Every year we go through the cycle of legends hanging it up and future legends beginning their journey. The goal of this series is to shed light on players in different phases in the early part of their career. With the NBA wrapping up it's first week of the season and college starting in a few days I think this is the perfect time to post this. Without further ado, let's take a trip to Maryland with Baba Oladotun.
This soon to be 17 year old prodigy hailing from Silver Spring Maryland will be putting everyone on notice. After reclassing from the 2027 class to 2026 Baba has made it clear that he wants to compete sooner than later. This 6’10 small forward is currently taking official visits to different colleges while more teams show interest. He's another variant of the Kevin Durant archetype. His shot making will be what he's most known for but his defensive potential is what separates him from the pack. If I had to guess I would assume that he won't be committing anywhere until around the McDonald's All-American game.
This 6'6 combo guard has had an amazing 2025. Darryn Peterson was named Naismith player of the Year, McDonald's All American Co-MVP, and finished as the number one player of the 2025 class. His game has drawn comparisons to Brandon Roy and Kobe Bryant. He can score in a multitude of ways while being aggressive on defense. I believe he shot making will translate instantly at the NBA level now that he's more willing to shoot 3's. His playmaking is already ahead of most guards at the college level. Peterson had a strong showing in the Kansas exhibition vs Louisville and I believe there's still a lot of room for growth before March. Right now it's safe to say his draft projection is top three with a strong potential chance of going first.
This 6'3 point guard from the University of Oklahoma is one of the youngest players in this draft class. Less than 2 weeks removed from his 19th birthday, Fears has been demanded to play a key role in the Pelicans backcourt. While starting point guard Dejounte Murray is it expected to be sidelined till January with his Achilles injury from last season, Jeremiah Fears will be expected to score and facilitate right away. With the flash is a greatness that he showed in college I was confident that he is ready for the NBA. Through his first two games of the regular season he is averaging 15 points on an insane 66%. Realistically, that shot percentage will come down but it shows that he's in attack mode out the gate. Joe Dumars is looking to turn the New Orleans Pelicans franchise around and adding this young man to the roster who was the first step. He's one is the rookies that I'm most excited to watch this season.
Entering his 4th season, this Canadian-born star appears poised to make a significant leap. Following an impressive postseason campaign last season, during which the Indiana Pacers may have been a Tyrese Haliburton injury away from being NBA champion, the landscape has shifted considerably. Mathurin has now ascended within the team’s hierarchy, and thus far, he has risen to the occasion, averaging 31 points per game to open the season.
He's shown the scoring prowess and consistency necessary to position himself as a strong candidate for the Most Improved Player award. An All-Star selection is also well within reach if his current trajectory continues. Those who watched him during his time at Arizona are already familiar with his potential as a primary scorer. The NBA is a league defined by opportunity, and Mathurin now finds one of the greatest of his career directly before him.
Every year the game of basketball gives birth to new stars and says farewell to hoopers we've watched over the years. Normally I drop this before the start of the NBA season, but this time I wanted to gather more information. Just hours away from the upcoming college basketball season, I feel like the timing is perfect. Without further ado, let's take a trip across the pond with Nolan Traore.
Over the last year, this 6’5 French point guard has been establishing himself as a top prospect in the 2025 NBA draft. In the era of combo guards, it's refreshing to see a top-tier playmaker. While Traore has the ability to score in multiple ways, I believe his driving is what opens up his game. He's extremely quick and has the court vision of an elite playmaker. With NBA spacing, I think he just becomes more dangerous. We got a glimpse of him playing the American game in the Nike Hoop Summit, where he scored an efficient 18 points while playing alongside AJ Dybansta. Then we saw what he looked like amongst his age group at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, where he tallied 45 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Over the summer, the talk coming out of Durham is that Kon has been the biggest stock riser in college basketball. When we see highlight clips put out by the team's social media accounts, we only get the positives. A few weeks ago I went to Duke to check out this team and got to see the Wisconsin prodigy up close. Before the game started, I was shocked by how huge this guy was. The 6’7 and 217 lbs listing is legit. His shooting reminds me of Luke Kennard, and to my surprise, he has sneaky athleticism. This Duke team is loaded with talent, so the numbers won't tell the full story, but the film will. He looks like a lottery pick to me.
As a fan of ACC basketball, this is one of the weirdest cases of switching roles I've ever seen. While at UVA, Dunn was known as a defender with a careful shot selection because he wasn't a great jump shooter. In his 2 years at UVA, he was a 23% 3-point shooter. Today in the NBA, he shoots 39% from deep. His shooting at Summer League and preseason caught my attention, but seeing it carry over to the regular season had been crazy. His defense is still on par with what I thought it would be at the NBA level. A projected defensive specialist has become a 3&D wing. I think he was the perfect draft pick for this Phoenix Suns team.
I was high on Coulibaly when he was in France playing alongside Victor Wembanyama for Metropolitans 92. On the first watch, I noticed how he didn't bite on fakes and defended full court. That alone works in his favor on the NBA level. After seeing him in person last season during the in-season tournament, I left the game believing that he was one of the best players in his draft class. At 6’8 with a 7’2 wingspan, he has been one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Fresh off a silver medal at the Paris Olympics his offense is coming along while his body is adapting to the physicality of the NBA. The Wizards aren't expected to win much this year, so he is in a position to play freely, and it's paying off. Right now he's averaging 19.4 points and 6.2 rebounds on 60% from the field and 47% from the 3-point line. Maintaining those averages for 82 games sounds unrealistic, but I don't think he's going to drop off by much. The Wizards are in a rebuilding phase, but I believe Bilal will be a core piece of the team's future plans.
When this album dropped I was in high school. My friends were much bigger fans of Jay-Z than me and they played this album all the time. I didn't mind because I thought the album was good. As crazy as it may sound to some, I haven't listened to this entire album straight through without skipping a song in about 18-19 years. Like most of you I just put a few songs from old albums on a playlist or just play certain songs when I want to hear them. Today I decided to give it a run and I have a few new thoughts..... I'm not reviewing every song, RELAX!!
Takeover
The hook made me laugh a little because I'm 100% sure Bleek is the only one of these guys that even has his phone number.
Girls, Girls, Girls
This song is like Meagan Good....perfect then, perfect now
Hola Hovito
This song is bad. Very bad. Everything about it sticks out in a bad way. This meme sums up my thoughts on how that record fits with the rest of the album.
Renegade
Nas was right. To shoot Jay some bail, this song was tailormade for Eminem to get his shit off. I don't think Jay-Z was horrible on this song but there's a huge gap between the 2 artist on this record.
Lyrical Exercise
This song is like Kelly Rowland.... fine then, FINER now!!!!
Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 2)
This song is as unnecessary as Ben Simmons wearing a shooting sleeve. It doesn't takeaway from anything but definitely doesn't add anything either.
Other than that.... I still feel the same about the rest of the album. U Don't Know is still this best song and Never Change is still the best hook. (to me)
Every year the game of basketball repeats a cycle where stars are born and veterans say their final goodbye. Seeing Carmelo Anthony and Andre Iguodala decide to hang it up this year was a reminder of how fast time moves. In 2017 I started this series to highlight players that I expected to take a leap at different levels. Without further ado, let me tap into the high school level with AJ Dybantsa.
This 16 year old 6'9 small forward has been rapidly rising up the ranks over the last few months. Dybansta who originally was expected to be part of the 2026 class recently reclassified to 2025. He is currently playing for Prolific Prep which is also where Gary Trent Jr. and Jalen Green once played. This summer he led the 17U Division of the Nike Peach Jam with 25.8 points per game along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Prior to that impressive showing on the Nike circuit the 5 star recruit led Team USA to gold in the FIBA U16 division. Currently he plans to attend college and recently took an official visit to USC. He currently has offers from Connecticut, Michigan, Georgetown and many other colleges. He's been taken under the wing of NBA players such as Paul George, Steph Curry, and LeBron James. The sky's the limit for this young man who is capable of doing pretty much anything on the basketball court.
Isaiah Collier enters this season as the CBS pick for freshman of the year. The All-American game MVP that was also the Georgia Gatorade player of the year is in position to take advantage of the media spotlight USC will have due to being teammates with Bronny James. He's an aggressive 6'5 guard that constantly puts pressure on the rim protectors by driving the ball. His strong build allows him to absorb contact that most guards cannot withstand. One feature of his game that stands out to me is his court vision. Collier can draw a double team and find the open man with ease. He’s a projected top 5 pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
The Big East Freshman of the Year somehow managed to slip to the 20th pick in the draft and made everyone pay for it in Summer League. Coming into his rookie season, the former Villanova Wildcat will be looking to establish his spot in the Rockets rotation throughout the season. He’s active on both ends of the floor and his 40 inch vertical makes him a highlight threat every second he’s on the floor. I expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder and show flashes of something special. At 6’7 and 235 lbs he slashes like a 6’2 combo guard with raw power. He will be a great project for Ime Udoka to mold at this point of his career.
Jaden McDaniels has become one of my favorite defenders in the entire league. Now that he’s locked in long term with his new 5 year 136 million dollar extension the next step is earning a spot on an All-Defensive Team. Personally, I thought he should have made the 2nd team last season. He’s very agile with elite timing so when that is factored in with his 7ft wingspan it’s a rough night for any ball handler in the league. He’s amazing at anticipating passes, dodging screens, and forcing opponents away from their intended direction. It’s not a glamorous job but he’s the key to unlocking the defensive potential of the T’Wolves.
For every NBA player that decides to hang it up and retire there's another shining star in the gym working to become great. From high school on up there are guys that take a leap and elevate their game to another level. Crazy to think that this is my 5th installment of this annual series. Although I am really against heaping high praise on players before their junior year of high school there's one kid that I expect to put the world on notice in the coming months. Allow me to introduce you to Cameron Boozer.
To basketball fans this last name instantly stands out. Cameron is the son of Duke legend and former NBA all-star Carlos Boozer. He is the number 1 player in the 2025 class. Currently this hoop prodigy is listed at 6’9 and has plenty of time to continue growing considering that he recently turned 15 years old. In my personal opinion this was the most impressive high school player I watched over the summer. At an age where simply being bigger or more athletic than your peers can put you head and shoulders above the pack Cam has the skill set to be dominant even if he was 6’4. He has the ability to face up and score in the low post while also being capable of knocking down deep shots. His handle takes his shot creation to another level. His knack for rebounding and leading the break reminds me of Paolo Banchero. While his athleticism is at a supreme level his passing ability is a feature that’s easy to overlook because he’s creating highlights doing a bit of everything else on the floor. He has the ability to pass out of a double team while remaining poised which is a quality a lot of guys in the NBA struggle with. I expect him to be a fan favorite and develop a huge following before committing to a college. These days that could translate into a multitude of NIL deals and amplify his brand heading into the draft.
Next up we have rising Duke freshman Dariq Whitehead. Coming off a senior year for the ages that included All-American MVP and Naismith Prep Player of the Year honors Mr. Whitehead will be met with high expectations. The 4x high school national champion is a projected lottery pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Coming from Montverde Academy Dariq has played alongside NBA stars such as Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes. He is a 6'7 small forward that can impact the game in all areas. He's very explosive yet plays a smooth style of basketball. Very rarely does he make the wrong play which speaks to his IQ. Of all the tools he has in his game his most valuable move is the first step. Like Spencer Dinwiddie, he's very good at sizing up defenders and beating them with the first step. That feature contributes to his ability to be a 3-level scorer. When needed to be I think he'll be an aggressive that can wear down defenders like RJ Barrett did in his 1 year at Duke. Those that haven't seen him in action yet are in for a show!
In my personal opinion the best shooter in this rookie class is Summer League MVP Keegan Murray. Following up a 23ppg Summer League run Murray averaged 16 ppg on 70% from the field in the NBA preseason. With Sacramento not in position to compete for anything significant I can see Mike Brown giving him solid minutes throughout the season. Once he fully adapts to the pace of the league I can see a few nights where he sets the league on fire. At 6'8 and 225 lbs he will be difficult to defend with 1 wing player. His size will allow him to punish teams for using a small lineup. With his 6'11 wingspan I expect him to terrorize teams all season. I can see his game aging well…. kinda like Steve Smith. He could possibly serve as that type of player for close to 20 years if health allows him to.
Finally we have Delaware's own Bones Hyland. From VCU he's 1 full season into his career and he's already looking like a routine 6th Man of the Year candidate. He plays the game with the type of joy that makes it hard to root against him. With Denver rolling out a healthy roster this year I expect Bones to become an even bigger fan favorite. He will be in more high profile matchups which will amplify his popularity if he executes properly. Last season you could just see how easy the game was to him by the all star break. Bones has a very slender body type with a ridiculous handle and can get a shot off in any scenario. I think he's capable of a few 40 point games this season. The last time Jokic, MPJ, and Jamal Murray were all on the floor together in the playoffs they were in the Western Conference Finals in the Bubble. Jokic has won back to back MVP awards since then. Makes you wonder if Bones can play a key part in getting the Denver Nuggets into the NBA Finals.
Proctor, a 6-foot-4 floor general out of Canberra (AUS) NBA Global Academy made his decision public ahead of the Nike Hoops Summit event where he is competing for the World Team. He chose Duke over Arizona and playing a year in the NBA G-League. Other schools involved included Oklahoma, Tennessee and Louisville. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer offered Proctor on January 25th via a video conference call and then facilitated a visit to campus on February 14th. Even though he played his entire career in another country, Proctor appreciated the rarity and exclusivity of a Blue Devil offer at the time.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic I did an annual list of basketball players on each level that I expected to take a huge leap in the upcoming season. The list consists of a player in high school, college, NBA rookie, and young veteran. I skipped last year because I didn't get a great look at the younger talent considering many events were cancelled. This time around I want to start off a little different. With that said let me introduce you to Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama is a French 17 year old goalkeeper turned 7'3 hoop phenom. Some would say he's the best prospect in the world. Fresh off averaging 5.7 blocks a game in the U19 FIBA World Cup he's already viewed as one of the most lethal defensive weapons on Earth. He made his pro debut with Nanterre 92 in 2020. This team has had Tony Parker, Boris Dias, and Rudy Gobert in the past. That should say enough about their development of youth talent. With his mix of coordination, timing, and 7'9 wingspan he's an absolute nightmare on defense. A background in soccer definitely played a part in this. His ability to handle and shoot the ball feeds directly into the sentiment that foreign bigs are more skilled at a youth level than American bigs by a wide margin. Also he has an array of post moves and runs the floor like a wild deer. There's a possible chance that he comes over to the US in the 2023 draft. When his body matures and strengthens the possibilities are endless.
Next up we have the number 2 ranked recruit in the 2021 class Paolo Banchero. P5 is an Italian American from Seattle. After committing to Duke in August 2020 he's been considered the crown jewel of Coach K's final season. At 6'10 and 250 lbs you'd expect him to be a prototypical low post big man but he's far from that. With a great face up game and the ability to play bully ball Paolo can create for himself. He can also knockdown mid-range shots which can do a lot for floor spacing. His passing and ball handling makes him even more of a threat. Paolo has traits of multiple players but there isn't really 1 solid pick for a comparison. I've seen every comparison from an athletic David West to a stronger Tobias Harris. Honestly I think you would have to watch him without expectations and draw your own conclusion.
Straight out of Chesapeake Virginia we have the Oak Hill all time scoring leader Cam Thomas. In my opinion he's the best scorer in this year's draft. He went into summer league and left his mark winning Co-MVP after averaging 27 points per game. He's the ultimate 3 level scorer with unbreakable confidence. He's very shifty and strong. This helps him create space and score through contact. The biggest plus to the situation that he's in with Brooklyn is that he gets to work with some of the best scorers of this era. When I watch him I see flashes of different players. Two players that come to mind are Joe Johnson and Nick Young. Like Cam, they both have a real solid body and have no issue getting their shot off due to the ability to create and simply not give a fuck who is defending them. I have a serious belief that if Cam has a long healthy career he's capable of touching 25,000 points. He's going to make the 757 proud.
Last but not least we have Jordan Poole. He's my pick for Most Improved Player. I thought he was good coming out of Michigan but after having time to develop around future hall of famers he's on track to break out. After having front row seats to the Steph Curry show all last season he got the understanding of what it takes to elevate to the next level. Poole averaged 21.8 points per game on 50.6% shooting in the preseason and there's a great chance this translates to the regular season. The game is slowing down for him and becoming easier. With the possibility of a contract extension coming up Poole will literally be playing for a chance at generational wealth. Expect him to play like his life is on the line all season.
