West Coast July Evaluations

Grant Verhoeven, 6-8 PF/C Visalia (Calif.) Central Valley Christian. The best prospect in the west not currently listed in the 2012 Top 100, Verhoeven is an absolute stud that could play for any school in the country. A terrific defender and rebounder, Verhoeven plays with an energy level that is unmatched by any other prospect in the west. He relishes physical contact, but he is far from a dirty player. He’s physical the way Mark Madsen was physical. He bumps and bodies his opponent (legally) at every opportunity. He’s got a decent touch out to 15-17 feet, but he prefers to spend his time inside (smart choice) and use his size advantage for scoring opportunities. The only reason to recruit him is if you want to win.

Ben Carter, 6-7 PF Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. Carter is another post prospect that loves contact. He’s constantly putting a forearm into the back of an opposing offensive player and he plays the game with an edge (in a good way). He’s a unique four man in that he has a very skilled, finesse game away from the basket (terrific passer, great feel), but he’s also very comfortable playing a physical game in the paint. He’s got terrific ball skills for a power forward and he’s a deceptive athlete. He and Verhoeven are the two most underrated players in the west for 2012.

Zena Edosomwan, 6-7 SR PF/C North Hollywood (Calif.) Harvard-Westlake. Edosomwan has made remarkable strides in the past three years and he had a very good showing when he came back to SoCal after spending the first few days in Indianapolis. An underrated athlete, Edosomwan is a good rebounder and defender with a developing face-up shot out to 15 feet or so. He’s not yet consistent with that shot, but he makes enough of them now that you can see it being a weapon when he gets to college. He still needs to improve his footwork in the low-post, but it’s getting better and there’s little doubt that he will eventually being a low-post option. This is a kid that works on his game. He gets it. He plays hard even when he’s not getting touches – which is something you don’t always see with young post players. It won’t be a surprise when he’s outplaying some of his more highly rated contemporaries a few years from now.

Mike Bryson, 6-4 SG Sacramento (Calif.) Foothill. The surprise of the early period, Bryson was lighting it up nearly every time he stepped on the court. A good, not great, athlete, Bryson has a nice frame and an excellent stroke with deep range. But he’s not just a shooter, as he scored in a variety of ways and did a fairly good job defensively at well. He’s a high major prospect and a multitude of coaches were asking about him by the end of the first period.

Jordan Loveridge, 6-5 PF West Jordan (Utah) High. An undersized four man with a big booty, long arms and high skill level, Loveridge is a very intriguing prospect. He’s another guy that has very good ball skills away from the basket, but the power game to play in the paint as well. He’s got very good feet and hands. At the right level, Loveridge figures to be a very tough match-up for opposing four men.