NCISAA Live Period Standouts : Part II
The June live period for high school programs is always a good way to see guys at a different view with their high school team after seeing them for much of the spring with their travel team. It's a good evaluation pre-cursor to see how they play in a different setting with different teammates. Let's take a look at some of the action from the three-day event from this past weekend at Greensboro Day.
Austin Swartz, Cannon School - This guy has been killing it this spring and into the summer. With Boo Williams, on the Nike EYBL circuit, he finished third in scoring for the entire EYBL. His offers have piled on and piled on over the past few months and he is rising up recruiting industry rankings. This past weekend at Greensboro Day, Swartz was playing in front of high-major school after high-major school. I ran into Florida State assistant Steve Smith and he told me that at this same event last year, he was the only high-major coach at Swartz games', now he is battling the likes of UConn, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, NC State, Miami, Clemson, Georgetown and Notre Dame who were all front and center for Swartz's games. The 6-foot-4 guard is on a visit to Tennessee this weekend.
Isaiah Henry, Cannon School - The younger brother of Clemson football standout KJ Henry was impressive with his size and physicality over the weekend for Cannon School. In a win over Asheville Christian Academy, Henry and Swartz combined for 50 points in an overtime win. Henry is a guy that can get baskets in a variety of ways and can bang around in the paint when need be. The class of 2025 prospect is making his way around the recruiting world as a guy that is a top-75 player in the nation. He plays hard, knows what he can do on the floor and he helps his team win.
Keenan Wilkins, Christ School - The time has finally came for Wilkins, the 6-foot guard picked up offers from Jacksonville, Lees-McRae and McNeese State recently. He is a winner and has been on the winning side of most of his basketball games since he entered the high school ranks. His scoring is something that has been impressive. He has done it against the best of the best and he just understands how to do it at a high-level. He is a lot of fun to watch and the knows where to put the ball in his teammates hands. He is going to be the guy again this year at Christ School and with himself, Bryson Cokley, Jamari Briggs and new addition Zymicah Wilkins, the Greenies have a good shot at repeating.
Jaylen Cross - The class of 2025 guard had Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans in attendance at his game over the weekend at Greensboro Day. He is a guy that is going to stuff the state sheet, he has the size to grab a lot of rebounds and he has a great sense of court-awareness. One aspect that sets Cross apart is his versatility. He possesses excellent ball-handling skills, allowing him to create his own shot off the dribble and effectively initiate the offense when needed. This versatility also translates to his defensive prowess, as he can guard multiple positions and disrupt opponents with his length and quickness.
Cameron Newman, Gaston Christian - Newman's court vision and ability to make quick decisions are what stands out first for me when I saw him play this past weekend. His passing skills have become more precise and creative, allowing him to set up his teammates for scoring opportunities. He is coached at Gaston Christian now by Chris Duhon, who had a successful college and NBA career, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table.
J3, probably the coolest name we have heard this year has the game to match. He has the size and the skillset to play at the next level. He can make the mid-range shot and has the upper-body to get baskets around the paint and the rim. He is a good rebounder for his size and position. Swindell is a guy that can make an impact on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions with his size and physicality.
We have had the chance to see Xavier Johnson on our HoopSeen stage for the travel season side and it was good to see him at his high school, Fayetteville Academy. Johnson is a guy that can score from all spots on the floor. He has some length and can throw down some monster dunks. He is one of those explosive athletes that can attack the rim with aggression. He can knock down shots from the perimeter and from beyond the three-point line. Stephen Mims does a great job with both programs, Fayetteville Academy and Team Wall with getting his guys to play their way, "The Wall Way" and win.
