The spring portion of this year’s AAU season ended just a couple weeks ago and we are now in the month of June. Last month we already put out some of the best prospects who have had stock rising type spring grassroots seasons but we could not fit every single one in just one article. Here is part two of which prospects have had stock rising type spring seasons.
2022 C Dereck Lively II (Westtown School, PA) – Dereck Lively II has finally opened the eyes of other national media outlets and scouts. The 7-foot-1 big man has had one hell of a grassroots season up to this point playing on one of the best teams in the country, Nike EYBL Team Final (PA), and alongside his friend Jalen Duren in the front court. Lively has a very high ceiling with pro potential. He holds a legit 7-foot-4 wingspan and has an extremely long body type. His length allows him to alternate or block shots at a high rate, a lob threat on offense, he plays with a very high motor, runs the floor well, and has shown his improved versatile offensive skills hitting perimeter shots in a few games. NBA scouts are going to be all over Lively during his time in college.
2022 F Josh Reed (Pace Academy, GA) – Josh Reed was one of my potential stock rising prospects to break out this spring in an article released in early March. Coming off his state championship run with Pace Academy (GA), Reed has bought his consistent play over to the AAU season. Since March, he has earned offers from Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Northwestern, Iona, Arkansas, Clemson, South Carolina, and among others. Josh is a 3-and-D prospect who will always show great production when he is on the floor. He has improved physically, can space the floor with his outside shooting, and has shown confidence in scoring the ball in others ways on the floor. Reed is the type of player that college coaches love and especially when the NCAA Tournament comes along. He is a high motor prospect with quality defensive awareness. Still one of the top sleepers in the 2022 class.
2022 PG Noah Shelby (Greenhill School, TX/Vanderbilt) – Another prospect I had on my potential stock risers list for this spring? Noah Shelby of Greenhill School (TX). Shelby has succeeded expectations throughout the spring. Playing in big time games against prospects ranked higher than him, Shelby keeps his poise at all times and just continues to do him and play his game. The 6-foot-3 Vanderbilt commit is an excellent shot maker whether off the catch or off the bounce. Noah has that Damian Lillard, Trae Young, Steph Curry type range from beyond the arc, can hit shots in the midrange, a nice in-between game, and has the mental toughness that Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse is going to love. The future Commodore is going to be an elite big time shot maker over the next few years in the SEC.
2022 F Ernest Udeh Jr. (Dr. Phillips, FL) – Udeh Jr. has been on the rise over these last few weeks and has had an outstanding spring portion of this year’s grassroots season playing with 3SSB Southeast Elite (FL). The 6-foot-10 forward hs earned offers from schools like Kansas, Iona, George Washington, Creighton, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Seton Hall, Miami, and among others since the ending of his junior season. Ernest holds a college ready body, an explosive finisher, leaper, an elite rim protector, plays with a high motor for a big man, and has the ability to stay in front of guards. College coaches have not hesitated to offer and contact the 6-foot-10 forward and much more can start reeling in as the summer goes along and as we head into the June high school live periods and July live periods.
2022 F Dillon Mitchell (Bishop McLaughlin, FL) – Dillon Mitchell has opened many eyes nationally since the end of his junior season at Bishop McLaughlin where he averaged 19.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 1.9 BPG. The 6-foot-8 junior forward has boosted his stock over the last few months running with Nike EYBL Each One Teach One (FL). Not only has he received some attention from college coaches, but NBA scouts have also been intrigued by his size and effectiveness on the floor. Mitchell has next level size with a next level body frame already. He is an athletic explosive finisher, quick off the floor, block shots, and excels in transition. Scouts have been mainly impressed with his defensive skill. His off-ball and on-ball defense has gone unnoticed and could be a potential athletic 3-and-D prospect at the next level. USC, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida State, Miami, Auburn, and among others have offered Dillon Mitchell since March.
2022 SG Oziyah Sellers (Southern Cal Academy, CA) – A name that many might not have known coming into this grassroots season, Oziyah Sellers actually has been a sleeper prospect in the loaded 2022 class but has received much more attention over the last few weeks. Sellers is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard with bounce and impressive athleticism. He can shoot the three ball at a solid rate and can be a potential all level scoring guard. He has earned offers from USC, San Francisco, Creighton, New Mexico, Utah State, San Jose State, and among others since the end of his junior season at Southern California Academy. Sellers is certainly not done just yet and is just scratching the surface on his potential as an elite prospect.
The Grind Hoops by Samad Hines 