By: Kevin Moses
Player: Peyton Podany
Twitter: @peytonpodany
Height: 6’3, 185lbs
Class of 2025
School: Anoka High School, MN
Podany is a versatile PG who knows exactly how to use his height to his advantage. Peyton has a silky-smooth touch from the outside. Electric and crafty off-the-bounce with quick pull-up or creative finishes at the rim. Peyton can thrive playing 1-4 effectively. Payton can mix it up on the boards and can drop some sweet dimes. Peyton is very athletic and committed to making his team better. Last season Peyton averaged 14 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds a game. His biggest improvement since last season after growing two more inches is becoming a better shot creator. For the upcoming season, Peyton’s main goal is to lead his team to the state tournament and prove to everyone he is one to be reckoned with. Peyton’s favorite highlight was winning the prep hoops state tournament. Payton’s skillset and size make him a very intriguing prospect for college coaches.
Player: Kalen Williamson
Twitter: @itz_kalen25
Height: 6’7, 195
Class of 2025
School: Cedar Park High School
Williamson is an electric young phenom with size, skill, and spread to be a matchup nightmare. Kalen is long with a crazy wingspan that really gives him an edge out there. With incredible court vision uses his height to see over defenders and exploit their weaknesses and find the soft spots in the gaps. Kalen is a very unselfish player looking to make the perfect play at just the right minute. Kalen can be explosive off the bounce and a fierce finisher. Also can really drop that rock to a teammate that gets open, Kalen will find them. In limited time as a sophomore last season, Kalen still averaged 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, .8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, and can be a clutch shotmaker with ice water in his veins already. Kalen’s biggest improvement is pushing the ball down the court after a defensive rebound, fueling a fast-paced transition opportunity for his team and keeping the defense off balance as they can’t settle into normal defensive sets, making it easier for quick scores. Also, Kalen put in the work to master his ball-handling skills, not only can he stretch the defense but attack it in multiple ways to give his team extra advantages.
Player: Cruz Islay
Twitter: @cruz_isaly
Class of 2025
School: Williamstown High School
Islay is an electric little floor general. Fierce and scrappy with high-energy performances every time. This dynamic floor general is a strong impact on the sides of the ball. Offensively he can score on all the levels. A beautiful touch from deep and explosive off the bounce and a strong finisher. Cruz can drop a sweet dime. The perfect floor general with a pass-first mentality but is fearless in attacking when the time is right or needed. Cruz never forces shots. Cruz’s top priority is fueling his teammates and making them better, but then he can get it done offensively any time he needs to step up for the moment. Cruz is one of the best rebounding guards in the country. He can elevate to battle effectively for big boards. Cruz has an eye for getting rebounds like a magnet playing much bigger than height. This stud understands defense wins games and does it so well. Last season on a loaded 25-1 team in 17 minutes, he averaged 6pts, 5.5asts, 4rebs, and 2.5stls, earning 2A Honorable Mention All State WV. I watched Cruz elevate his game throughout the summer. Cruz improved his shooting percentage consistently. Most impressive to me was the defensive swagger. Cruz mastered putting the clamps on the opposition by summer’s end.
Player: Ray Cuevas
Twitter: @raycuevo
Height: 6’2, 200
Class of 2024
School: Pingree School
Cuevas is an elusive combo guard who loves to find the gaps and seams in the defense. Looking for weaknesses and then exploring them. Versatile enough to elevate for the pullup or kick out to open teammates once he sucks the defense in to stop him. Strong finisher at the rim or can nail the step-back jumper if the lane is clogged. Great decision-maker with precision to make the right plays. His strength and long arms allow him to get into the passing lanes and raise up for transition dunks. The sneaky part of his game is the athleticism to rise up through traffic with crafty and creative moves. Definition of triple threat scoring machine shooting a blistering 40 percent from downtown, but Ray is so much more than just a scorer as he mixes it up well on the boards, drops sweet dimes, and plays outstanding defense. Ray can effectively defend bigger guards with their wings and strength.
Player: Nathaniel Law
Twitter: @nlaw_33
Height: 6’6, 185
Class of 2024
School: St. Thomas Episcopal High School
Law is an electrifying athlete who can take flight in a hurry. Nathaniel is a ruthless finisher and has no problem making you his poster. Fast and furious when attacking off the bounce. The bigger problem for defenders is he is a skilled three-point sniper. Nathaniel is also a rebounding machine and a solid defender. Everything a coach could ask for when you add the last element of his skill, he can drop a mean dime. This earned him a full scholarship to UTEGV. Also named one of the top players in the state of TX. As loaded as Houston is with talent, Nathaniel is at the very top of the list. Nathanial on this final stretch is to keep elevating his skills while leading his to a state championship victory. That will be the perfect ending to a great high school career. Not impossible for him to be the MVP this season and will undoubtedly be named 1st team All-State. That’s going out guns blazing. It’s been a tremendous honor to watch this young stud grow and develop to a high level of talent. I knew when I first saw this high-fly act this was going to be a fun ride. Nathanial has never been disappointed since that day. I think his Memphis performance was among the best I got from him against literally the best players in the country. He thrived on that big stage and set himself apart. Coaches were buzzing.