Top performers from Adidas: Updates and predictions
DUNCANVILLE, Tex. -- The opening weekend of April's two live periods provided some dazzling performances from top players such as UCLA-bound five-star point guard Jaylen Hands. Here are recruiting updates and predictions on the top players from the weekend.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Connecticut, Louisville, Creighton, Boston College, Providence, VCU and many more.
Performance: Ashton-Langford's team is one of only five of 48 in the Gauntlet Gold division that remains undefeated after one weekend. He gets the ball where it needs to be, finishes at the rim, defends and doesn't make mistakes.
Way-too-early prediction: Connecticut.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Virginia Tech, Penn State, Georgetown, Louisville, Cincinnati and others.
Performance: Playing in his first major national event, the powerful two guard got off to a slow start. But by Sunday morning he looked like one of the best players in the gym thanks to his aggressive and physically punishing wing play.
Way-too-early prediction: Georgetown.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Arizona, California, St. John's, Kansas and UCLA. Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina also watched this weekend.
Performance: The highest-ranked player in attendance, Brown played the part, averaging over 18 points and eight rebounds per game. He's skilled, athletic, long and a pogo stick around the rim who glides up and down the court.
Way-too-early prediction: California.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from SMU, Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas State, Oregon and others.
Performance: Garrett wasn't playing in the Adidas Gauntlet, but nonetheless he was impressive. At 6-foot-5 he has legitimate point guard skills, is a lock down defender and sees the floor. Last summer, Andrew Jones came out of the Dallas area to develop into a McDonald's All-American, could Garrett be following the same route?
Way-too-early prediction: Kansas.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Texas A&M, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Tennessee.
Performance: A 6-foot-4 sophomore who plays with poise beyond his years, Grimes showed he can run a team or play off the ball as a primary scorer. He's got good size and terrific feel. He's not currently ranked in the 2018 top 75, but that will change.
Way-too-early prediction: Texas A&M.
Recruiting wrap: Committed to UCLA.
Performance: The highest ranked rising senior on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit, Hands backed up his five-star status. He made plays off the dribble and leads the circuit in assists after one weekend. Hands didn't shoot the ball great but was otherwise outstanding leading the Magic to a 4-0 record.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Indiana, Louisville, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA and more.
Performance: Langford was arguably the best player in the gym. He plays with a smooth efficiency, is skilled and rebounds exceptionally well for a guard. Langford was recently moved into the national top 15 in 2018 but looks like a potential top five prospect.
Way-too-early prediction: Duke.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Washington, Virginia Tech, Miami, UCF, DePaul, USC, Cincinnati and more.
Performance: One of 2018's top scorer/distributors, Quickley was at his best attacking the basket. Once he started getting into the lane and making plays for himself and others, the jumpers started falling and he was a load to deal with.
Way too early prediction: Miami.
Recruiting wrap: Offers from Connecticut, Arizona State, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Arizona and others.
Performance: Wigginton is a flat out bucket-getter who scores off the dribble thanks to his strong frame. After he softens the defense with his driving, he looks to bury jumpers. He looks to have huge value as a college guard who can play the one or the two.
Way-too-early prediction: Oregon.
Charles Bassey, C, Yes II Success (2019) and Matthew Hurt, PF, D1 Minnesota (2019) and Grant Sherfield, SG/PG, YGC36 (2019)
Recruiting wrap: Bassey does not yet list offers, Hurt holds offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconson, Xavier and Florida while Sherfield picked up his first offer from San Diego and had Baylor and Oklahoma State in this week.
Performance: The class of 2019 is looking bright early on and these three are evidence. Bassey is a big, athletic and skilled post player who can go coast to coast with the ball. Hurt often had his way playing up in the 17U division thanks to his skill level. A tough and compact guard, Sherfield scored over 20 points a game playing on the 17u level.
Way-too-early prediction(s): It's way too early.
