Strictly BBall Newsletter No. 1

High School Hoops are HERE!

Strictly BBall gives a season preview for high school basketball.

by Griffin Greenberg on September 20

The 2023-24 high school basketball season is right around the corner and it’s safe to say we are now in the transfer portal era of high school hoops. Top teams reloading, big name players on the move or switching classes, and so much more have highlighted an exciting and seemingly monumental summer of high school basketball.

Miss any of it? Want to stay up to date throughout the season? We got you covered in our weekly newsletter. This first edition will feature our Top 10 preseason team rankings, potential breakout players, potential top matchups, and more!

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Strictly BBall Preseason Top 10 Teams

by Griffin Greenberg

1. Link Academy (MO)

Record last season: 27-1

Key returners: Aaron Rowe

Key additions: Tre Johnson, Jasper Johnson, Labaron Philon, James Brown, Jalen Shelley, Mitchell Holmes, T.O. Barrett

2. Prolific Prep (CA)

Record last season: 35-2

Key returners: Tyran Stokes

Key additions: AJ Dybantsa, Zoom Diallo, Mikey Lewis, Derrion Reid, Aiden Sherrell, Winters Grady

3. Montverde Academy (FL)

Record last season: 23-3

Key returners: Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, Liam McNeeley, Curtis Givens, Asa Newell, Ace Flagg, Dhani Miller

Key additions: Rob Wright III, Caleb Gaskins, Kayden Allen

4. Paul VI Catholic (VA)

Record last season: 31-4

Key additions: Adlan Elamin

Key returners: Darren Harris, Patrick Ngongba, Isaiah Abraham, Garrett Sundra, Christian Gurdak, Ben Hammond, Anthony Brown, Jordan Hunter, Jordan Smith, Jaquan Womack

5. Long Island Lutheran (NY)

Record last season: 22-3

Key returners: VJ Edgecombe, Jacob Ross, Kayden Mingo, Dylan Mingo, Godswill Erheriene

Key additions: Alier Maluk, Kiyan Anthony, Nigel James

6. La Lumiere School (IN)

Record last season: 18-10

Key additions: Jalen Haralson, Darius Adams, Jerry Easter, Chuck Love, Steven Solano, Melvin Bell

7. IMG Academy (FL)

Record last season: 18-8

Key returners: Khani Rooths, Amari Allen

Key additions: Darius Acuff, Donnie Freeman, Cole Certa, Chase McCarty, Kareem Stagg

8. AZ Compass Prep (AZ)

Record last season: 24-6

Key returners: Jamari Phillips

Key additions: Jeremiah Fears, Sammie Yeanay, Del Jones, Luke Bamgboye, Jayce Nathaniel, Ethan Lathan, Imahri Wooten

9. Columbus High School (FL)

Record last season: 26-4

Key returners: Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, Malik Abdullahi, Benny Fragela

Key additions: Jase Richardson, Jaxon Richardson, Randy Smith

10. Huntington Expression Prep (WV)

Record last season: 18-10

Key returners: Dillon Tingler

Key additions: Darryn Peterson, Carlsheon Young, Khalil Green, Micah Tucker

Strictly Joe’s Take

by Joe Doerrer

If there is one team I am most excited to watch this season it is the Strictly BBall No. 2 team, Prolific Prep. It’s not often you can say a high school team led by 2 Sophomores is a likely front-runner for a national championship. That is the case with Prolific Prep after the #1 ranked AJ Dybantsa made an unprecedented move to team up with the #2 ranked Tyran Stokes this offseason.

AJ and Tyran have a chance to become one of the best high school basketball duos of all time. But that team’s talent does not stop there. They also added 5 stars Zoom Diallo, Derrion Reid, and Aiden Sherrell. WATCH OUT!

Matchups to Watch

by Griffin Greenberg

Link Academy (MO) vs. Prolific Prep (CA) on December 7th

Yes, the Strictly BBall No. 1 and No. 2 Preseason Teams are set to face off in Kentucky. In a matchup back in Jasper Johnson’s home state, these two loaded teams could preview a potential Geico Nationals matchup.

Don Bosco Prep (NJ) vs Centennial (CA) on January 13th.

Don Bosco Prep has been rumored to have a huge national schedule this upcoming season and one of the set matchups will be against Centennial out of Corona, California at the prestigious Hoophall Classic. The New Jersey school highlights the No. 2 player in the 2024 class in Dylan Harper, a 6’5” guard that has a final 5 list of Auburn, Duke, Rutgers, Kansas, and Indiana. Centennial features 5-star Arizona commit Carter Bryant and 4-star UCLA commit Eric Freeny.

AZ Compass Prep (AZ) vs. Link Academy (MO) on November 20th

A rematch of the Geico Nationals Championship game is set to take place this November. However, both teams look a bit different with limited returners each. With Jamari Phillips and Aaron Rowe highlighting the main returners on each squad. Both teams will be looking to prove they can make it back to that championship game once again.

What players will make the biggest jump?

by Griffin Greenberg

2024 Ryan “RJ” Jones Jr. (The Rock School - Florida) - The 6’9” forward battled injuries last season but should have a huge senior season. This summer he showcased his elite shooting ability and polished all around offensive game. Many high level D1 colleges have shown interest in such as Virginia Tech, Florida, LSU, Xavier, Missouri, and Miami.

2024 Emmanuel Stephen (Dream City Chrisian - Arizona) - Stephen had a huge summer and should carry that into the season. The 7-foot big is one of the best shot blockers in high school basketball and is outstanding overall on the glass. Overall, he averaged 8.8 RPG and 3 BPG in the EYBL circuit. Stephen just jumped into the top 100, and that may change as has a chance to rise his ranking even more.

2024 Darrion Sutton (Overtime Elite - Georgia) - Darrion Sutton wasn’t very well known coming into the summer, which is strange for how good he is, but he has since been ranked 82nd by 247Sports. Sutton is a 6’9” forward that has some of the cleanest, most explosive handles you’ll see for someone his height and can play any position on the court. That combined with his ability to shoot makes him an elite prospect and high major colleges such as Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio State, Creighton have already offered him.

2025 Jeremiah Green (Sunrise Christian - Kansas) - Green just transferred to Sunrise Christian last week and has the opportunity to make a lot of noise this season. The Texan point guard can score at multiple levels and is physical, not shying away from embracing contact. Green is already a top 10 guard in a very intriguing guard class, but has a chance to move up even higher. He’ll be showcased in the NIBC alongside fellow guard David Castillo and the duo should make up one of the best backcourts in the nation.

2025 Carlsheon Young (Huntington Expression Prep - West Virginia) - The 6’5” Oklahoman is another guard that has been on the move. Young transferred to Huntington Prep and will play alongside fellow 6’5” guard Darryn Peterson, who is the No. 2 2025 recruit in the nation. Despite sharing the court with a top prospect, Young will undoubtedly get his fair share to contribute and should do so with his scoring. The crafty southpaw guard can get a bucket at will at all levels and should have a huge junior season playing on a national schedule.

Strictly Joe’s Take

by Joe Doerrer

2025 Bryson Tiller (Overtime Elite - Georgia) - Bryson Tiller played a lot of last season alongside Amen and Ausar Thompson on the City Reapers of Overtime Elite. This led to him not being a focal point of the offense, but he showed some incredible flashes against other future NBA talent.Bryson is a 6’8 forward that is built like an NBA player, plays with a high level of IQ, and has a rapidly expanding face-up game. I believe Tiller is a top 5 talent in the 2025 class and he will be given the opportunity to really showcase that this season.

Weekly Recruiting Update

by Griffin Greenberg

Commitments

Class of 2024 5-star Archbishop Wood (Warminster, PA) guard Jalil Bethea has committed to Miami.

Class of 2024 4-star Prolific Prep (Napa, CA) center Aiden Sherrell has committed to Alabama.

Class of 2024 4-star Lutheran (Milwaukee, WI) guard Kon Knueppel has committed to Duke.

Class of 2024 4-star Little Rock Central (Little Rock, AR) forward Annor Boateng has committed to Missouri.

Class of 2024 4-star Link Academy (Branson, MO) guard Labaron Philon has committed to Kansas.

Class of 2024 4-star Myers Park (Charlotte, NC) guard Bishop Boswell has committed to Tennessee.

Class of 2024 4-star Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) forward Micah Robinson has committed to TCU.

Class of 2024 4-star Pasadena Memorial (Pasadena, TX) center Robert Miller has committed to LSU.

Class of 2024 4-star St. Rose (Belmar, NJ) forward Matthew Hodge has committed to Villanova.

Class of 2024 4-star PSAT Academy (Cypress, TX) center Trent Burns has committed to Missouri.

Class of 2024 4-star Phoenix Prep (Phoenix, AZ) guard Jeremiah Johnson has committed to Oklahoma State.

Class of 2024 3-star Harlan County (Baxter, KY) guard Trent Noah has committed to South Carolina.

Commitment dates

Class of 2024 4-star forward Tyler Betsey is set to announce his college decision between Alabama, Connecticut, and Cincinnati on October 6th.

Class of 2024 4-star forward Ryan Jones Jr. is set to announce his college decision between Florida and Virginia Tech today, October 2nd.

Class of 2024 4-star center Emmanuel Stephen is set to announce his college decision between Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Southern California, and Miami on October 3rd.

Class of 2024 3-star point guard Jase Butler is set to announce his college decision between Stanford, UCSB, Illinois, and San Francisco on October 4th.

Final schools

Class of 2024 5-star forward Derrion Reid is down to 3 schools… Alabama, Georgia, and Florida State.

Class of 2024 5-star guard Boogie Fland is down to 3 schools… Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama.

Class of 2024 5-star center Patrick Ngongba is down to 8 schools… Providence, Kansas, Kentucky, Kansas State, Duke, Connecticut, Michigan, and Indiana.

Class of 2024 4-star forward Amier Ali is down to 5 schools… Kentucky, Arizona State, Alabama, Kansas and Arkansas.

Class of 2024 4-star forward Rakease Passmore is down to 4 schools… Arkansas, Kansas, LSU, and Oklahoma.

Class of 2024 4-star guard Isaiah Elohim is down to 3 schools… Arkansas, Kansas, and Villanova.

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