Louis Bleechmore, 2020: The longest tenured Knight, Bleechmore possesses an arsenal of moves on the drive.
With his knack for finishing above the rim and finishing in authoritative fashion, the Australia native has bolstered his stock these past two seasons.
Working alongside player development director Sullivan Brown throughout the summer, the 6-foot-6 195-pound Bleechmore has incorporated more of a wing's skill-set.
He's always had a fluid jumper and is now firing in from beyond the arc more than ever. With the all around game and dazzling athleticism and stronger build, anticipate the battle-tested post-grad to inherit some of the leadership mantle this season.
Deadly when he slashes from the baseline and levitates above the rim for a one handed dunk, Bleechmore's patented move surfaced during a recent 23-point, five rebound performance during a scrimmage at Mount St. Mary's elite camp in nearby Emmitsburg, Md.
He's earned offers from Tennessee State and Bryant. Programs such as South Alabama, Yale, Fairfield, Mount St. Mary's and a barrage of others appear to be knocking on the door.
Bleechmore devoted the last two summers to refining all elements of his game while at Scotland, working on aspects such as agility and power and strength. There is no surprise his game has evolved like it has right now-- You reap what you sow.
Johannes Kirsipuu, 2021: As the Estonian guard proved multiple times last season, he can break open a game with his shooting.
Known for hitting 3-pointers in succession and also engineering scoring spurts with his ability to stick deep 3-pointers, the junior has become more adept at attacking and pulling off crafty moves to create space around the rim.
He's driving harder, beating defenders in the one on one game.
This season, the 17-year-old Kirsipuu will adapt as more of a facilitator and make that pinpoint pass while executing the high-low game. He's currently developing his left hand as effectively as he has his right.
Part of his transformation has involved getting better on the defensive end. He's become more of an on-ball threat with active, oft-swiping hands.
Refining this component of his game is a necessity now that he will be a two-way leader for new high school coach Dave Gobrogge, who preaches wall to wall pressure and ensures all of his offensive options are defenders first.
Naysean Baisy, 2020: The Seattle native does a tremendous job finding his mid-range game (a seemingly lost art with today's dependency on the 3-point shot) and gaining good elevation for his shot release. At 6-foot-2 and fueled by length and athleticism, Baisy has displayed a knack for getting into the teeth of the defense and scoring.
He's multi-positional on both sides of the ball and has displayed grit as an on-ball defender who can pickpocket guards and instigate turnovers and quickly convert them into transition finishes.
Jaeden Zackery, 2020
Another sleeper, Zackery has a deadly mid-range game that mirrors his monstrous motor. He's shown an adeptness in the transition game, making timely passes and finishing with either hand.
A well-built guard at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, the Wisconsin native has a real engine with his ability to score via pull-up jumpers, the 3-pointer, and knife his way into traffic and finish.
After shooting it at a scalding 64 percent clip while averaging 21.5 PPG and shouldering the creator role with 5 assists per game his senior year at Westosha Central (Wisconsin), expect the combination guard to again display both concepts on a day to day basis. Has the potential to play Division-I basketball and also appeals to programs on the high academic market, boasting a 3.5 GPA and impressive scores. With his pull up game and how quickly he gets his shot off on the fly, JZ has the high-scoring acumen and the intangibles and the hard-edged style to constantly win the plus/minus component of the stat sheet anytime he's on the floor.
Noble Crawford, 2020: Coming in from a nationally prominent West Oaks (FL) program, Crawford will easily adapt to the high level competition and exposure-heavy tournaments which begins with the Prep National Showcase in Connecticut. With his electrifying above the rim game and elite level finishing ability, Crawford brings unparalleled athleticism. His ability to finish in authoritative fashion and motor have been noteworthy factors of his game, as he's got the overall tool-set of a Mid-Major+.
Beyond his freakish athletic talent, Crawford has a guard's skill set and has shown a knack for putting the ball on the deck and creating his own shot. He's active with his forays to the rim and has shown innate abilities with his one-on-one game. He's steadily improved with his pull-up jumper and outside shot. With his length and ability to guard multiple positions, Crawford has the potential to be one of the program's biggest stock risers. Currently, he's under the radar and just waiting to be discovered at the opportune time.
Abou Ousmane, 2020: The Brooklyn native is an old school four-man in his ability to play with his back to the rim and score in the post. Ousmane, who spent the past season playing alongside Tyson Etienne (Wichita State) and national heavy hitter Putnam Science, brings an immediate presence in the trenches. He's got the imposing build at 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds.
He's got a soft touch and a style similar to a 1990s NBA Center with his ability to score inside and gobble up rebounds. Since de-committing from Cleveland State following the firing of Dennis Felton, Ousmane has heard from Rutgers, St. John's, Georgetown, and Charlotte. Anticipate Ousmane to help fill some of the void left by the program's all-time leading scorer in 6-foot-9 Karim Coulibaly (now at Pittsburgh) with his post moves and refined back to the rim game.
Mohamed Wague, 2020: The transfer via FDA in Manhattan already registered his presence as one of the top shot-blocking, rim protecting 6-foot-9 bigs in the city. His presence as an athletic big who can hit the 12-15 footer with consistency allowed him to garner Division-I offers from the likes of St. Francis N.Y., Fordham, Niagara, Alabama A& M and others.
Since stepping foot on Scotland Campus he picked up an offer from UMass, as assistant coach Tony Bergeron learned of his motor and versatility through SCS head coach Chris Chaney. All the way from Mali, Africa, Wague is a high academic prospect.
Wague's upside is tremendous, given his length and ability to put the ball on the floor and score it via the outside shot. He's shown an adeptness at scoring around the rim and has opened eyes with his motor. Similar to Class of 2019 forward Chris Maidoh (now at Fairfield), Wague could emerge into a real stock riser during the second half of the season.
Jayson Woodrich, 2020: At 6-foot-6 and possessing a smooth stroke from beyond the arc, Woodrich brings another kickout shooter who has the ability to score it off the dribble and around the rim. Already generating interest on the mid major market, Woodrich has a surefire confidence to his game and a knack for piling up points in a hurry. He averaged 29 PPG as a high school senior at Beachwood (Oh.), where he was a first team All-State selection.
He's become more adept at soaring in for stickbacks, scoring via the pull-up and mid-range. He was able to manufacture a lot of points at the free throw line while at Beachwood. If he can bring the same killer instinct in prestigious tournaments and exposure-heavy games, expect him to ascend the ladder on the Div.1 recruiting market during his post-grad season.
Norance Berry, 2020: The 6-foot-3 combination guard has offers from Tennessee, Auburn, West Virginia, Tulsa, Cal, LIU-Brooklyn, Toledo, and a bevy of others. The defensive catalyst has a knack for negating high scorers and creating all sorts of on-ball disruption.
Offensively, he brings knockdown shooting and a beyond his years playmaking skill-set. He averaged 15 points and seven boards at The Christ School in North Carolina. Playing for BMaze Elite on the Under Armour circuit, Berry helped the program to the UA Finals, where he averaged 15 points and nine boards before a horde of high major coaches.
Dee Merriweather, 2020: The 6-foot guard is a high level 3-point shooter and has shown considerable range on his shot. He's got the ability to spread the floor out and spark runs with his catch-and-stick game. With his purity of vision and ability to create plays, he's got the skill set and intangibles to attract high majors. He is currently hearing from New Mexico, Ole Miss, Penn State, College of Charleston and others.
Playing for Memphis East, Merriweather averaged 13 points and five assists for a team that earned a berth in the TSA championship. Playing alongside James Wiseman and Malcom Dandrige, both of whom are now at Memphis under Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, Merriwether initated the offense and hit timely 3-pointers. He won three state championships during his stay at Memphis East, all three of which were under Hardaway.
Ron Davis III, 2020: The Knoxville, TN. native brings a level of defensive energy as another on-ball pest who can routinely keep high scorers at bay. He's the classic depiction of a high octane guard who can ramp up the tempo and adjust to the changing of speeds.
He averaged 16 points and three steals for Fulton (TN), which won often while playing in the uber competitive Tennessee 2A. Davis earned three All-State nods during his career.
Tony Cheng, 2022: At 6-foot-8 and with an imposing frame, Cheng has the potential to be a massive interior presence down the stretch. He's developed a skill set since learning the basic niceties of the big man position and has the ingredients to be a face-up scorer.
He's still learning and improving on a day to day basis. With his ability to get rebounds and also fly in for stick-backs, he's got the chance to be a supplementary scorer and eventually a guy who can score with his back to the bucket and above the rim. The strides he's made, since he arrived at the doorstep extremely raw, are noteworthy and indicative of the China native's upside.
Jed Nicol-Darmody, 2020: One year after being a role player on head coach Blake Kingsley's USA Prep National championship high school team, Darmody is flushed into a more prominent role this season. He provided a spark off the bench last year, hitting outside shots and proving he could fight for offensive rebounds and supply hustle points.
Expect him to play more quality minutes and shoulder a bigger role this season, as he'll have a hand in all elements of the game with his improved passing arsenal and status as a dependable knockdown man.
Khayden Stewart: 2020: The 6-foot Canadian point guard progressively improved throughout the course of last season. While he registered his imprint during a 15-point performance at the Mercersburg tournament and proved he can stick outside shots while initiating action in transition, defense was truly his calling card.
Supplying hard, in-your-jersey defense and bottling up on high scoring threats, Stewart was instrumental in neutralizing high scorers and holding opponents and whoever he was tasked with guarding well below their scoring average. With his sneaky bounce and ability to change speeds and shiftiness, Stewart went from underrated to somebody very quickly last season.
Gerald Jarmon, 2020: The 6-foot guard had himself quite a summer, averaging 21.4 points during the GYM RATS tournament in New York. Leaning on an arsenal of scoring tools--a transition 3-pointer, floater, stepback, and reliable left hand--Jarmon is one of the program's most experienced, proven, natural scorers.
He's gotten stronger and has the build of a cornerback with his quickness and ability to fight through screens and apply his physicality to the game. Jarmon is the ultimate run-sparker as a scorer. Anytime the team was groping for offense last year, Jarmon was the likely source to quell the drought. Whether by sticking a 3-pointer or surging his way to the rim fearlessly and taking initiative to spark the offense, he brought a level of maturity and know-how that his teammates fed off of.
Solomon Ball, 2022:
Don't let those skinny arms fool you. The 5-foot-9 guard from Virginia is a tremendous shot-maker and a crafty left-handed scorer and facilitator who understands how to make those around him better. He's got the well above average IQ to his game, an aspect transferable to his coachability and the leadership he'll assume as a sophomore under Scotland Campus HS coach Dave Gobrogge.
Ball's mid-range game and work ethic and ability to hit scorers in stride and create the high low attack have all solidified his status as a promising young player in workouts. If he can continue to improve and pack muscle onto his spindly frame while undergoing a growth spurt, he's got the potential to be a very special player.
Stanley Poliniere, 2020:
All the way from Paris, France, the hard attacking point guard has an innate facilitating ability. He's developed a real adept feel for the drive-and-kick game, where he can lure in defenders with his forays to the basket and dish it to an astonishingly open teammate.
Poliniere's strength and college-ready body are factors that will give him appeal on the Division-I market. He's adapted as more of a shooter and has added a reliable outside shot and transition 3-pointer to his arsenal. His off the dribble dishing and ability to hit cutters in traffic are notable factors of his game, which is predicated on initiating offense as a creator first.
Jake Hyman, 2021: The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter brings a deft, powerful outside touch and an ability to spread the floor. A transfer via Massanutten (VA), the Australia native has entered pre-season in noteworthy shape. An active scorer in scrimmages and a guy who continues to develop his ball handling and playmaking, Hyman should play a vital role for head coach Dave Gobrogge on a vastly improved SCS high school team this year.
A high academic prospect, Hyman currently boasts a 3.4 GPA. He's got the build and sneaky athleticism to be a dependable on-ball defender and critical two-way player.
Ilija Kovacevic, 2020: The 6-foot-3 off guard has the ability to spread the floor with his long range 3-point shooting, an attribute he's displayed consistently throughout pre-season workouts and competitive in-house scrimmages. With his range and ability to knock down the corner trey with consistency, the high-wired Serbian has the potential to be a true marksman this season. He shot 4-for-5 from downtown during a recent scrimmage, showing no hesitation in pulling it from deep and hitting amid amplified close outs. While he's still adapting to the American game, a few tweaks here and there and adjusting to the pace and style of play here will ready him for the rigors of college basketball.
Kedrick Stockman, 2020: The sneaky athletic 6-foot guard has the chance to be a very special on-ball defender and is constantly playing at a full throttle pace. With his oft-attacking mentality, he's established himself as a high-octane guard who can impact the game as a three-level scorer. He's increased his outside shooting and has a balanced overall offensive game. Expect the American by way of Japan to generate interest and offers as he registers his presence throughout the year. Hitting timely shots, taking advantage of the opportunities to score, and also delivering the right pass, Stockman may be one of the bigger sleepers in the program.
Aaron Williams, 2020: The 6-foot-2 from Melbourne, Australia has steadily adapted to the American game. Still raw and having never really been coached, he's become a true sponge learning new concepts. With his ability to shoot the ball from outside and his quickness in the transition game, he could develop very rapidly during his first year in the United States. His IQ, ability to make the right reads, and create pump promise into his stock as he continues to play at the ultra-competitive prep level. Boasts a 3.7 GPA. With his work ethic and desire to improve with the day to day work, he hass come in and made an instant impact as a role player. His mental toughness has been a major selling point thus far.
Brendan Kelly, 2020: The 5-foot-9 point guard has a grittiness and a swagger to his game, aspects which enable him to play bigger and older than he is. The New Jersey native has a smooth touch from beyond the arc and can also hit transition treys and pull-up jumpers at an efficient clip. A heady passer and quick-witted playmaker, Kelly has the opportunity to really broaden his scholarship opportunities while playing a slapdash, back to back filled prep schedule rife with top-shelf competition.
His energy on both sides of the ball have opened eyes thus far. With his work ethic and his ability to score and kick in assists, he's another unsung and lesser known guy who can really enhance his profile this season.
Dubar, who brings a guard's skill set and defensive versatility, has offers from Auburn, Southern Miss, Notre Dame, and a handful of others.
West Virginia has also expressed interest in the Charlotte native, who has shown he can adapt to the changing of speeds and be a powerful open court finisher.
Chaz Owens, 2020: The 6-foot-6 forward is powerfully built, with a college ready body and above the rim game.
He's developed an adeptness for putting it on the floor and scoring with either hand effectively. He's got a presence on the glass and brings interior toughness. Owens has the upside to become a high efficiency and one dribble, attack the rim threat at the next level.
Jack Ramsey, 2020: The well built 6-foot-5 left handed guard/forward has a fluid jumper and an ability to finish above the rim with consistency. With his strength and sneaky bounce, he's got a tendency to snatch boards over taller bigs in the trenches.
A Colorado native, Ramsey possesses a 4.2 GPA. He's got the potential to eventually become a high impact player at a high academic Division-III or Division-II program.
Caleb White, 2020: The 6-foot-7 behemoth has a superior physical build and monstrous above the rim finishing ability. This quality made the New Orleans native and commanding interior presence an enticing pick up for Richie Riley and South Alabama, the program he committed to after his junior season.
A high efficiency scorer with a growing back to the rim arsenal and explosive athleticism, White has tremendous upside as he continues to develop in the skill compartments.
He's cognizant of the physical advantages he has on opponents and knows how to exploit a mismatch.
Dorian Jones, 2022: The slim 5-foot-9 guard from Baltimore may need to pack some muscle into his spindly frame, albeit his game is certainly beyond his years. A reliable shooter who can permeate the driving lanes with either hand and knows how to adjust his shot on the move, Jones knows how to score it and create for others. He's got a ways to go as far as his physical development and maturation process, though the promise and know-how are certainly evident in his game.
If he undergoes that much awaited growth spurt and develops his body, he has the essential ingredients (with both his scoring and his dishing) to become a special player down the road.
Jose Rosario, 2020: The 6-foot-2 guard from the Dominican Republic has flashed a steady 3-point shot while also displaying one on one moves and the ability to score on the drive. He's got a knack for knocking down the corner trey. His work rate and consistency will ultimately determine the role he plays for SCS, which contains a surplus of guards who hit the outside shot.
Khori Fusco, 2020: The Pittsburgh native comes in following an illustrious career at Mars, where he was a 15 PPG scorer who manufactured points in a variety of ways. Buoyed by a versatile scoring arsenal and the ability to score it with either hand, Fusco has the tool-set and intangibles to play a prominent role. His ability to rebound it well for a guard and apply confrontational defense on taller players are noteworthy factors of his game.
Dillon Hod, 2020: Dillon Hod, 2020: With a fluid mid range jumper and a workmanlike style to his game, the Long Island native has the chance to be a glue like presence for the SCS high school team. Remember, he played at Putnam Science (CT) and traditional hoops breeding ground St. Mary's prior to this, so this level is a seamless transition. With his IQ, ability to score it, and knack for turning in hustle plays, his work rate and attention to detail have already garnered notice from a high school coaching staff that will utilize more depth in 2019-2020. The Knights will also have a big focal point upfront in 6-foot-7, 250-pound South Alabama commit Caleb White. Expect immediate contributions from Hod, a multi sport athlete who understands team concepts and is persistent everyday with effort and staying engaged through four quarters.
Jahvon John, 2020: The bullish 6-foot-6 forward from Virginia will play a role similar to last year's interior bruiser, Jordon Jones.
John is a strong and heady interior scorer with athleticism and a wing's skill set. He's got an adeptness for scoring around the rim and gobbling boards.
Previously at Virginia Academy, John has earned offers from Division-1 programs such as Hampton and ODU.