Skip to main content

The Robins: These 5 supporting prospects could develop into STARS

Sam Walters
10, Nov 2022

The Robins: These 5 supporting prospects could develop into STARS

The five players are not the top-ranked incoming guy to their future college. They’re not the Batman, at least on paper. That’s totally fine. But understand this - they have a chance to develop into a real stud for their school and even beyond. Meet The Robins. 
 

Sam Walters

The Villages, FL

Class
2023
|
Position
PF
|
Height
6' 9"
|
School Team
National
59
National Pos. Rank
13
State
9
State Pos. Rank
2


The headliner here is Mouhamed Dioubate on all of the rankings lists. But let’s not bury the value of a guy like Sam Walters here. For starters, he’s a shooter with major size. Take a look at the specialists on the wing at the pro level. Walters has a checklist very similar to them. See Cameron Johnson, Jon Leuer, Kyle Korver, Ryan Anderson, etc. 

Every time I see Walters play, I quietly think he could be a guy that justifies a five-star, top 30 ranking in the class because of what he could be. Walters has a feathery touch on the wing, and length that allows him to attack the rim with just a couple of dribbles and despite his thin frame, he can finish at the rim at this level. NBA scouts know what he is now and what he can become. Smart coaches like Nate Oats and his staff evaluated this one very well and have one of my favorite Robins in the class of 2023 nationally. 

 

Jacob McFarland

Moreno Valley, CA

Class
2023
|
Position
C
|
Height
6' 10"
|
School Team
National
79
National Pos. Rank
5
State
13
State Pos. Rank
2


Man, I love this fit. And I love the player that McFarland can become under the tutelage of the Cougar coaching staff. McFarland is a late-bloomer that deserved a place like Houston. He didn’t get caught in the hype tidal wave like so many other big men in this class have been swept up in. I’d take McFarland over the likes of so many other 6-foot-10 or taller big men that dot national top 100 lists. I think the California native is just starting his upward trajectory and could be one of the best long-term players in the country. 
 

Coen Carr

Greenville, SC

Class
2023
|
Position
SF
|
Height
6' 6"
|
School Team
National
63
National Pos. Rank
12
State
3
State Pos. Rank
2


Okay, sure, yes, fine, whatever. Xavier Booker is the headliner for the Spartans. No doubt about that. I get that. I support it. But, what if Carr turns out as the fan favorite? What if the Georgia native’s athleticism makes believers throughout the Big Ten? What if he just bends rims like Brandon Dawson and Jason Richardson did when they played for Tom Izzo? All of these questions have very strong possibilities of having an emphatic ‘yes’ behind them. Carr is a heck of a player and a heck of a guy to watch develop into a potential first-round draft pick. 
 

Silas Demary

Charlotte, NC

Class
2023
|
Position
CG
|
Height
6' 4"
|
School Team
National
74
National Pos. Rank
9
State
1
State Pos. Rank
1


The men of Troy, hoops edition, are constantly in the top end of recruiting conversations these days. USC is recruiting nationally and landing some big-timers year after year. The Trojans went to Marietta, Georgia to land the next talented big man in Arrinten Page (No. 73 nationally on HoopSeen). But I do have to wonder if Demary may be the more valuable player in time. The North Carolina wing is just inside our top 100 national rankings at No. 93 overall. That’s a fine spot. Our NC expert Justin Byerly told me “Demary is going to thrive in the Enfield system. With his size and his appetite for winning, he can be an All-Conference guy.” High praise, for sure. 
 

Jelani Hamilton

Powder Springs, GA

Class
2023
|
Position
CG
|
Height
6' 4"
|
School Team
National
138
National Pos. Rank
11
State
10
State Pos. Rank
3


We’ve talked about just how historic this Iowa State class is quite a bit. When you have a class that is good, the conversations are justified. Yes, Omaha Billew is that dude. Yes, Milan Momcilovic is an important instant-impact addition. But, let's not lose sight of the fact that Hamilton is good enough to be an important starter for the Cyclones. He’s a big wing with big scoring capabilities. He’ll thrive on defense, too. Hamilton reminds me of a poor man’s version of former Nebraska guard Bryce McGowens. 


Justin Young
Editor-in-Chief

Justin Young has been the editor-in-chief of HoopSeen.com since 2013. He manages the day-to-day operations on the site and in conjunction with our national and regional events. He was the national basketball editor for Rivals.com and a contributing editor at Yahoo! Sports. Young has been earned numerous awards for his work in sports journalism, including the Georgia Press Association Columnist of the Year. His Justin Young Basketball recruiting service has been in existence since 2002 and worked with over 300 schools from all levels. He is the director of HoopSeen Elite Preview camps and our national Preview camp series.