6’11 2022 Patrick Wessler: Butler High School (NC)
The breakout performer of the weekend, Wessler is one of the most intriguing 2022 prospects the HoopState has to offer outside of the three obvious national guys with his physical gifts, excellent touch, and overall room to grow. He possesses a nice blend of skill, size, brute, and high basketball IQ at a really young age and that’s why he should be considered a bonafide MM+ prospect. He understands how to use his size at both ends of the court, getting great positioning on the block and finishing with ease, and using his timing to protect the rim at the other end. He still has a lot of room to grow and will be a fun kid to watch all weekend.
6’4 2020 Andrew Budzinski: Bishop McGuinness (NC)
After a magical playoff run in which he played the best basketball of his life, Andrew Budzinski is looking to build off of that momentum and parlay it into a huge senior season. His ability to create something out of nothing while consistently keeping his foot on the gas, attacking the opposition at every opportunity. He has a variety of little flip shots in the lane that are really difficult to defend with legit range out to the 3 point line. He’s an explosive athlete, ready to put it on your head at any given time, making him an exciting player to watch.
6’1 2022 Will Kelly: 1 Carolina (SC)
Kelly is a smooth operator from the guard spot, capable of playing either the one or the two, showing flashes of brilliance from either spot. He’s a really effective catch and shoot guy, but what I loved was his willingness to attack and create his own shot in transition with relative ease. He’s without a doubt one of the emerging class of 2022 kids from the palmetto state, it should be fun to watch him moving forward.
6’8 2021 JJ Nwashai: Winston-Salem Christian (NC)
This was my first time really watching Nwashai and I was blown away with his physical tools. He has a grown mans frame and does a nice job using it to wall out on rebounds, set good screens, and finishing on the block. He runs the floor with purpose, and although he’s a little raw, he has a chance to develop into a target for high level D2s and LM D1s.
6’0 2021 Noah Caulder: Clover High School (SC)
Caulder has an uncanny ability to take a game over in a variety of ways. He can get a bucket whenever he wants, catch and shoot, pull-up J’s, tough finishes at the cup, he’s got the whole package. Expect Caulder to help Clover to a really successful season and see his profile as a prospect grow tremendously in the process.
6’7 2021 Noah Allred: Bishop McGuinness (NC)
Allred is still working himself into form with this Bishop team, he was there last spring, but wasn’t allowed to play due to NCHSAA transfer rules, but he’s coming along really nicely using his size on the glass and his shooting touch to stretch the floor. His ability to operate in the mid-post is what translates really well, he has an array of moves down there that he uses to create shots either facing up or with his back to the basket.
5’10 2021 Jordan McPhatter: Butler High School (NC)
McPhatter’s ability to create something out of nothing is what I marvel most about his game, his willingness to fight his way into the teeth of the defense and get off a little shot in the lane or find an open teammate is incredibly fun to watch. When he gets going from beyond the arc, he’s nearly impossible to guard one on one, expect his recruitment among D2 programs to pick up traction here in the near future, with the possibility of him becoming a D1 prospect not far out of the question.