BOTS Saturday Notebook: Duncan Demuth starts his story
A full day of action hit the hardwood at the Suwanee Sports Academy as the Best of the South once again brought in truckloads of college coaches to see what would transpire. It was matchups between some of the best sponsored and non-shoe sponsored programs where each went head-to-toe in dynamic outings but no one intrigued more than Duncan DeMuth.
DEMUTH BEGINS HIS STORY
A relative unknown out of the west coast of Florida, expect that to change in a matter of days for Duncan DeMuth. Standing over 6-foot-8 in shoes, the class of 2018 forward is one of the better play makers that you’re going to find on the east coast for his size and position on the floor.
Sporting an unbelievable feel for the game along with precise passing skills within the early offense and in the half-court setting, the rising junior simply makes others better without turning the ball over much. While he didn’t show off much of a jumper throughout the day that was in Suwanee, the product of the SEBA Select program more than displayed his upside and value at the next level.
Watched heavily throughout the day by coaches from Georgia, South Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, and Florida State, Demuth went to work with an array of passes. Whether it was the open floor, 40-foot baseball throw, drive and kicks from off of the hard dribble to the basket, or entry feeds from out top, there isn’t a better way to describe the Sunshine State native than as intriguing.
Things are just beginning to speed up for DeMuth, a prospect that is relatively unknown outside of his area. “I have four offers right now,” he said. “South Florida, Wyoming, Western Carolina, and James Madison.”
Sporting quality grades in the classroom, a mature demeanor to him on and off the floor, and a solid feel for his surroundings, DeMuth has a good idea of what he might want for in college. “I just want to have a good experience and for it to be a good basketball program,” he told HoopSeen.
The St. Petersburg native should have his fair share of looks in the coming months and expect for a potential top-100 ranking to be placed on the productive and versatile forward the next time the 2018 HoopSeen Rankings are updated.
JORDAN WALKER TAKES THE SHOW ON THE ROAD
Playing on an absolutely loaded high school team at St. Patrick’s in New Jersey, Jordan Walker sometimes doesn’t get all of the dues and praise that he rightfully deserves. A bevy of older guards are in front of him along with five-star big man Nick Richards down low. It was a pleasant surprise for everyone in attendance that got the chance to see the Jersey native on Saturday as Walker took his talents to the Peach State getting a run in with the Southern Stampede crew.
A bit on the smaller side, what Walker lacks for in size, the 5-foot-10 guard more than makes up for things with his competitive edge, speed, and two-way contributing abilities. He didn’t shoot it a whole lot but what the rising junior did do for the Nike sponsored team was run his bunch like he had been with them since day one, provide killer on-ball defensive pressure, and scored it at the rack when needed.
Five-star guard Collin Sexton sat on the sideline finally getting the rest that he deserves after a brutally arduous stretch of weeks for the Pebblebrook High star but it was Walker that brought the noise to court four at the Suwanee Sports Academy. Not known by many throughout the south, that could all change in the weeks ahead. “I’m not sure yet but I might be moving down to South Carolina for school,” Walker said. “We will see. I could still go back to St. Pat’s and prep a year but my parents are definitely moving down here.”
Expect for an even broader recruitment for Walker, the sparkplug that he is, as such others as Rhode Island, Robert Morris, along with a bevy of MAAC and A10 programs have already been in pursuit where the 5-foot-10 dynamo looks to be someone that should be on every mid-major programs recruiting boards on the east coast and beyond.
McDonough, GA
JAVON GREENE GOES TO WORK
The talk of the first few days at the Best of the South surrounding the Atlanta All-Stars unit has been based around the likes of sharpshooter Colby Leifson and big man Evan Cole. However, it was Javon Greene that had a major say for what would transpire during his quarterfinal contest on Saturday evening.
Bringing good size onto the perimeter, the lefty guard is a table setter of sorts. Nothing about him is outwardly sexy as he is more about making the right plays and at the right time. The southpaw has a solid mid-range game off of the pull-up but can slither his way through the defense en route to the crafty finish at the basket or on the dribble-drive dump off near the lane.
A quality student off of the floor with a solid composure and feel for the game, the 6-foot-1 play maker went for a solid and efficient 27 points to end the evening. It was his pace, demeanor, play making skills, and ball security that aided in the win for his All-Stars crew as he used the platform that he was given to only further his recruitment.
On the college front, things are still a bit dry but that all should change in the coming days. “I have three offers right now from Coastal Carolina, Western Carolina, and George Mason,” he told HoopSeen. The Mason offer recently came last week and it is a school that was thoroughly watching on Saturday as it looks like the A10 program is in a good spot for the dependable senior. “I will probably take an official visit in September,” Greene stated. “I like them a lot. They’re in the Atlantic 10 Conference and I like their coaches.”
Expect more offers to come in but for George Mason to continue to battle in grabbing ahold of one of the more underrated yet sturdy lead guards that the Peach State has to offer out of the 2017 class.
OTHERS OF NOTE
Trent Frazier just keeps doing it. The 6-foot guard out of the Sunshine State has fit in nicely with the Florida Elite bunch this week as the lefty has become a much better play maker with the basketball in his hands, a more dependable shooter from deep, yet has remained consistent with his dog-like approach and energy exertions on the floor.
Kane Williams picked up an offer from Georgia State to end the evening as the attention for the 6-foot-3 guard is beginning to ramp up. Excellent with the basketball in his hands, the lefty has become a much better shooter of the basketball but it is his pace and willingness to compete on each possession that makes the Peach State native a consistent contributor and someone that should become a priority for those throughout the southeast.
Caleb Hollander deserves his dues here for the WACG Team Corey Brewer squad due to his play these past few days. Much slimmer since the last time we saw him a year ago, the 6-foot-7 forward is more of a face-up 4-man that brings loads of toughness and solid instincts to the glass along with a quality catch and shoot jumper from downtown.
CROWD WATCHING
Again, the sidelines were packed at the Best of the South as we spotted head coaches from UNC Greensboro, Georgia State, Belmont, Lipscomb, UNC Wilmington, FAU, Georgia, Duquesne, Wofford, Furman, along with assistants from FIU, Youngstown State, Auburn, Illinois, Florida State, South Carolina, Western Carolina, East Carolina, Austin Peay, Western Kentucky, Rhode Island, La Salle, South Florida, Presbyterian, Georgia Tech, UTC, and Wright State, among others.
