Each year, the high school basketball scene doubles as somewhat of a revolving door for incoming and outgoing prospects. Whether staying put, transferring to other programs, or advancing their game to the collegiate level, the overall movement within the landscape actively allows for guys to maximize changes by establishing themselves in an entirely different light. That being said, Josh Scovens certainly doesn’t need to reinvent his game in order to shine as the undisputed two-way leader for Page during his upcoming senior season. After enjoying a productive junior season and seamlessly transitioning into a major piece for the NC Gaters, it’s genuinely surprising to see that the versatile wing/forward doesn’t already have a lot more action within his recruitment.
For starters, one would think that it makes more sense for scholarship-level coaches to get involved before his eventual recruiting breakout—rather than wait to see what program extends the first offer. It’s actually becoming somewhat ridiculous that so many coaches prefer to hoard scholarships and force deserving prospects to sweat it out as opposed to just offering the kids they already claim to covet. Scovens is a prime example. There has been an abundance of programs who already verbalized their desire to secure his services at the next level, yet he still holds zero offers. Where is the disconnect' It’s not like Scovens is a rising freshman, and it certainly isn’t considered too early to be pursuing prospects in the upcoming senior class.
Maybe it has something to do with his production last season as a junior' Impossible. Scovens posted nightly averages of 12.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 1.7 BPG with 50% shooting from the floor and beyond the arc. Upon accounting for his shot attempts per game (9.6) and role alongside departing seniors in Jaden Ellis (11.4) and Zion Connor (7.5), it’s difficult to fathom a single scenario where Scovens doesn’t absolutely dominate over the next twelve months. He’s basically already started said tear by showcasing consistently high-level flashes throughout the current travel season. Scovens is smart, tough, skilled, athletic, and versatile on both ends of the floor, which basically makes him a walking mismatch against most opponents. He possesses a long, fluid frame with sharp defensive anticipation, excellent rebounding instincts, and the necessary polish to handle the ball in transition or effectively create for himself or others in the half-court. Scovens scores the ball at an efficient rate from all levels but also displays terrific cutting instincts and understanding as a spot-up threat. It’d be one thing if folks didn’t realize his ability, but they do. So, now the onus falls on college coaches to get involved and embrace building a relationship with Scovens before their competitors seize the opportunity.