Stock Up: Prospects emerge at The Circuit League I The Jump

Carrollton, Texas – The Circuit League I The Jump took place Friday through Sunday with some of the top prospects in the classes of 2023, 2024 and beyond taking the court. On3 was on hand for all the action, which includes a number of prospects seeing their stock rise with standout performances.

Say hello to Zayden High

If this weekend was any indication, expect Zayden High to be one of the biggest risers in the 2023 cycle this spring and summer. High was around 6-foot-6.5 around a year ago. Now he is closing in on 6-foot-9 with the skill of a small forward in many ways. His ability to stretch the floor as a four man with the ability to put the ball on the deck against bigs, and make the correct pass makes for a a coveted high-major prospect. High played both ends of the floor extremely well this weekend. He posted a Saturday game of four or five made three-pointers, and five or six effort blocked shots while making the correct pass and rebounding outside his area. 

The offer list currently consists of Houston, Arkansas, SMU, Texas A&M, SMU, UTSA, Oral Roberts and Western Kentucky. Expect that to change quickly. Florida is a school High has always had serious interest in, along with the blue bloods. 

Teng and McNeeley lead two thru five

2. SG Kur Teng, Haverhill (Mass.) Bradford Christian Academy – 2024

Teng will be one of the biggest risers this spring and summer in the 2024 class. That is, for the programs that value perimeter shot making at a high clip, scoring ability in the mid-range, a floater going left. Add in an effective help defender, competitive rebounder, and a player in which the game moves slow around him; and Teng is a near can’t miss high-major prospect. The near 6-foot-4 shooting guard is one of those players that can score 20+points without volume attempts, and impacts the game without the ball. He has a feel and understanding of how to use screens to create ideal space on the catch. Nothing is rushed in his game. One area he has to improve is playing stronger with the ball in talent neutralized situations.

Teng’s offer list currently consists of Providence, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Clemson, Texas A&M, Siena and Wichita State. He’s receiving interest up and down the East Coast.

3. F Liam McNeeley, Plano (Texas) John Paul II – 2024

McNeeley has grown over an inch in the last year. He’s now closer to 6-foot-8 than 6-foot-7 with a high-end skill level. The DFW area budding star showed the ability to shoot the ball from deep off the catch or dribble, handle and create against pressure defense, and the strength and physicality to play through contact. His ability to attack going right or left off the bounce makes for a difficult assignment. Can score and make three’s in bunches. As impressive as his ability to score, is his court vision and playmaking from the wing. He applies pressure on defenses in a variety of ways.

Texas, Stanford, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M are all heavily recruiting the versatile sophomore.

4. SG David Katoa, Salt Lake City (Utah) Real Salt Lake Academy – 2024

The sophomore shooting guard David Katoa impressed Friday night with the ability to handle the ball against pressure, knock down the three off the catch or dribble, and sneaky quickness to weave through traffic and finish with either hand. He displayed the ability to score at all three levels in the game. Katoa impacted the game with or without the ball, and on both ends of the floor. He showed a knack for making timely plays on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-3 guard has offers from Utah State and UC-Santa Barbara with serious interest from BYU, Utah, Stanford and others.

5. SG Will Cianfrini, Galveston (Texas) Ball High – 2024

The 6-foot-4 guard doesn’t play for one of the big name AAU teams, but he’s worthy of playing on the featured court. Cianfrini played in the 16U division over the weekend, and displayed a potentially high-major skill set. He played above the rim attacking the basket, ripping down rebounds and contesting shots. Offensively, he threw down a couple of impressive dunks off the bounce in the half court, and was aggressive in all aspects on the offensive end. Cianfrini knocked down the three on the catch, and got to the mid-range off a hard bounce or two going left. The strong play over the weekend backed up a first team All-District selection as a sophomore for Ball High. Cianfrini will enter the live period without a division I offer, but On3 doesn’t not expect that to be the case much longer.

Recruiting notes

On3 Consensus 4-star shooting guard Wesley Yates plans to make more visits before closing in on a decision. Baylor and Stanford (mom’s favorite) are thought to be the top two long term with Auburn in the fight. Alabama is a likely visit prior to a decision.

On3 Consensus 4-star shooting guard Ja’Kobe Walter spoke with the Kansas State staff after Jerome Tang was hired. He told Tang and Ulric Maligi that they weren’t wasting their time recruiting him. Baylor is believed to be the favorite headed into spring visits, which will include Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. Walter’s father is a big Alabama football fan, and the Crimson Tide are all in. The family is originally from Alabama.

Junior point guard Jamyron Keller is working to set up visits to Colorado, and possibly Utah. Colorado assistant Rick Ray and the 6-foot-1 very stout point guard have built a solid relationship in recent months. Clemson is another school that is picking up the communication with the Central Texas prospect. The early offer list includes Wichita State, SMU, Wyoming and Oral Roberts. 

Sharpshooting junior guard Alex Cotton currently has an offer from Troy, but that is expected to change soon. Stanford was at Hebron High earlier this week, and is talking about setting up an official visit. Creighton is also talking official visit possibilities. Clemson, Oral Roberts and Butler are three mother schools that are showing serious interest. The academic minded 6-foot-4 guard mentioned Stanford and Texas as offers that would carry plenty of meaning. Cotton averaged 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and two assists per game as a junior. He connected on 111 three-pointers at a 40% clip on the season.