photo by Jeff Gilbert of Dayton Daily

It feels like the summer of 2021 has flown by already. We are here in the month of July and the June high school live periods have just pasted. The July live periods for college coaches are back this summer after the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down last summer. College coaches have hit the road to see prospects in person and prospects have began to take in person visits for the first time in months. In this article we take a look at which prospects between the 2023 and 2022 class are considered “undervalued” and that college coaches should keep tabs on throughout this month and beyond.

2023 PG Gabe Cupps (Centerville, OH)
Gabe Cupps is one of the best facilitators in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-0 point guard had himself an eye-opening June live period playing in front of a plethora of college coaches. He has earned offers from Xavier, Dayton, Ohio State, Kansas State, Cincinnati, Brown, Miami (OH), Clemson, Charleston, and others in the month of June. Cupps is coming off his state championship sophomore season and has Centerville (OH) as one of the best public schools in the country coming into the 2021-2022. Cupps plays at a nice pace, never seems rushed, has nice length for his size, can convert jumpers, and a phenomenal lead guard. He is certainly becoming one of the top pure point guards in the 2023 class and should rise his stock over the next few months. Gabe will be running with Midwest Basketball Club (OH) during the July live periods.

2022 SG A.J. Smith (Combine Academy, NC)
One of the most slept on prospects in the 2022 class, A.J. Smith, should have himself a breakout senior season playing on the national stage once again with Combine Academy. He is a 6-foot-5 physical guard with a college ready body, an amazing on-ball defender, plays with a high motor, and a capable consistent shot making guard. With his physical appearance, he is able to finish through traffic and draw fouls when attacking the rim. Smith will give any college program that toughness, high energy when on the floor, and he will always play to his strengths. Wichita State has been the most recent offer for the A.J. Smith. Rice and Vanderbilt have already offered as well. A.J. Smith will be running with Team Charlotte (NC) for July.

2023 F Osiris Grady (Coronado, NV)
One of the biggest stock risers coming out of the West Coast over the last few months, Osiris Grady has gained attention of most college coaches and scouts recently. Grady is a 6-foot-9 forward with capable versatility on both ends of the floor and has high upside. He plays with a very high motor, will not hesitate to dive on the floor for loose balls, can defend the rim if needed, runs the floor at a high level, and has been developing his perimeter jumpers over the last few months. Osiris has been buzzing and has gained offers recently from USC (Southern Cal), LMU, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV, and others have shown interest. He will be running with the Las Vegas Punishers (NV) throughout the month of July. College coaches should be showing more interest in the 2023 forward and more offers could start pouring in.

2022 PG Milos Uzan (Prolific Prep, CA)
I still feel as though Milos Uzan is not receiving as much attention as he should be from next level coaches. The 6-foot-2 rising senior point guard has made his debut in the ESPN national rankings recently for the 2022 class, coming in ranked No. 54. Going from unranked to ranked since the end of his incredible junior season, Uzan has had one of the biggest stock rises. Milos holds offers from most PAC-12 programs like Arizona State, USC, Washington, and Cal. Running with Dream Vision (AZ) for the rest of the summer, he should be receiving more attention throughout these July live periods. He is one of the best pure point guards we have to witness. Milos can control the tempo for his team, makes very nice reads off pick and rolls, an excellent mid-range shot maker, and has been more confident shooting and making the three ball.

2023 F Malik Presley (San Marcos, TX)
Malik Presley is an interesting prospect in the 2023 class. Out of San Marcos, Presley is a do it all type of forward and has the potential to be a 3-and-D player as he continues to grow. The 6-foot-6 forward will impress next level scouts with his all around motor and high energy. The kid can be effective on the glass, a versatile defender, has length, can knock down three’s, and gives his all when all the floor. An impressive spring with Nike EYBL Houston Hoops (TX) 16U squad. Presley has recently gained offers from Texas State, UTSA, and Oral Roberts and should receive a few more interest later this month during the live periods. Will help a college program big time around NCAA Tournament time.

2022 SG A.J. Brown (Orlando Christian Prep, FL)
One of the best shot making prospects regardless of class will be a major name to keep an eye on come July. A.J. Brown has boosted his stock since the end of his junior season at Orlando Christian Prep (FL) after help leading them to another FHSAA class 2A state title. Brown is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard that will be running with Nike EYBL Each One Teach One (FL) this July. He has the positional size, an efficient shot maker from all levels, has outstanding defensive awareness, plays with an elite motor, and has the athleticism for his position. A.J. has impressive length as well which allows him to disrupt passing lanes defensively and also help crash the boards. He has recently earned offers from Clemson, Drake, Texas A&M, and VCU after the June high school live period.

2023 F Cade Phillips (Westbrook Christian, AL)
Cade Phillips is probably one of the biggest sleepers right now in the 2023 class. Not a very big or flashy name but his play on the court should speak for itself. The 6-foot-9 forward shows some shade of Zach Collins, current Portland Trailblazers forward. Phillips does all the little things a college coach will love at the next level. He is an asset on the glass, runs the floor very well, has the athletic ability to be a lob threat, has long arms at 6-foot-9, protects the rim fairly well, and plays with toughness when on the floor. His high motor should also open more eyes during these July live periods. Cade has offers currently from Stanford, Samford, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, Tulane, and most recent offer from Georgia Tech. He will be running with Nike EYBL TSF (GA) 16U squad this month.

2022 PG Jaden Clayton (Dream City Christian, AZ)
Dream City Christian point guard, Jaden Clayton, is one of the most underrated pure point guards in the entire 2022 class. The Canada native will be running with Canada’s Nike EYBL program, UPlay this month in the Nike Peach Jam. The 6-foot-1 point guard did not have much buzz coming into this spring, summer after a solid junior season with top-25 ranked Dream City Christian (AZ). Jaden should catch some eyes over the next few weeks during the July live period. He is a fantastic decision maker with the ball, rarely turns the ball over, can hit shots when needed, can be a pest defensively with his size, and makes very nice reads. He holds multiple interest and has offers from Detroit Mercy and recently Oral Roberts. College coaches should be tapped in as soon as possible for Jaden as these next few months go along.

2022 SG T.J. Clark (Newton, GA)
Playing along side Stephon Castle, one of the best prospects in the 2023 class, T.J. Clark has made his own name for himself over the last few months. The 6-foot-3 guard should be a name to keep tabs on for college coaches coming up in the live periods this month. Clark has terrific size, a very high energy player, a pitbull and pesky defender, plays with next level toughness, and can be a reliable perimeter shot maker. A sleeper type prospect as of now, but schools like Jacksonville State, Costal Carolina, Charleston Southern, Jacksonville, and others have been in contact and/or already offered the rising junior. T.J. Clark will be running with Atlanta Xpress 16U team this month. College coaches and more are going to love his intensity and high energy he plays with consistently.