Toon Gatkek, Action Sports Inst: The 6-foot-9 behemoth possesses a wealth of potential and natural, instinctive defensive aptitude with his knack for blocking shots. With a wild 7-foot-5 wingspan, Gatkek averaged a whopping and County-best eight blocks per game last season, to go along with 12 points and 10 boards. He still needs to polish up aspects of his game and fully utilize his capabilities as a back to the rim scorer.
Still, given the demand for high potential bigs with the ability to block and alter the trajectory of shots, Gatkek has the opportunity to really ramp up his recruitment in his prep season. He will work under a stern taskmasker in Brett Newman, who has kick-started the spanking new program and won a pair of state championships as a high school head coach and national championships as a collegiate head coach. Gatkek has the look of a low to mid major prospect, albeit that could change based on how he performs throughout various showcase events.
Brenden Kelly, Scotland Campus: Don't let that 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame deceive you. The New Jersey bred guard is a fierce competitor who can guard 94 feet and knock down critical, highly contested shots. As a high school senior at Elizabeth (NJ) last year, Kelly averaged 10 points and eight assists.
He displayed a poise to his game, as he hit critical shots, including a pair of game-winning 3-pointers. Kelly's ability to initiate offense and create for his teammates are an intriguing facet of his game. Equally as noteworthy is the quickness of his shot release. A gym rat who plays with nary the slightest morsel of trepidation, Kelly has the intangibles and heart to become a safe bet, scholarship-worthy player. He spent the entire summer finely tuning elements of his game under legendary former St. Anthony's coach Bob Hurley Sr.
Oskar Palmquist, Central Point Christian Academy PG: The intriguing 6-foot-8 wing is beginning to garner high major attention. Sound in all elements of his game Palmquist possesses enticing above the rim athleticism. This has been translatable to his wowing open court finishes and ability to really snatch boards and bang in the trenches.
Versatility is another finer quality of his hardwood trade. He's got impressive handle for his size and can knock down that 18-20 foot jumper with consistency. Kansas State and Cincinnati, like many high major programs who have made frequent visits to the Kissimmee, Fla.-based program this fall, have taken note of Palmquist.
Fahmir Ali, Beckley Prep: The strong, well-built point guard has made a sizable impression since showing out while playing for WeR1 on the Under Armour circuit this summer. He's a heady playmaker who knows how to get others involved and also call his own number and attack the rim when he sees the opening. He's also proven he can hit the outside shot with consistency, similar to Beckley's former gritty guard, Coryon Rice (24 PPG during the Fork Union tournament last season).
Beckley is deeper and heavier on star power this year, especially with guys like big guard David Early and knockdown man Cam Stitt.
Khyree Taylor, Inspire Prep: The 6-foot guard plays with a natural toughness and mental moxie that enables him to make those around him better. At The Masters School in Connecticut last season, Taylor averaged 15 points and six assists. He's the quintessential dish-first guard, a kid who likes to operate offense first and then take it upon himself to score at opportune times. Playing alongside one of the state's best and most prolific scoring guards in Khalyl Simmons, the true Class of 2020 senior Taylor has the potential to form a radiant 1-2 punch in the backcourt for Inspire head coach Larry Simmons.
Kedrick Stockman, Scotland Campus: Another 6-foot guard, Stockman spent his last season at a high school in Japan. With his deft set shot and ability to spread the floor out with consistent long range shooting, anticipate a breakout year for the under the radar combination guard. He's adapted to the changing of speeds and has the build and know-how to play confrontational defense, an aspect which mirrors the culture at Scotland. With his sneaky bounce and ability to finish in crafty fashion on his forays to the rim, Stockman has the potential to attract Division-I attention heading into the 2019-20 campaign.
Jaeden Zackery, Scotland Campus: The 6-foot-3 guard from WIsconsin is an energizer who brings toughness on both sides of the floor. Zackery averaged 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists en route to bagging Wisconsin Point Guard of the Year honors as a senior last year at Westosha Central. Built like a football player, he knows how to turn in hard plays in traffic and finish through contact and at the rim.
Beyond toughness and engine, 'JZ' has a dependable pull-up jumper and scores it from all three levels. His downhill game and crafty offensive arsenal enabled him to shoot it at 64 percent clip this past season. Zackery is still very much in the shadows as far as exposure. A few breakout performances on an exposure-heavy stage will certainly catapult his recruitment to the Division-I market. A high academic and high character kid, Zackery is the prototype "safe bet" prospect.