This past weekend, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a top 100 HS basketball player of the 2019 class, who's from the Southern California area. He had some good feedback to share of the new recruiting guidelines, players reclassifying and top prospects in his class.
Q: Now that the NCAA has changed the official visit timelines and guidelines, what are your thoughts?
A: "I can see why it changed and how it might be beneficial for players and even the college, but to me, I think the old way of 5 visits your Sr year of HS was good. Like now, some guys are saying, why bother to cut your list to 5 or so colleges. Just keep your top 10 or 15 and take all those free visits. Personally, I don't feel that's manageable to have that many colleges to focus on and honestly, even though there is a list of 10-15, there is really only a top 3, 4, or 5. I think some will take advantage of the system. As far as being able to have an agent and all that of who can and what not, that needs to be more clearly defined. I mean I don't see myself as a one and done type kid right now, but all high level players dream about playing in the NBA. I do think players should be able to skip college and go straight to the NBA draft. Some players are just that good and physically and emotionally ready."
Q: I know you have spent the summer traveling to camps and playing to work on your game, who were some of the players in your class that made an impression on you.
A: Well, being from the West Coast, I didn't have a lot of opportunity to compete against the best of the best until this summer. My eyes got wide open fast. Some of those East Coast guys can ball. I'm not sure a can name all of the guys. I've know Matthew (Hurt), Jaden (McDaniels), Tyrese (Maxey), Nico (Mannion) and Will (Baker) because my team has played those guys in events, but guys like Cole Anthony, Vernon Carey, Armando Bacot, Isaiah Stewart, both dudes from that school in New Jersey and I'm sure I've missed a lot of others. Those guys are at another level. Again, I'm sure I missed a bunch of other guys.
Q: You play a lot with the ball in your hands facilitating the offense, but you're also a very good scorer. Do you see yourself as a PG?
A: "I'm just a lead guard. I feel I'm pretty good at doing whatever is asked of me to do to help my team will and to put my teammates in a position to be successful. I think that traditional role of just being labeled a PG doesn't do justice for all that guys can do. Cole Anthony is a complete stud, who can definitely score and does all those other things well too. Nico Mannion, in my opinion, has the best overall set of lead guard skills. He's the best player I've played against in the last couple of years. He's so fast with he ball off the dribble and he can shoot he ball, but what I think separated him from the other guys is is basketball IQ. He reads the game like 2 plays ahead and he's such a good passer. Funny story about the first time I played against Nico. I looked across the court and saw this red haired, light skinned white boy and thought, this is a player? He looked more like the kid in your Calc or Chemistry class sitting in the front row answer all of the teachers questions. But when the whistled blowed, man did he take me to school. He must of had 30pts. After the game, my coach asked me how I felt. I just said, what happened? And he said, you got tore up by Woody (character from Toy Story). Since than, I've had so much respect for Nico."
Q: Speaking of Nico, he and a lot of other players have reclassifies and gone off to college early. What are your thoughts on reclassification?
A: "I mean, if you are all that academically and can go, then I think if it's what you want to do, then do it. I just don't know. There's so much a guy misses as Sr. I know guys now that are taking extra classes, taking online classes and doing all that stuff to graduate early. It's a lot of work, but it's not really hard to do. I think you will see it more and more until the HS guys are able to go right to the pros. I really don't have a stance on it one way or another. It's all about the player and their individual situations."
Q: You have some big time colleges on your list. What colleges do you follow not necessarily on your list.
A: "Being out here, I follow Arizona, Gonzaga, UCLA, and USC. But nationally I like watching those programs always on TV. Kentucky, Villanova, UNC, Florida and even Duke. I like how Villanova and UNC win with players that stay with the college for 3-4 years. It's fun to see each year how Kentucky and Duke get all of those one and done guys to come together and gel as a team. I'm just a fan of the sport and will watch almost any game that has good players because I can learn from watching them play."
Q: Now that the NCAA has changed the official visit timelines and guidelines, what are your thoughts?
A: "I can see why it changed and how it might be beneficial for players and even the college, but to me, I think the old way of 5 visits your Sr year of HS was good. Like now, some guys are saying, why bother to cut your list to 5 or so colleges. Just keep your top 10 or 15 and take all those free visits. Personally, I don't feel that's manageable to have that many colleges to focus on and honestly, even though there is a list of 10-15, there is really only a top 3, 4, or 5. I think some will take advantage of the system. As far as being able to have an agent and all that of who can and what not, that needs to be more clearly defined. I mean I don't see myself as a one and done type kid right now, but all high level players dream about playing in the NBA. I do think players should be able to skip college and go straight to the NBA draft. Some players are just that good and physically and emotionally ready."
Q: I know you have spent the summer traveling to camps and playing to work on your game, who were some of the players in your class that made an impression on you.
A: Well, being from the West Coast, I didn't have a lot of opportunity to compete against the best of the best until this summer. My eyes got wide open fast. Some of those East Coast guys can ball. I'm not sure a can name all of the guys. I've know Matthew (Hurt), Jaden (McDaniels), Tyrese (Maxey), Nico (Mannion) and Will (Baker) because my team has played those guys in events, but guys like Cole Anthony, Vernon Carey, Armando Bacot, Isaiah Stewart, both dudes from that school in New Jersey and I'm sure I've missed a lot of others. Those guys are at another level. Again, I'm sure I missed a bunch of other guys.
Q: You play a lot with the ball in your hands facilitating the offense, but you're also a very good scorer. Do you see yourself as a PG?
A: "I'm just a lead guard. I feel I'm pretty good at doing whatever is asked of me to do to help my team will and to put my teammates in a position to be successful. I think that traditional role of just being labeled a PG doesn't do justice for all that guys can do. Cole Anthony is a complete stud, who can definitely score and does all those other things well too. Nico Mannion, in my opinion, has the best overall set of lead guard skills. He's the best player I've played against in the last couple of years. He's so fast with he ball off the dribble and he can shoot he ball, but what I think separated him from the other guys is is basketball IQ. He reads the game like 2 plays ahead and he's such a good passer. Funny story about the first time I played against Nico. I looked across the court and saw this red haired, light skinned white boy and thought, this is a player? He looked more like the kid in your Calc or Chemistry class sitting in the front row answer all of the teachers questions. But when the whistled blowed, man did he take me to school. He must of had 30pts. After the game, my coach asked me how I felt. I just said, what happened? And he said, you got tore up by Woody (character from Toy Story). Since than, I've had so much respect for Nico."
Q: Speaking of Nico, he and a lot of other players have reclassifies and gone off to college early. What are your thoughts on reclassification?
A: "I mean, if you are all that academically and can go, then I think if it's what you want to do, then do it. I just don't know. There's so much a guy misses as Sr. I know guys now that are taking extra classes, taking online classes and doing all that stuff to graduate early. It's a lot of work, but it's not really hard to do. I think you will see it more and more until the HS guys are able to go right to the pros. I really don't have a stance on it one way or another. It's all about the player and their individual situations."
Q: You have some big time colleges on your list. What colleges do you follow not necessarily on your list.
A: "Being out here, I follow Arizona, Gonzaga, UCLA, and USC. But nationally I like watching those programs always on TV. Kentucky, Villanova, UNC, Florida and even Duke. I like how Villanova and UNC win with players that stay with the college for 3-4 years. It's fun to see each year how Kentucky and Duke get all of those one and done guys to come together and gel as a team. I'm just a fan of the sport and will watch almost any game that has good players because I can learn from watching them play."
