After an incredibly bizarre calendar year of question marks and high school prospects suffering the negative effects of covid, we finally return to some semblance of normalcy. There is no denying the impact for guys in the Class of 2021, and even 2022. The combination of on-court restrictions and additional year of eligibility would ultimately hurt the kids still in high school'not the college players. Various prospects have been forced to scatter, opting to transfer, reclassify, or prep following their graduation just to receive appropriate recruitment amidst all the chaos. It has directly contributed to competitive imbalance across the state and country. That being said, there should be optimism for those in the Class of 2023, as they could be the first group to earn suitable offers in two years. While there are many, this article will take a closer look at five specific names who should steadily trend upward in the eyes of college coaches over the coming months…
6'8 Joseph Bachman (Laney)
It's quite perplexing to try and understand what exactly coaches want to see in order to start offering Joseph Bachman. Following his sophomore season where he led a senior-laden roster in points (10.8), rebounds (7.8), and blocks (1.5), Bachman seamlessly turned around maintained his presence for Garner Road throughout the travel ball period. He's a big, sturdy, mobile post prospect with toughness, footwork, and an excellent understanding of his two-way identity. Bachman displays quality defensive instincts, runs the floor hard in transition, and consistently outworks his assignment on the glass. He's polished from the block, capable of finishing above the rim or with either hand, and utilizes his body effectively to position himself for success. Transitioning into his upcoming junior season, Bachman should be a dominant force for the Buccaneers. It's extremely difficult to imagine him being anything other than a nightly double-double machine, as his numbers could nearly double across the board. College coaches will eventually battle for his commitment, so it'll be exciting to see what program decides to be the first to get involved.
6'6 Julius Harrison (Piedmont Classical)
Arguably no prospect on this list boosted their stock more over the summer than Julius Harrison, but coaches have only continued to tread water for whatever reason. It's tough to ask much more from a 6-foot-6 versatile wing prospect who now doubles as a knockdown shooter entering his junior season. How many players with the ability to defend three positions and knock down three-pointers at a high percentage are these coaches recruiting' Props to them. It just seems unlikely that players with his archetype are readily available for the taking. Regardless, Harrison has morphed into an offensive weapon with IQ, creation skills (for himself and others), and the ability to apply efficient scoring pressure from all levels. He's a great all-around athlete with the combination of mobility, physicality, and toughness to shine as a legitimate terror defensively. Harrison attacks the basket and finishes well through contact or above the rim, but can also make reads and smart passes as needed. Add in his rebounding and ability to push in transition, and the appeal is genuinely self-explanatory. Programs need to get involved, as he will lead and produce in all categories for Piedmont Classical on a nightly basis.
6'3 Jordan Durham (Louisburg)
Similar to his former teammate, Jordan Durham simply isn't getting appropriate attention from college coaches. On one hand, the aforementioned uncertainty swirling through the basketball landscape can be considered the sole cause. However, there really is no excuse valid enough to justify various types of scholarship-level programs not getting involved with someone like Durham. Following a sophomore season where he posted nightly averages of 15.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 2.0 SPG, he (like Bachman) continued to outperform opponents with Garner Road. Although he sees a ton of additional defensive pressure with Louisburg, Durham has proven to be an efficient all-around scorer throughout the travel ball season. He has the scoring prowess, physical attributes, creation skills, and defensive tools to steadily progress into one of North Carolina's premier prospects. It's also unclear if he's even done growing, but his game is already appealing enough to warrant attention from various types of scholarship-level programs. The Warriors were extremely young last season, so expect Durham to continue shining as a leader with this group and ultimately capturing the notice of Division I coaches.
6'8 Sam Martin (Apex)
Although it's widely acknowledged and accepted that big men generally take longer to develop, this notion shouldn't necessarily apply to someone like Sam Martin. His sophomore year averages of 11.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.1 BPG bring definite optimism for his recruitment. That being said, it's becoming extremely difficult to envision a scenario where his numbers don't explode across the board over the coming months. Throughout the summer, Martin showcased a smooth, reliable two-way identity against all levels of competition. At 6-foot-8, he can consistently finish, space the floor, or generate clean looks out of the post. Martin is a solid all-around athlete with the ability to meet opponents at the rim for dunks or blocks. He also rebounds well, alters shots without fouling, and runs the floor effectively in transition. The lack of offers is starting to become inexcusable, as Martin is undoubtedly better than a lot of other prospects who continue to receive scholarships. His straightforward, low-maintenance identity doesn't come with a lot of flash or flare, but it certainly contributes to winning. Expect Martin to accumulate a strong variety of offers in the next twelve months.
6'2 Dallas Gardner (Charlotte Country Day)
Last year was pretty rough for Charlotte Country Day in David Carrier's first season as head coach (largely due to a lack of talent), but Dallas Gardner is guaranteed to help turn things around. He arguably didn't receive enough attention after posting nightly averages of 12.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 SPG, and 1.1 BPG for a Myers Park program who has a slew of notable prospects over the recent years. Regardless, Gardner continued to lead very well for Team Hope during the summer. He regularly burdened the scoring load while showing improved consistency from beyond the arc. Gardner highlighted vision, toughness, defensive instincts, open-court ability, and the understanding of how to apply pressure with or without the ball in his hands. He's a great athlete with size, length, and a strong frame for his position. Gardner is capable of consistently outworking his assignment as a rebounder, pushing the break, and making the appropriate read for easy buckets. While his sophomore campaign was definitely productive, folks should expect even more from him during the upcoming season.