We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at Drayton Watson of Spartanburg High School and Upward Stars Watson.
We’ve seen Watson numerous times over the last year, including at our Phenom 150 Camp, where we stated, “Moving onto a player that always seems to stand out with his motor, toughness, and no-nonsense approach, Drayton Watson. He’s a strong, athletic guard prospect that loves to get downhill, attack the rim, and finish through contact. Watson can also knock down perimeter jumpers at a solid clip but does a nice job of playing within himself on offense. He’s a reliable all-around defender with quickness and the ability to eliminate operating space quite effectively. Watson is a useful rebounder that can push the break in transition. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to find more scoring opportunities as an off-ball cutter. Coach Hogner on Watson: “Drayton attacks hard and loves to make the right play. He can continue to work on his first step in order to be more explosive. Drayton can also work to improve his on-ball defense against opposing guards.” Watson enjoyed another great showing at camp and should be a leader during the upcoming season for Spartanburg.”
Since then, Watson has only continued to solidify himself as a clear next-level prospect on both ends of the floor. He was a leader for Spartanburg High School and showed the ability to seamlessly transition into a travel ball team with even more surrounding talent. Not only has Watson continued to showcase his defense and ability to score the ball, but he continues to show his usefulness from either guard position, with or without the ball in his hands, and his emphasis on doing the little things. Watson is a reliable rebounder, great transition threat, and smart all-around player that should certainly make a team better at the next level. His recruitment should pick up over the coming months.