NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The National Prep Showcase is the perfect start to the high school season as some of the best hit the floor at Albertus Magnus College. We outline our all-tournament team below.
MORE FROM NPS: McGowens has options | All eyes on Shittu
RANKINGS: 2018 Rivals150 | 2019 Rivals150 | Team Rankings
Shittu was tremendous on Sunday as he displayed a vastly improved offensive skillset. Ten years ago, he would have been molded into a small forward but in today’s game, he is the ideal small ball power forward. Shittu finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds. While his shot selection remains a work in progress, his upside is sparkling clean. A commitment could be on the horizon and Vanderbilt remains the heavy favorite.
One of the emerging names in the 2019 class, McGowens is beginning to rise up the rankings thanks to his size, toughness and versatility in the backcourt. In limited minutes on Saturday, the 6-foot-4 combo guard finished with 19 points, five rebounds and four assists. Clemson remains heavily in pursuit, and the Rivals150 guard will visit Wake Forest on Friday before heading to South Carolina on Saturday.
Rhode Island sits with the best mid-major class in America this fall thanks in part to the signing of Tate. On Sunday, the 6-foot-7 pitbull of a prospect unleashed his full arsenal on his opposition highlighted by rim-rattling dunks and powerful second-chance putbacks. Dan Hurley has an instant punch of toughness and half-court scoring with the MacDuffie School product.
One of the breakout performers from New Haven, Couisnard made a statement with his two-way abilities. A native of Chicago, Couisnard displayed tremendous toughness and a confident stroke out to 20-feet. He eclipsed double-digits in points in all three of his contests as he is beginning to see his recruitment pick up. Utah Valley and Bradley are two of those hottest on his trail.
He wasn’t his best on Sunday but on Saturday Zhang showed why UCLA and DePaul have prioritized the Chinese forward recently. A 6-foot-8 perimeter-based forward with a smooth shooting stroke, Zhang has improved his ball skills and athleticism within the past year or so and produced with greater frequency because of it. A commitment is not expected until the spring with likely visits to both UCLA and DePaul in the works.
Bolton might not look the part of a scrappy, take-no-prisoners type of guard but watch closely and the Penn State commit never backs down from his opposition. Not afraid to let it fly, the Rivals150 guard does have to throw more playmaking into his game but the Nittany Lions coaching staff has to be excited with what it has coming its way. Averaging more than 24 points during his two-game stint in Connecticut, Bolton should give Penn State an immediate offensive spark off the bench next season.
Headed to Stanford next year, Fitzmorris may still be a year away from producing on a high-major team but the upside and versatile skillset is impressive. Savvy, skilled, tough and a quality frontcourt passer, Fitzmorris fits Stanford’s system. He is not the most explosive of posts but he is someone that can extend the defense with the perimeter jumper, play in high-low sets and score with his back to the basket.
Bouncy, active and with tremendous touch in the lane, Lorca was an impressive standout on Saturday thanks to his play around the rim. While he didn’t show off much of a refined skillset, it was his quick leaping abilities near the basket and tremendous putback abilities that really stood out. Lorca will be a heavily pursued prospect thanks to his on the floor abilities and academic standing. He finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, cementing his standing as one of the better energy-giving big men in the 2019 class.
On Saturday, Simons tossed in 19 points in the second half alone. Getting his bearings back after breaking his hand six weeks ago, the five-star guard’s scoring punch is elite. Talk continues to center around whether he will enter his name into the NBA Draft in the spring but, if I were a betting man, Simons is likely headed to the college ranks. NC State, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee are the strongest of suitors.
Running the show for Sunrise Christian Academy, Fitzergald was sensational with his play on Saturday. While he does have to cut down on some of the high-risk plays, Fitzgerald mixed shot-making, passing and rebounding into his game. Finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds and a handful of assists, Fitzgerald is primed to see his recruitment pick up this winter as Boise State, IUPUI and Valparaiso have done the most work to this point.
