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 over the past few years 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 Adonijah Whitley of Northern Guilford.
We've seen Whitley various times, including at our most recent NC Phenom 150 Camp in March, where we stated, 'Next, we look at a player that seems to emerge as a glue-guy with any collection of teammates, Adonijah Whitley. He's a long, wiry, fairly versatile wing prospect that naturally does a strong amount of everything on the court. Whitley is a quality defender, rebounder, and overall scorer that makes a ton of hustle plays. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to find even more scoring opportunities as an off-ball cutter. Coach Dre on Whitley: ''A Boogie' has game. He is a legit problem for the defense in a lot of different ways. He can get to the cup with ease and can step out and light up the opposition as well. He's very athletic and can give you a highlight-worthy play in transition. He has a deceptive handle and can blow by defenders who are playing too close. The game comes easy to Adonijah and he is an asset to any coach looking for a well-rounded guard that can play either backcourt position. Stay tuned, I believe we will hear more about this kid in the future.' Whitley continues to quietly go about his business while maintaining a productive two-way game, which should have the attention of college coaches.'
Though he possesses a somewhat quiet demeanor, Whitley is the type of multipurpose player that any team can utilize. He can pass, dribble, and score the ball at a quality level but also has the necessary size, length, motor, and athleticism to defend multiple positions. Whitley is a smart, natural glue-guy that simply knows how to fill in the gaps on both ends of the floor. He's never going to force the action or look to play outside of his comfort zone, rather just steady and consistent at all times. Whitley is a great rebounder with the ability to push in transition and finish or setup others. He's certainly a college-level player, and we'll be monitoring his recruitment throughout the coming months.