It basically goes without saying, but the 2020-21 high school basketball season has been among the more unusual situations to occur within basketball or high school sports over the recent years. Obviously due to Covid, majority of programs were forced to maintain extremely low attendance numbers which, in turn, only hurt the kids and their overall chances to advance to the next level. Many college coaches weren't allowed to actually attend games and recruit players, forcing the current junior and senior prospects into an uphill battle like we've never seen. While it's certainly been more difficult for the prospects in the Class of 2021, there are still plenty of rising seniors whose recruitment don't align with their abilities. This article will feature a handful of notable names (most already holding Division I offers) who are deserving of even more attention from college coaches'
6'6 Nolan Hodge (Northern Guilford)
Anyone who has followed Nolan Hodge or Phenom Hoops closely over the last few years shouldn't be surprised to see his name featured on this list. Though he already holds offers from Duquesne, Old Dominion, and NC A&T, the appeal of a fluid, skilled 6-foot-6 legitimate guard prospect should be pretty self-explanatory. In terms of offensive polish, folks would be hard-pressed to find many guys more capable of efficiently leading an offense than Hodge. He's a reliable three-level scorer and knockdown perimeter shooter with the combination of IQ, size, athleticism, and ball skills to pick and choose his spots on the floor. Add in his transition abilities and defensive upside, and Hodge should realistically accumulate another dozen offers over the next eight to twelve months.
6'4 MJ Collins (Westminster Catawba)
Arguably the most underrated prospect within North Carolina's Class of 2022, MJ Collins feels like he's truly on the cusp of seeing his recruitment explode. At a strong, skilled, athletic 6-foot-4 with an all-around skillset, he has all the makings of an ideal wing prospect. Collins shined on a nightly basis for the Indians, regularly standing out as the best player and prospect on the floor'regardless of opponent. He's such a smooth, reliable scorer with impeccable efficiency from all three levels and the ability to generate (and convert) high-level buckets against any type of assignment. Collins is equally as impressive in transition as the half-court and shows no real weaknesses on either end of the floor. Murray State recently extended his second offer (in addition to Presbyterian), but one should expect Collins to become one of the region's hottest prospects over the next few months.
6'7 Avion Pinner (Riverside-Martin)
Unlike everyone else on this list, Avion Pinner is the only prospect who doesn't reside in a major city. That being said, he already holds offers from East Carolina and Florida International'and looks likely to continue adding to that list over the foreseeable future. For those who don't know, Pinner is a versatile 6-foot-7 wing/forward with size, athleticism, and a fairly well-rounded skillset. He's an overwhelming force defensively and on the glass, which consistently leads to rebounds and an abundance of turnovers. Though he's already extremely productive and decorated with accolades, Pinner is still brimming with long-term potential. Anyone who has been plugged in to the grassroots scene should easily remember back to middle school (prior to his season-ending injury as a freshman), where the NC Legend stud was dubbed the next star of North Carolina. Between his upside, production, and upcoming travel ball season, it's difficult to envision a scenario where Pinner doesn't pile up a considerable amount of offers going forward.
6'5 Donovan Atwell (Davidson Day)
There are a lot of unusual issues surrounding the recruiting scene, but the fact that Donovan Atwell holds just one offer despite literally everyone emphasizing how 'shooting translates at every level.' While shooting does translate at every level, that notion should make Atwell one of the most valued prospects within the entire region'much less the state of North Carolina. It shouldn't be tough to sell the appeal for a long, wiry 6-foot-5 wing with defensive prowess, reliable ball skills, and elite perimeter shooting. Atwell possesses a lightning-quick release, both off the catch and bounce, and truly only requires a glimmer of daylight to torch the opposition. His transition from Lake Norman Charter to Davidson Day allowed him to showcase the entirety of his skillset, largely as a creator and two-way leader. For someone who has shot well over 40% from distance (on incredibly high volume) across his high school career, it's legitimately perplexing to try and make sense of his offer sheet. Kudos to Winthrop for being his first offer, but expect Atwell to become an extremely hot commodity over the coming months.
6'4 Silas Demary Jr. (Millbrook)
After a memorable and historic showing in the state championship contest (particularly in overtime), it's quite shocking that Silas Demary Jr. doesn't yet hold a single scholarship offer. Though any questions surrounding Demary should've already been answered prior to the state championship game, his emergence as a leader for Millbrook likely removed any doubt from college coaches. From running the offense as a point guard to standing out as a dominant scoring option, he showed the flexibility and adaptability to be a reliable, effective cog within various different roles. Beyond his uptick as a leader, Demary's numbers also improved across the board. With senior teammates heading to Louisville, Purdue Fort Wayne, and whichever program secures the services of Chris Daniels, it makes his nightly averages of 17.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 1.8 SPG with 54/42/75 shooting splits even more impressive. He checks all the boxes to succeed at a variety of Division I programs, so it'll be exciting to see his recruitment to take off over the foreseeable future.