LADERA RANCH, Calif. – The first day of the second live period began in style on Wednesday evening as adidas kicked off its final event of the summer. Oscar Tshiebwe, Tari Eason and Akok Akok walked away as the stars of the night.
DOES TSHIEBWE DESERVE HIS FIFTH STAR?
While we were ahead of the curve with Oscar Tshiebwe, placing him within the top half of the Rivals150 for over a year now, he has continued to show that he is not just a fringe top-50 prospect this summer, but better yet, a more than capable five-star target.
Known first and foremost for his defensive abilities as a rim protector and high-volume rebounder, it was his offense that really stood out Wednesday. I am not sure that he made three jumpers from outside of 12-feet all of last travel season combined; on Wednesday, he converted two perimeter jumpers and a turnaround out of the high-post in his first half alone.
Is Tshiebwe going to be a guy that has specific sets immediately run for him in college? No, but the fact that he is not just a one-trick pony any longer and can produce on both ends of the floor just shows how much better he has become and where he can get to once he hits the next level.
Speaking of which, WVU looks to be the school to beat. UConn head coach Dan Hurley was in attendance, too, but so was Bob Huggins. The Mountaineers have enjoyed great success with Sagaba Konate as the rising junior and Tshiebwe share a common bond. Winning his signature will not come easy, but where things stand now, WVU should feel good as the summer comes to a close.
WEST COAST BATTLE
Two of the top adidas-sponsored programs battled, with Pump n Run Elite, featuring four-star wing Max Agbonkpolo, facing Team Bradley, featuring Marjon Beauchamp and PJ Fuller.
Fuller is one of the better microwave scorers in his class nationally and seeing that the scholarship offers continue to trickle in, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight in his recruitment. Alongside him is a super high upside hybrid wing-forward in Beauchamp, quite possibly the next Pacific Northwest blue blood breakout prospect. He does have to add significantly more weight as his slenderer physique can hurt his final stat line, but the raw abilities in the top-30 junior is evident.
Agbonkpolo, headed to USC next fall, is a do-everything type of small forward that can initiate the half-court offense, score with his patented 12-foot and in runner, hit shots to the perimeter and defend up to three positions on the floor. Two Trojans’ assistants were on hand for him on Wednesday as he looks to be a day one contributor in Los Angeles.
While all three displayed their value, it was Tari Eason that really raised some eyebrows. The 2020 forward is the definition of an energy giver. He didn’t have much of a chance to show off any sort of a skill set with his back to the basket, but he was more than okay poking his nose into 50-50 plays and rebounding from out of his area. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Eason leave the month of July with a handful of offers, some coming from the highest realm as Washington State remains his lone Pac-12 offer.
Head coaches from Arizona State, UC-Davis, Oregon, Montana, UNLV, Colorado, Dartmouth, and Pepperdine watched the Wednesday affair, as did assistants from Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa State, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Utah State and TCU.
AKOK COMES TO PLAY
There are not many more unique prospects in the 2019 class than Akok Akok. The 6-foot-9 power forward running with the Mass Rivals 17-under crew is the embodiment of versatility and while it has been an up-and-down senior travel season, the Rivals150 prospect put together an impressive showing in southern California with a slew of coaches on hand.
Last year, Akok finished top-five in both three-point shooting and blocked shots on the adidas circuit; finding such assets in one respective prospect is among the most difficult. A 3-and-D power forward prospect that can handle the basketball, make shots to the perimeter and defend his basket from in and out of his area, there is good reason why Akok has drawn such heavy interest throughout his high school career.
Whenever Akok is engaged and competing, there is not many more special prospects nationally. He was just that on Wednesday night as head coaches from UConn and Rhode Island, along with assistants from Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Butler, DePaul, Providence, Syracuse and NC State were all on hand. A commitment is likely in the cards for before the turn of the calendar as the best from the northeast remain in strong pursuit.
