Who’s Got Next? is a weekly column by Sean Moran, the RTC recruiting guru. Once a week he will bring you an overview of what’s going on in the complex world of recruiting, from who is signing where among the seniors to discussing the recruitment of the top uncommitted players in the country. We also encourage you to check out his contributions at The Intentional Foul dedicated to recruiting coverage and analysis. You can also follow Sean at his Twitter account @Seanmohoops for up-to-date news from the high school and college hoops scene. If you have any suggestions as to areas we are missing or different things you would like to see, please let us know at rushthecourt@yahoo.com.
Note: Scout.com used for all player rankings.
The Next Big Thing in NYC
Lance Stephenson. Isaiah Whitehead. Rawle Alkins? New York City is known for its prep basketball, and while the overall talent has been in a steady decline as of late, there have still been a few torch-bearers over the years. Stephenson led Lincoln High School through 2009 and then passed the mantle down to Whitehead, who is now a high-scoring freshman at Seton Hall. Alkins, the 6’5” junior wing from Christ the King High School might be the next big-time prospect out of the city. He is currently considered a four-star recruit in his junior class, ranked No. 31 overall and the No. 8 small forward, but with a strong start to his season that ranking could begin to skyrocket very soon.
Similar to Stephenson and Whitehead, you will never hear the criticism that Alkins needs to work on his strength. The broad-shouldered player looks like a fullback but moves like an elite runner. He recently showcased his power and agility at the Chicago Elite Classic last Saturday. Playing against one of the local Chicago teams in St. Rita High School, which features Kentucky-bound four-star guard Charles Matthews, there was no question regarding who was the best player on the court. In leading Christ the King to a blowout win, Alkins finished with 28 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals on 11-of-16 shooting. The main weakness in Alkins’ game centers on his outside shooting ability, but he hit four threes from all over the court, in addition to showing his repertoire of rim-rattling dunks, pull-up jumpers, and nifty assists. While it was obvious to anyone watching who the star was, Alkins hammered that point home when he went one-on-one with Matthews and finished things off with a driving lay-up.
Over the summer, Alkins impressed college coaches at the Adidas Unrivaled camp, where he was named to the underclassmen all-star game, and then in Las Vegas when he played AAU ball for the NY Rens. Schools such as Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Villanova, Rutgers, Fordham, and Hofstra were on him early, but now other high-majors such as Florida, Louisville and Indiana have become involved. In the fall Alkins managed to visit Seton Hall, Indiana and Villanova, but expect numerous others to become interested in his services very soon. Stephenson and Whitehead were stars during their high school tenure and now Alkins has the next two years to fill headlines as the next superstar hailing from the hoops mecca.
Ed Morrow: Outplaying His Ranking
There are certain players each year who drastically outperform their recruiting rankings once they get to college, whether it’s the four-star who turns into a one-and-done player or the three-star who makes an immediate impact. One of these players will soon be 6’7” power forward Ed Morrow. The three-star senior currently plays for Simeon (IL), the top program in Illinois, and is headed to Nebraska next season. Morrow made his college choice in September and should see immediate minutes off the bench with the graduations of seniors Moses Abraham and David Rivers, the second and third leading rebounders on the team. At Simeon, Morrow is a no-frills big man who has had success against players such as Jahlil Okafor in the past and, most recently, four-star center Elijah Thomas. Against Thomas, Morrow filled up the stat sheet with 22 points, scoring from the mid-range and with a plethora of two-hand jams. In a few weeks, Morrow will have another big time match-up with five-star center Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter. It shouldn’t be a surprise when Morrow holds his own against the two highly-touted prospects ,and it shouldn’t be a surprise as well when Morrow becomes an everyday Big Ten contributor over the next four years.