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 Draven Pilson of Forsyth Country Day.
We’ve seen Pilson in various different settings, including at our Summer Finale, where we stated, “While everyone’s name on this list should have increased circulation, Draven Pilson should have folks as excited as anyone. We’d previously seen him at our Jr. Phenom Camp, where he was nothing short of incredible and secured the Mr. Defense award. Fast-forward six months and Pilson continues to make noticeable strides within his development. Not only has he grown in stature, but has also furthered his perimeter skills and two-way versatility. He displayed useful ball-handling and three-point shooting while maintaining his tough, intelligent identity from the forward position. Pilson has always been a great finisher around the basket and utilizes his length extremely well to score, alter shots, and secure rebounds. He’s already quite impressive but has the upside to be a top-tier talent within this class, especially if he continues on his current path.”
Since then, Pilson has only continued to make consistent strides within his overall progression as a dynamic, versatile two-way piece. He’s still young, but it’s easy to see the long-term appeal. Pilson possesses length, athleticism, defensive instincts, and a blossoming offensive skillset, which makes him a matchup problem for various types of opposing forwards. He displays touch and feel around the basket, but also alters shots at a reliable rate. Pilson is a fluid athlete with the ability to defend in space and anticipate passing lanes to force turnovers. He’s arguably at his best in transition but more than capable of asserting himself within the half-court set. Pilson has all the tools to be a special player and the structure of Forsyth Country Day should only aid in his overall development process. Expect him to emerge as a noteworthy prospect within the next calendar year.