Advertisement
football Edit

UA: Fultz sparkles in New York

THE RIVALS150: 2015 | 2016
Advertisement
ARDSLEY, N.Y. -- Just like Nike and Adidas, Under Armour has
its own league of elite grassroots basketball programs that play together in
the Under Armour Association. For Memorial Day weekend, all of UA's programs
have assembled just outside of New York City at the House of Sports. On opening
night, top 25 class shooting guard Markelle Fultz made noise while
2017's No. 1 player DeAndre Ayton made his spring debut.
Fultz court press
By now, many are familiar with shooting guard Markelle Fultz's story.
In his first year of varsity ball at Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha he earned player
of the year honors in the WCAC, arguably the toughest high school conference in America. Friday night, the No. 24 player in the class of 2016 showed
that his winter play was no flash in the pan as he turned in a sparkling 20-point performance to lead the DC Blue Devils to an overtime win over We R1.
Standing 6-foot-4, Fultz has a complete game. He created one shot after another
with his ball handling. His bread and butter is his mid-range game but he is
plenty athletic to finish around the rim and he is showing that he can perhaps
play some point guard for stretches.
Fultz has spent the winter and
spring racking up offers from programs such as Arizona,
Cincinnati, DePaul, Maryland, Memphis,
Louisville, N.C. State, Ohio State, Texas,
Washington, Xavier and many more.
Last weekend, Fultz had the opportunity to check out Louisville and
Kentucky on unofficial visits. UK hasn't offered yet, but the
Wildcats have
positioned themselves well if they do.
"When I get that Kentucky offer they're going to be high on my list," Fultz
said. "I really like Kentucky along with a lot of other top schools like
Louisville and Ohio State."
Two weekends from now, Fultz will take his first official visit when he heads to
Tucson to see Sean Miller's Arizona program. The Wildcats are also in
good position but for now Fultz says he's planning on using all five visits.
"I'm taking my time because this is the only decision I have in my life for
college," said Fultz. "I'm definitely going to take my time and take all five
officials."
Hunter becoming hunted
Playing for the Philly Pride, DeAndre Hunter, Rivals.com's No. 132 player in the class of 2016,
impressed by logging 20 points, four rebounds and
three assists in a win over the New York Jayhawks. A 6-foot-7 forward from Wynewood (Pa.) Friends Central, Hunter has become a hot target.
Hunter could be listed as either a small forward or a power forward based on his
ability to play inside or out, but it is his toughness that stands out. Hunter
played all out on both ends of the floor Friday night, was vocal and looked more
than willing to set screens, take charges, dive for loose balls and do all of
the little things that help win ballgames.
"I feel like I'm playing well," Hunter said. "I'm helping my team win and that's
what I care about. I'll do anything for my team."
College programs have certainly noticed his willingness to scrap. They also like
that he can hit jumpers, drive either right or left and that he has a basketball
body that will easily carry muscle once he hits a college weight room. Hunter
has offers from Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Penn State,
Miami, La Salle, Temple, Rhode Island and Hofstra to go along
with interest from Georgetown, Louisville and Xavier.
Hunter says that most programs tell him he's simply a guy that they want to get
on the floor and don't really target him as a small or power forward. That's
just fine with him.
"I don't think I have a defined position," he said. "I just go out there
and do what I do and try to make plays. I can score, I rebound and I'll play
anywhere on the floor."
More Friday notes and news
Because of an ankle injury,
One of the more gifted offensive players in the class of 2017 is 6-foot-4 shooting guard Hamidou DialloClick no one has been able to see seven-foot center DeAndre Ayton this spring. Friday night, the No. 1 player in the class of 2017 made his return to the floor with Supreme Court. Though understandably rusty, the five-star prospect from San Diego (Calif.) Balboa still had a 15-point and 15-rebound evening. An intimidating physical presence with muscle and athleticism to go along with his height, Ayton is an intimidating presence in the lane. If he's capable of the type of numbers he had on Friday night while rusty, it's going to be interesting to see what kind of numbers he can put up once he gets back into the swing of things.Here to view this Link.. In a loss for the NY Jayhawks, he went for 22 points, four rebounds and two assists. Ranked No. 38 in his class, the Woodstock (Conn.) Academy product is a big-time athlete who plays with a ton of confidence.
While Markelle Fultz is the star for the DC Blue Devils, Wake ForestClick It was an ugly night from the field for We R1's talented 2017 backcourt duo of Trevon DuvalClick Also on Friday, Diallo's summer and high school teammate Mamadou Diarra committed to Connecticut. A center who looks to be closer to 6-foot-8 than his listed 6-foot-10, the long armed big man had 12 points and nine rebounds. A pretty good athlete, Diarra's best weapon is a jump hook that he has confidence in.Here to view this Link. and Quade GreenClick Also on Friday, Diallo's summer and high school teammate Mamadou Diarra committed to Connecticut. A center who looks to be closer to 6-foot-8 than his listed 6-foot-10, the long armed big man had 12 points and nine rebounds. A pretty good athlete, Diarra's best weapon is a jump hook that he has confidence in.Here to view this Link. in an overtime loss to the DC Blue Devils. A strong and athletic 6-foot-3 point guard who gets to the rim at will, Duval currently ranks No. 10 in his class but struggled with his shot going just 4-of-19 from the floor. A six-foot tall point guard, Green ranks No. 50 in 2017 and hit just 7-of-22 from the field while scoring 17 points, grabbing six rebounds and handing out five assists. Green did hit some huge shots late as We R1 came back from 17 down in the second half to force overtimeHere to view this Link.-bound point guard Brandon ChildressClick It was an ugly night from the field for We R1's talented 2017 backcourt duo of Trevon DuvalClick Also on Friday, Diallo's summer and high school teammate Mamadou Diarra committed to Connecticut. A center who looks to be closer to 6-foot-8 than his listed 6-foot-10, the long armed big man had 12 points and nine rebounds. A pretty good athlete, Diarra's best weapon is a jump hook that he has confidence in.Here to view this Link. and Quade GreenClick Also on Friday, Diallo's summer and high school teammate Mamadou Diarra committed to Connecticut. A center who looks to be closer to 6-foot-8 than his listed 6-foot-10, the long armed big man had 12 points and nine rebounds. A pretty good athlete, Diarra's best weapon is a jump hook that he has confidence in.Here to view this Link. in an overtime loss to the DC Blue Devils. A strong and athletic 6-foot-3 point guard who gets to the rim at will, Duval currently ranks No. 10 in his class but struggled with his shot going just 4-of-19 from the floor. A six-foot tall point guard, Green ranks No. 50 in 2017 and hit just 7-of-22 from the field while scoring 17 points, grabbing six rebounds and handing out five assists. Green did hit some huge shots late as We R1 came back from 17 down in the second half to force overtimeHere to view this Link. really helps to make
the team go. Childress was very good down the stretch getting into the lane to make plays for others and in hitting the most important shot of the game. With just six seconds to go in regulation, he crossed over a defender and hit a
difficult pull-up three to send the game to overtime after his team had coughed up a huge second half lead.
When the 2016 Rivals150 gets updated in June, a spot awaits
He didn't arrive until just after tipoff, but 6-foot-10 Matur MakerClick for 6-foot-5 shooting guard Kameron McGusty of the Houston Defenders. It's only a matter of how high he will debut. Friday night he went for 36 points and six rebounds and made it look easy. The high scoring wing from Katy (Texas) Seven Lakes can get to the rim, makes jumpers and plays in attack mode at all times. He already has offers from schools like Texas, Oklahoma, SMU and Kansas State and many more will be on the way soon.Here to view this Link. made a big impact for Canada Elite's 16U squad. The No. 27 player in the class of 2017, Maker was a ball of energy and activity around the rim as he sprinted from end to end, crashed the glass relentlessly and used his length to his advantage. His 20 point and nine rebound effort was one of the best games that Rivals.com has ever seen him play
Also impressive for Canada Elite was 6-foot-5 wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker who scored 17 points. He plays his high school ball at St. Louis (Mo.) Christian and has a nice game. He shoots some from deep, handles the ball pretty well and is
His numbers weren't huge, but four-star center Nick MarshallClick Bryson WilliamsClick After a slow start to his spring, five-star point guard Seventh WoodsClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. of the Carolina Wolves has turned it up. In a Friday night loss, the No. 18 player in his class had 19 points, four rebounds and two assists. A 6-foot-2 product of Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School, Woods is an elite athlete with a ridiculously explosive first step, deadly spin move and ability to get to the rim. He has turned himself into a good playmaker for others and what is best about Woods is that he is going to be a very high-level defender and is arguably as good as it gets in 2016 as an on the ball defender. North CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. figure heavily with him.Here to view this Link. looks like a nice catch for Fresno StateClick After a slow start to his spring, five-star point guard Seventh WoodsClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. of the Carolina Wolves has turned it up. In a Friday night loss, the No. 18 player in his class had 19 points, four rebounds and two assists. A 6-foot-2 product of Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School, Woods is an elite athlete with a ridiculously explosive first step, deadly spin move and ability to get to the rim. He has turned himself into a good playmaker for others and what is best about Woods is that he is going to be a very high-level defender and is arguably as good as it gets in 2016 as an on the ball defender. North CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. figure heavily with him.Here to view this Link.. A 6-foot-7 three-star power forward on Team Superstar, the 2016 product plays with good energy and physicality. He was good for 14 points and 13 rebounds on Friday night.Here to view this Link. of Team Thad was good on Friday night. At about 6-foot-10 he has a big frame, good bulk and knows where his game is and that's around the rim dunking. He is a nice get for MemphisClick Bryson WilliamsClick After a slow start to his spring, five-star point guard Seventh WoodsClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. of the Carolina Wolves has turned it up. In a Friday night loss, the No. 18 player in his class had 19 points, four rebounds and two assists. A 6-foot-2 product of Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School, Woods is an elite athlete with a ridiculously explosive first step, deadly spin move and ability to get to the rim. He has turned himself into a good playmaker for others and what is best about Woods is that he is going to be a very high-level defender and is arguably as good as it gets in 2016 as an on the ball defender. North CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. figure heavily with him.Here to view this Link. looks like a nice catch for Fresno StateClick After a slow start to his spring, five-star point guard Seventh WoodsClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. of the Carolina Wolves has turned it up. In a Friday night loss, the No. 18 player in his class had 19 points, four rebounds and two assists. A 6-foot-2 product of Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School, Woods is an elite athlete with a ridiculously explosive first step, deadly spin move and ability to get to the rim. He has turned himself into a good playmaker for others and what is best about Woods is that he is going to be a very high-level defender and is arguably as good as it gets in 2016 as an on the ball defender. North CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick good in transition. He is thin, but the current class of 2017 three-star prospect has plenty of time to add strength. Alexander-Walker listed offers from New Mexico State, Virginia Tech and Vermont to go with interest from Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee, Minnesota and Auburn.Here to view this Link. figure heavily with him.Here to view this Link.. A 6-foot-7 three-star power forward on Team Superstar, the 2016 product plays with good energy and physicality. He was good for 14 points and 13 rebounds on Friday night.Here to view this Link. and had a much greater impact in Team Thad's win than
his eight points and three rebounds would suggest.
LaGerald Vick was very, very good for Team Thad. The recent commitment to Kansas far outplayed his current ranking of No. 137 in the class of 2016 while going for 25 points and 10 rebounds. A thin and lanky shooting guard, Vick can really create for himself off the dribble, has quickness and he can shoot it from deep. He had his jumper working, got to the rim a bit and scored whenever he wanted. Most likely, he will skip heading to prep school and end up at Kansas as a class of 2015 prospect but a final decision on that hasn't been made.
Keep an eye out for
Myles Cale in the class of 2017. A member of the South Jersey Jazz 16U squad, the 6-foot-3 combo guard was good for 30 points and 10 rebounds on Friday. He can really create off the dribble, defends and plays hard at all times. A current three-star prospect, he looks to be a potential high major target.
Advertisement