190 lb. guard can play both the point and shooting guard positions effectively. During his career at Mater Dei, Reinhardt led his team to back to back state championships his junior and senior year, posting records of (32-3) and (34-2). As a senior he averaged 21.0 points, 3.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.  Mater Dei only lost a total of 7 times and won at least 30 games each season during Reinhardt's four year career. He was ranked No. 47 out of the top 100 high school players in the nation by ESPN and the No. 8 shooting guard in the nation by Scout.com. UNLV head coach Dave Rice was happy to welcome both Reinhardt and Anthony Bennett (No.7 in the ESPN top 100) to the Runnin' Rebels squad this year.

NBA Comparison:
As he continues to develop Katin Reinhardt can be compared to Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams. Both Reinhardt and Williams exhibit exceptional passing, ball handling, and scoring ability. Scoring with runners, floaters, and accurate outside shooting coupled with effectively facilitating the offense is what makes both of these guards so special. An added bonus for the teams they play for is their solid awareness and fundamentals on the defensive end. With a similar size and skill set to Williams, Reinhardt has the potential to become one of the top point guards in college over the next four years.

Conclusion:

Remember the name Katin Reinhardt as you will undoubtedly hear his name during the college basketball season. The freshman guard has already made an immediate impact on the floor for UNLV. Check out the link below for full details on his game-winning play in UNLV's exhibition game against Carleton University.
 

Katin Reinhardt steps up in his debut, leading UNLV to a 74-70 victory at Carleton

Gabe York

"An exceptional scorer with unlimited range. A spectacular leaper who brings excitement to the court. Plays well in transition with a strong pull-up jumper."

The quote above is how the University of Arizona described their freshman point guard who will begin his college career on November 11th, 2012 as the Wildcats will be facing Charleston Southern in their home season opener. Check out this explosive guard in the video below:

Profile: 
Gabe York came out of a competitive 2012 high school class. Hailing from Orange, California, this 6'2" guard was one of the top players in the state and the nation. York attended Orange Lutheran High School and was a four year varsity starter that scored over 2,000 points. During his senior year York averaged 24.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He was ranked No. 65 in the top 100 high school players in his class by ESPN, and was ranked the No. 11 shooting guard in the nation by Rivals.com. Gabe York joined other top 100 high school recruits Kaleb Tarczewski (No. 4), Grant Jerrett (No. 9), and Brandon Ashley (No. 16) in committing to Arizona.
 
NBA Comparison:
Gabe York's skill set is similar to that of NBA player Monta Ellis. Ellis (a 6'3" guard of similar size) is entering his 7th year in the NBA. He currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks and previously played for the Golden State Warriors. Both Ellis and York are explosive guards with outstanding shooting ability. Each player has the capability to push the pace, finish at the rim, and shoot the ball from anywhere on the court with ease. Also, both guards play styles are geared towards scoring rather than facilitating the offense.

 

Conclusion: 

York will have to learn to be more of a facilitator at Arizona. He will be asked play the point guard position because he will be undersized as a shooting guard at the college level. I am more than confident he will make this transition as he becomes more acclimated to the college game. Keep an eye out for Gabe York at Arizona over the next few years as he will undeniable leave his mark on the Wildcats program.