The class of 2014 is loaded in the state of Indiana. Colleges have already taken notice of the young prospects. Trey Lyles (6’8 PF Indianapolis Tech) and James Blackmon, Jr. (6’2 SG Marion) have already committed to Indiana University. JaQuan Lyle (6’4 G Evansville Bosse) has offers from Indiana and Illinois with strong interest from Purdue and Xavier among others. Indiana has also offered Jaraan Lands (6’5 SF Brownsburg) and Trevon Bluiett (6’5 SF Park Tudor). Tyler Wideman (6’7 PF Lake Central) picked up his first offer while on a visit to Purdue Tuesday according to GoldandBlack.com. Grant Evans (6’2 SG Wapahani) has an offer from Wright State.
Those players will likely continue to receive attention from high-major schools. Who are the next wave of 2014 players to receive college offers from mid-major or higher programs?
1. Sean Sellers 6’5 SF Greensburg
Sellers has had Butler, Indiana, and Purdue at open gyms recently. The versatile wing is currently our 4th best college prospect. He will likely receive some offers before the end of the sumer.
2. Tyler Arens 6’7 PF Marion
Arens had a very good start to his freshman year for Marion before an injury sidelined him for the last few games of the season. Skilled big men will always receive attention from college coaches and Arens is exactly that.
3. P.J. Thompson 5’8 PG Brebeuf
Thompson has interest from lots of high-major schools like Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Xavier, and Virginia Tech but currently has no offers. His height is a concern for high-majors. If he could get to 5’10” or 5’11” then he would be a lock high-major point guard.
4. Perry Poindexter 6’7 PF North Central
Currently, Poindexter’s skill level is not high enough to garner mid-major plus offers. He has a ton of potential though. He is springy for a 6’7” young player and has good feet. He has the potential to develop into an athletic, face-up power forward.
5. Michael Jones 6’4 SG Northwest
Jones is another player with big upside. He’s got great length and is a solid athlete. His shooting form needs work specifically his footwork. Jones has a chance to be really special though.
6. Justin King 6’5 SF Bowman Academy
King has been impressive so far this spring. I didn’t love his game during the high school season but maybe that was because he wasn’t quite ready to play high level varsity. He’s a very good athlete, plays with a good motor, and can knock down open shots. Is he a high-major prospect yet? Probably not, but he should end up as a mid-major prospect or higher.
7. Jeremie Tyler 6’1 SG Indianapolis Tech
Tyler has been supremely consistent from the outside this spring. He is a good athlete but not spectacular. My question is will he grow into being a SG or will he need to become more of a point guard? That question will hold back offers until he does one or the other.
The next six to keep an eye on because of their potential but likely won’t be picking up mid-major plus offers for awhile…
1. Troy Spears 6’3 SF Park Tudor
Always a good athlete, now Spears is starting to improve his skill set dramatically. He is likely done growing so he will need to develop into a guard more than a forward. He is extremely tough and plays with a high motor.
2. Bryant McIntosh 6’2 CG New Castle
McIntosh shows flashes of what he might develop into, but the consistency hasn’t been there yet. He doesn’t quite handle pressure well enough to be a point guard. Although he is a good mid-range shooter, he has not been consistent from the outside thus far in his career.
3. Collin Barthel 6’6 PF Cathedral
Barthel is another player that shows flashes of being really good. The consistency isn’t there yet though. He moves well and is a pretty good athlete that is always crashing the boards. He needs to develop his face-up game before he will get any offers though.
4. Nate Ritchie 6’6 SF Northridge
A new prospect to me…Ritchie impressed me at the Spiece Run N Slam. He’s at least a true 6’5 and maybe 6’6. He runs the floor really well and is active overall. Outside shooting is his strength but he will need to be more than just a shooter to get early offers.
5. Adam Kroot 6’3 SF Brebeuf
Kroot is similar to Ritchie, but can do more off the dribble at this point. Kroot’s strength is definitely his outside shooting but can shoot off the dribble as well. He’s also an above average athlete in terms of quickness.
6. Brad Hunt 6’8 C Jennings County
Hunt is a kid that is all potential. He runs well, has good footwork, and pretty good hands. His fundamental base is also very solid. If he can add strength and develop his skill set, he could be a mid-major prospect.