By Alex Kline

Since making the quest from New York to California, plenty of new doors have opened for Jerron Love.

A 2015 5-foot-10 point guard from Clovis West in California, Love has been labled as one of the next great freshmen. A native of New York, Love and his family decided to move out of the media-crazed atmosphere into a smaller basketball market in a lesser known school on the west coast.

Currently, his squad is 10-2 with the freshman’s individual stats peeking every game from a standpoint of points, assists, rebounds and steals, as well as a limited amount of turnovers. A true point guard who leads his team by example, his basketball IQ is beyond his years. Love can pass the rock and make plays whether he has to find a teammate or make a play to score the ball himself. With a strong ability to get to the rim and attack it, he needs to have more dimensions to his scoring. If he can improve his jumper and continue to grow, Jerron Love’s stock will rise.

That being said, his stock is already fairly high as colleges know about him. Love is receiving early interest from, “George Mason, UCLA, Fresno State, USC, Kansas, UConn, Oregon, Boston University, Santa Clara, Louisville and a few other.” While he is wide open, the fab frosh believes that UCLA and Fresno State are showing the most interest in him as the Bruins recently sent him a handwritten letter of interest. The Bulldogs of Fresno State actually attended one of the youngster’s games earlier in the season, too. Love’s stock is in high demand out on the west coast.

Along with that, he has visited Louisville, UConn and Fresno State with hopes of taking more over the next few years. While Love is trying to make a name for himself on the west coast, it will have to happen with his grit on the court as he hopes to finish the season off as strong as it started.

(Photo courtesy of the Wall Street Journal)

By Rob Ukawuba – 2013 6’3 guard from East Brunswick (NJ)

My name’s Rob Ukawuba and I’m a junior (2013) at East Brunswick high school.

Coming off a good AAU season with Team Jersey Elite I was looking forward to the high school basketball season, and although everybody assumes I play football too, I don’t; I just basketball. We have basically everybody back from last year’s team so we’re looking real good this year. We’ve started off a little slow though but hopefully we pull it together soon. We won two at home against Perth Amboy and Piscataway. Then we lost two away games against North Brunswick and St. Joseph’s Metuchen so we definitely gotta pick it up on the road. Tomorrow were on the road so were looking to pick up a win away to start a streak up.

Junior year has been pretty good though but just as hard as everyone’s said it would be. I guess it’s not that hard just a lot more work.  Basketball wise it’s been good too.  I have some interest from some schools right now like Rider, St.Peters, Fairfieldf, Monmouth, Quinnipiac, La Salle, and Oregon State. The only school I’ve visited is St.Peter’s but I plan on taking one to Quinnipiac soon.. probaby with my AAU teammate, Will Joyce. I don’t have many school preferences right now until I really start to look. I’m just real excited for this season and what’s to come.

(Photo courtesy of NJ.com)

By Dayshon Smith – 2013 6’1 combo guard from Putnam Science Academy (CT)

What’s up world it’s Dayshon Smith from the Bronx, NY.

I currently attend Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. I’m off to a real good start up there. So far I have an 89 average & basketball wise my team and I are doing good with a 7-3 record. This year my team got the biggest win in school history beating one of the top schools in the country. Now I’m home on vacation spending time with my family who I missed so much.

If you were wondering I am getting recruited by Fairfield, Drexel, Syracuse, Quinnipiac, Providence, Miami, Penn State, St. Peter’s, Robert Morris, St. Joe’s and others. That’s it for right now. I’ll be back next time. Follow me on Twitter @scoochstackin. I’m out.

(Photo courtesy of the NY Post)

By Fergus Duke – a 2013 guard from Hun (NJ)

Whats up, Its Fergus Duke of The Hun School. I’m a 6’2″ point guard trying to make my dreams a reality. Just a humble and hungry gymrat doing what I love. I’ve been playing ball as long as I can remember and I want to play this game until the passion runs dry. I’m from Vancouver, BC, Canada, originally but now I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, whenever I’m not at school. Even though the talent level in my town was very high, It was really hard to get exposure at the NCAA level coming out of Nova Scotia, so I had to make a move my sophomore year. I stumbled upon Hun and fell in love with the school when I came for a visit. Hun is a perfect balance of a strong basketball and athletics program and advanced academics. Thanks to my switch to the States, I’ve been gaining interest from Div 1 schools that I never have known my name had I stayed in Halifax.

Last year was my first year at Hun. The team and Coach Stone made me feel at home. I don’t think I’ve ever had a Coach care as much about his players as Coach Stone does. I was in Canada in the summer, so I had never met any of them before, but they took me in as part of the family on the first day we played. Individually, it was a tough transition at first. I had a lot of trouble adjusting from the 24 second shot clock to not having one at all. We’d come down the floor and I’d throw up the first open look I saw because I’m used to a faster paced game. It was kind of funny, I was rushing all over the place. We had a very talented team with four Div 1 commits on it, and a few very strong juniors, so I understood that floor time was somewhat limited at first. About halfway through the season though, was the turning point for me. I started to play more relaxed and with a lot more poise, which earned me more minutes.

I think I’ve managed to keep that poise through the beginning of this season and things are looking up for us so far. Over the spring, summer, and fall, the hours my teammates and I have put in the gym are paying off. Each and every one of us has developed into a stronger player than last year. Coach Stone designed a system for our team that fits us well this season. We have very solid post players in Will Kelly, Grant MacKay and Rashid Epps, and we have a strong backcourt. Bo McKinley and I have a lot of work to do as the backcourt, but I feel we are starting to come together. I think we showed in the TCA game, where we won by 1 in double OT, that we can handle pressure well. That being said, we have more than enough to improve on as well, we’ve only had glimpses of what we can do. I’m having a lot of fun this season with the guys that we have and it’s only just the beginning. I have high hopes for the squad, I feel that we are very well capable of winning the MAPL championship and states both. But only we can determine how far we go.

Coming to Hun was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and it has opened doors up for me at the College level. I’m striving to play the best basketball I possibly can, focusing on one game at a time. Consistency is the goal for this season.

Every game we play is fun to watch, make sure to catch one if you have the chance!

*Fergus Duke is hearing from Florida Atlantic, Duquesne, Davidson and Coastal Carolina, along with most Ivy and Patriot league schools.*

(Photo courtesy of Towns Topics)

By Diamonte Zarba – a 2013 guard from St. Joseph (CT)

What’s up people, its Diamonte Zarba

I’m 6’4 207 pounds and I play guard for the St. Joseph Cadets during the winter and Exodus NYC in the summer. Right now my high school team rides high on a #1 in the state ranking. We are also 4-0 as we won our game earlier tonight at the Harboryard Arena in Bridgeport, CT against a good Archbishop Molloy team. Tomorrow we face our first true challenge when we take on Big East Bound Kris Dunn & the rest of the New London Whalers.

My favorite player in recent years also is the model for my game – Tracy McGrady. A tall guard or “point forward” were all terms to describe his game. I consider this my best attribute to my team because of my versatility. Because of my height and strength I’m a matchup problem for most defenses. 

These abilities have caught the eye of East Carolina University, Providence, St. Joes, Yale, Quinnipiac, American, Bucknell, St. John’s, Siena and a couple other schools, who are showing interest in me. That’s enough from me, but come support the Maroon and Gold and I as we continue our season.

(Photo courtesy of Diamonte)

By Alex Kline

Sophomore year has treated some basketball players well, and others not so well. For Jalen Lindsey, it his this season that has made his the sophomore sensation that he presently is.

A 2014 6-foot-6 small forward out of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Tennessee, Lindsey is being coached by Drew Maddux, a former Vanderbilt standout. With an unbelievable athletic ability, Lindsey has soared to the top of certain school’s radars, including his coach’s alma mater. The sophomore is a talented shooter who is a great rebounder and shot blocker. The Tennessee native is a coach’s dream player because of his abilities on and off the court, as well as the way he handles himself on a daily basis. While he is very athletic, he must continue to work on his ability to face up and attack the rim from the perimeter. That comes with his ability to handle the rock, which he must improve upon, too. If Lindsey can become more aggressive, a better ball handler and continue to grow and improve on the defensive side, he will be a stud.

As head coaches from Rick Pitino to Cuonzo Martin to John Calipari and more have watched him play or practice this year. Currently, Lindsey lists offers from, “Tennessee, Vanderbilt, NC State, Memphis and Alabama,” with interest from, “North Carolina, Marquette, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Louisville, Mississippi, Syracuse, Ohio State, Xavier, Florida State, Georgetown and Florida.” With all of his success has come a humble upbringing that he credits to his family and coaches.

If Jalen Lindsey continues to improve, he will become one of the premier players in the class of 2014. While still unknown by some because of his remote location, scouts and coaches from around the nation are looking on and are excited for what the future presents for the CPA star in making.

(Photo courtesy of Rivals.com)

By Alex Kline

Max Hooper is currently a freshman shooting guard at Harvard. A California native, he made his way out to the northeast for his final year of basketball at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. Ryan Oliver is the latest to follow this trend and it has paid off.

A 2012 6-foot-5 shooting guard, who is taking a postgrad year at Northfield Mount Hermon in Massachusetts, Oliver is playing under one of the best talent promoting coaches in the area, John Carroll. Carroll’s program has developed dozens of Ivy League, among other conferences, standouts over the years. Oliver, who has good grades, has a variety of options for colleges as he will be able to go to dozens of schools throughout the country.

“He is one the most, if not the most, efficient scorers I have coached,” said Carroll. “He doesn’t need 20 shots to score 20 points. He is shooting 54% from the floor, 42% from three-point range and 90% from the free-throw line while leading our team with 17 points per game.” On top of that, the talented shooter has only turned the ball over six times this year, as opposed to his twenty assists.

At the moment, the team is 10-0 with Oliver’s recruitment becoming an interesting storyline.

“He has heard from Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Miami, Miami of Ohio, Portland and more,” said Carroll. “Schools that have come to see him also have a range from Boston College, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Fairfield, Rhode Island, La Salle, and more. He has over a dozen offers from Hofstra, Siena, Delaware, Hartford, UC-Irvine, UC-Riverside, Bradley and more.”

On top of that, a number of schools will be seeing him in the early weeks of January. While over winter break within the past week, Oliver has made two unofficial visits to see basketball games. He took a visit to Hofstra last weekend and was on the USC campus earlier in the week. A college decision will likely be made later on in the season.

“He has a terrific understanding of game pace,” Carroll said. It has helped keep our team composed in crucial moments. He is always prepared to “answer the bell”.

(Photo courtesy of Northfield Mount Hermon)

By Alex Kline

RJ Curington, a 2013 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Oak Hill in Virginia, has seen plenty of attention during his junior year.

As one of the premier 6th men and top scorers in the country, the junior is coming off the bench for the undefeated Warriors and scoring proficiently and effectively. With a few 30-point games this year, his jump shot has improved dramatically and he shoot with range now. On top of his ability to score and defend, Curington’s academics are getting him far, as well.

Recently, he picked up three new offers from Cornell, Boston College and Florida State. On top of that, Stanford is close to offering, as well, once Curington presents his academic profile to them.

“I am excited about all of the schools who are showing interest or have offered me,” he said. “It is a great feeling but this just motivates me to work much harder on the court and in the classroom.”

Along with Cornell, Boston College, Florida State and Stanford, Curington is being targeted by North Carolina, Indiana, Northwestern, Wake Forest, NC State, Butler and more. Curington has visited a majority of these schools – including the west coast school, Stanford – which was his most recent trip this fall.

Look for a few more schools to offer and get involved with the sharpshooter and academic achiever in RJ Curington, an Indiana native who could end up staying at home to play for the Hoosiers or Bulldogs of Butler.

(Photo courtesy of Oak Hill)

By Alex Kline

Anton Gill, a 2013 6-foot-2 combo guard from Ravenscroft in North Carolina, is off the board.

On Wednesday afternoon, Gill verbally committed to Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals – something that both he and his AAU coaches, Dwayne West and Brent Murphy of Garner Road.

“Yes it’s official,” Gill said. “Louisville was the best fit for me. I think I can do big things there.”

The North Carolina guard committed one day after another 2013 talent, Brannen Greene, popped for Kansas. Gill chose the Cardinals over Charlotte, Clemson, NC State, Wake Forest, North Carolina and many more. He becomes the first commit in Louisville’s class of 2013.

“He deserves it,” said his coach, Brent Murphy. “He is a good kid who makes all the right plays, works hard on his game and in the classroom. He’s unique in a lot of ways but if I had to pick a player he is similar in comparison to at Louisville it would be Francisco Garcia (referring to the current NBA player who led the Cardinals to the Final Four a few years ago). Francisco’s game comes to mind in correspondence with Anton.”

Despite the difference in height, Gill also draws similarities to current point guard Peyton Siva from a standpoint of his abilities and size. Will Gill lead the Cardinals back to a Final Four – just as Garcia did?

(Photo courtesy of Rivals.com)