Akrum Ahemed, '19 Canisius
With his ability to knock down shots from the outside with consistency and crafty overall scoring skill set, Ahemed emerged into a key role player for the 36-2 Prep National team. He went from playing sparingly to providing a major spark off the bench, most notably during a 13-point first half eruption en route to the Knights' 92-86 win over a hot-shooting Fork Union Military Academy (Va.) post-graduate team.
The New Jersey native, who was mentored by former Manhattan and Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez, finished traditional 3-point plays and hit a deep jumper and a 3-pointer from the corner as the Knights overcame an irregular start.
At 6-foot-5 and with some bounce, Ahemed finishes with his left hand extraordinarily well. He's got an above the rim game and enhanced his role as a catch-and-stick threat. As the focal point during a win over Olympus (N.J.), Ahemed stamped his imprint with an eye opening 42-point, 18-rebound performance.
Ahemed wound up knocking down arguably the most dramatic shot in the post-season–drilling a corner 3-pointer that gave Scotland a 74-71 lead on Putnam Science (CT). It was this clutch shot which ultimately propelled the Knights to a first-ever berth in the prep national title game.
Blake Owens, '19, Ranger College
A 6-foot-9 forward/center with a workmanlike game, Owens has improved exponentially as an ambidextrous scorer.
Owens transitioned from a twig-like 185 to 210 pounds in a short period of time. Owens’ motor and knack for playing with a sustained layer of relentlessness ultimately makes him a scholarship-worthy prospect at this point.
The Oklahoma native is an active, high percentage scorer around the rim and possesses the type of rebounding skill set which could make him an appealing late pickup on the low to mid major market. Owens has improved at scoring hustle points and also going to his left and finishing.
Oli Jacquot, '19, Garrett College
The heady 6-foot-2 guard out of Australia emerged into a true leader his senior season under coach Blake Kingsley, setting a loud tone in workouts and practices and arriving in top shape.
He was instrumental in helping newcomers acclimatize to the team and thrived as a facilitator, getting everyone involved and consistently delivering that vital assist or bucket late in the game. His innate poise on the floor gave him a presence that his teammates ate off of.
Jacquot was also a reliable knockdown man, with a knack for sticking corner 3-pointers and also establishing a dependable pull-up game.
All the way from Australia, Jacquot adapted quickly to the souped-up attack and 94 feet of pressure preached at Scotland. He was one of a quartet of talented guards which spearheaded Kingsley's team, joining the likes of Kayden Stewart, Gerald Jarmon III, and Johannes Kirsippu.
Chris Whitaker, '18, Portland State
The well-built 6-foot-4 guard had memorable performances against IMG's post grad national team featuring Anfernee Simons, hitting a number of momentum-bolstering 3-pointers en route to an upset win. He also thrived at the Memphis Battlegrounds tournament that spring, solidifying himself as a hard-attacking, strong guard who knows how to finish at the rim and create his own shot.
The most intriguing facet of Whitaker's game was his ability to seize the hot hand and rapidly morph into a relentless scorer. This scoring mentality was translatable to the big guard's emergence as an NJCAA Division-I All American at Cochise (AZ).
Whitaker averaged 19.5 PPG, with 15 games of 20 points or more, during his memorable one-year state at Cochise. Whitaker, who increased his explosiveness and ability to manufacture points from the foul line (where he shot 81 percent), erupted for a career-best 40 points (12-for-21 FG, 7-for-9 3FG, 9-11 FT) during a 115-96 win over Pima Community College (AZ).
He authored a 31-point scoring spree (13-for-23 FG) during a 94-89 win at Central Arizona College. Whitaker's play and ability to break open and close games with his scoring helped Cochise to an overall record of 26-5, including 20-2 in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. Whitaker will enter Portland State as a sophomore with the football-basketball body and scoring arsenal to make a quick-hit impact.
Paul Garcia, Salisbury College
The 6-foot-2 guard is deceptively athletic and buoyed by a deft, smooth handle and an ability to score the ball at all three levels. He's got the transition speed and scoring tool-set to prosper in an uptempo, breakneck paced attack. Garcia proved his value during his performance at the aforementioned Memphis Battlegrounds tournament in 2018.
He scored it on the full array of mid range jumpers, 3-pointers, stepbacks, finishes in traffic, and pull-ups.
During his lone season at Montgomery College, Garcia averaged 12.9 PPG. He again proved his ability to take over games with his scoring aptitude, going off for 29 points in victories over Howard Community College and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
During that 85-81 win over Howard, Garcia shot it at a smoking 11-for-20 clip, including 7-for-8 from beyond the arc. Garcia's ability to handle the changing of speeds and play both guard positions while rarely turning it over is what makes him a considerable pickup for Salisbury (Md.).
Chris Parker, Henderson State
The heady guard shouldered the leadership burden for a young team and the first-ever team at Scotland under Chaney, when the program was known as National Top Sports Institute. A deadeye 3-point shooter who knows how to knock down timely 3-pointers and navigate those pressure packed moments with a critical bucket, Parker is most recognized for his high hoops IQ.
This has paved the way for a notable start to his college career at Henderson State, where the Plano, TX native earned All-GAC honorable mention as a sophomore.
The lead ball handler and primary defender during his time under Chaney, Parker was instrumental in forging a patchwork group into a fully developed team. He was one of three guys to average double digits in scoring, with 12.1 per game at Henderson State this past season. Parker led the team with 53 3-pointers and authored a 10-assist single game performance during a road game at Southwestern Oklahoma State.
As a freshman at Henderson, Parker averaged 14.5 points and 3.7 assists while shooting it at 44 percent from the field. Parker wound up with five games of 20+ points. Overlooked coming out of high school, Parker is the quintessential leader who initiates offense by getting his teammates involved and then taking it upon himself to call his own number and score.