Zeke Blauner, St. Thomas More:
The lofty expectations surrounding legendary prep coach Jere Quinn's team emanates from the deep, experienced backcourt St. Thomas More will boast this year. Blauner, out of Ardsley, N.Y., has made tremendous strides as an all around player who could surface as a two-way threat.
Blauner played a major role in helping Ardsley High School (NY) to a historic season which included a Section 1 championship and a berth in the New York State championship game.
Blauner scored 26 points (17 during a wild second half) and had four steals during the Panthers' marquee and memorable 61-56 win over Mohanasen in the New York State semifinal, the apex of that season.
Since arriving at St. Thomas More, he's developed strength and quickness and become a reliable lockdown defender.
While he's always had a fluid jumper and an innate ability to score the basketball at opportune times, Blauner plays a significant role as an on-ball threat who could routinely negate high scoring guards and adapt to a multi-positional defensive role.
Blauner, who has added bulk to a once spindly frame, has indicated he will assume a jack of all trades role and do whatever it is Quinn needs.
A high character kid, Blauner already heard from MAAC level schools and should generate more interest during his post-graduate season.
Andreas Muten, Scotland Campus
The 6-foot-7 wing has established himself as a reliable knockdown shooter. At just 17, he oozes of promise as a matchup headache. Beyond being a kickout shooter, he's got an ability to take smaller defenders to the rim and finish. Working under Chris Chaney and player development ace Sullivan Brown, he's steadily improved with his strength and ability to gobble up rebounds.
Defensively, he's got the length and athleticism to guard from the 2-4. He will look to enhance his profile playing in a heavily competitive prep schedule after flying under the radar as an obscure Class of 2020 prospect.
He's developed a better handle, which allows him to create space and add pull-ups and stepbacks to his arsenal. He's still working on the vertimax and making an explosive aerial game a major component of his all around package.
While a number of high Division-II Schools have been in consistent contact with Muten, he's made Division-I a realistic goal of his. If he continues to develop his all around game and buy into the grind of the daily workload, expect him to ascend the ladder as far as his collegiate stock goes.
Johannes Kirsipuu, 2021
The 6-foot-1 guard has transformed his game in all areas. Known for his consistent outside shooting, the native of Estonia has developed his driving game while also engineering a fast paced offense as a facilitator who can make long passes and trigger the transition game. Defensively, he's improved as not only an on-ball pest but has adapted to applying pressure all across the court and guarding 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-7 guys. As a sophomore, Kirsipuu scored 25 points against a quality Kiski (PA) High team. Other noteworthy performances include 24 points against an Amir Nesbitt-led Virginia Academy team (Nesbitt has since transferred to the Miller School). During the traditional St. James tournament, Kirsipuu scored 20 points against the hosts.
This summer, Kirsipuu played for New World 16U, a role player providing shooting and defense throughout the Adidas Gaunlet-Gold. He played in events from Dallas to Alabama to California, playing alongside highly-ranked prospects such as Saveon Jackson (St. John's Tyrell Ward and Elijah Hawkins, both of D.C. power DeMatha.
Fernando Caballero, Action Sports Institute
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound guard has the type of two-way impact that should have special appeal to high Division-II and NEC, IVY caliber programs. He's gone from a knockdown shooter to an all around scorer, creator, and a guy who can operate offense and also play off the ball as a two-guard. Athletically, he's steadily developed an above the rim game and is showing more explosiveness with his forays to the rim.
Playing under veteran and esteemed head coach Brett Newman, who has nurtured in the neighborhood of 400 Division-I players, the Puerto Rico native has the potential to take off in his post-graduate season.
With a 3.5 GPA and 1200 SAT score, Caballero has the essential ingredients to become an attractive recruit for academically enriched programs across the country.
"He's got the grades to be an Ivy League kid or a Patriot League type of kid," said Newman. "In Puerto Rico, he was at one of the highest academic institutions out there and performed exceptionally well in the classroom. Basketball-wise, he's a bulldog and he wants it. He's a self-motivated player. There is a couple things we have to work with him on to prepare him for the next level. There are a couple of things we have to work with him on, to better prepare him for the next level. His personality and his drive, however, are second to none."
Ahmad Hassan, United Prep
Ahmad Hassan's earliest memories of basketball don't entail your standard youth league with lowered hoops and referees and biased parents coaching. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, the 6-foot guard has vivid recollections of playing on some of the toughest asphalt courts in Australia, where a consistent jumper and deft, yoyo-like handle will earn you respect in some of the roughest neighborhoods and hard-edged areas.
Hassan continued to relish the challenge of playing against bigger, older guys, establishing a niche for himself as a drive-first guard. Playing streetball religiously essentially gave him a prelude to the uptempo, tougher brand of basketball employed in America's prep scene. Now Florida-bound, Hassan is headed to first year program United Prep in Haines City. The diminutive but tough 5-foot-9 guard knows how to create his shot off the dribble and score. He's equally adapt at attacking from the baseline and finishing with either hand around the rim.