We continue our look back at the top performers of the spring with the 2013 class. With the July evaluation period quickly approaching, we wanted to point out a few players that have really improved their stock in April and May. There were many other players that could have been listed, but these are the guys that really made an impression on us.
Beachem's Maturation
V.J. Beachem 6’7” SG New Haven- Beachem has been steady all spring long. He has gained a tiny bit of weight (around 10 pounds since the start of the high school season) but needs a lot more. Even that little bit of weight has made him a more consistent finisher at the rim. He also has a nice touch from the outside. Beachem hasn’t attracted the offers that other 2013 wings have in Indiana. He was offered by Purdue last year though. I believe most of the restraint on offers was because of perceived attitude problems. I haven’t seen any signs of a bad attitude this spring though. He has worked hard and hasn’t even complained to officials. It seems like he is maturing both physically and mentally. He could potentially be the best player in the 2013 class if he gets stronger in both of those areas.
Jackson No Longer Under the Radar
Demetrius Jackson 6’1” PG Mishawaka Marian- Jackson has performed well especially in big games at the Spiece Run N Slam and adidas May Classic. Jackson has always been a good athlete with a good body but both areas have improved since last summer. He could finish plays with dunks now instead of lay-ups. His biggest weakness has been his outside shooting. Although streaky, it is becoming a weapon for him now. Jackson still needs to sure up his ball handling and decision making a little bit but most point guards in 2013 do as well.
Turner Continues Steady Play
Zavier Turner 5’9” PG Pike-Turner’s height has always scared me because it seems like he is done growing and is only in the 5’8” or 5’9” range. He is strong and explosive though which gives him a chance to compete against much taller opponents. Turner’s outside shot has been very consistent. He shot it well throughout the high school season and he has continued it through the spring. Turner now has offers from Evansville, Georgia State, Loyola, and St. Louis.
Biggest Surprises
Mike Crawford 6’4” SF Tipton-Crawford was one of the players that I wanted to see more of this spring because I had not seen a lot of him in the past. He performed well against top-level competition in the games that I saw this spring. He is a much better athlete than I first thought. He had a baseline drive in a game where he finished over a defender with a two-handed dunk. I didn’t know he could do that. Crawford’s outside shooting is above average and is deceptive off the dribble. He doesn’t have much college interest right now but he is a solid mid-major prospect.
Mike Schlotman 6’1” PG Munster-Scholtman was the steady, pass-first point guard for a Munster team that went undefeated during the regular season before losing to Kokomo on a D.J. Balentine last second shot in the Semi-State. His athleticism scared me when I first saw him but he has played against some of the best athletes in the country and has kept up with them. I’m not sure he is going to get to the rim very often but he is a good defender and a very consistent spot-up shooter. Schlotman is on the mid-major prospect bubble.
Nick Davidson 6’3” SG Andrean-Davidson is another guy like Scholtman where I wasn’t sure he was a good enough athlete to play mid-major basketball. He has proven that to be incorrect with his play for Meanstreets. Davidson is not a great athlete by any means but he is always getting to the lane against high-level athletes. Defensively, he holds his own against the same great athletes. Davidson is a good outside shooter but gets most of his points in the lane with close-range pull-ups. Davidson is a mid-major/mid-major plus type of prospect.