There is a saying among coaches that goes like this, "October to April is when we become a team, the rest is when you become a player."
July is the time of year when elite players step it up a notch and separate themselves from their peers. During the month, college coaches head out to evaluate prospects in full and often make their decisions on which recruits they want or don't want based on a player’s improvement, performance and production.
The players who play the game to prove what they can do get lost in the crowd, while the prospects who focus on improving and winning have the best chance of rising up in the ESPN 100 rankings and furthering their recruiting stock.
Here’s a list of currently ranked prospects whose stock could see a rise this month based on what we have already seen from them and what we project will happen.
1. Myles Turner (Euless, Texas/Trinity), No. 10 in the ESPN 100
Why he could move up: His unique package
Turner just continues to evolve and he’s a prospect with a high ceiling. Three areas stand out about Turner:
A. He shrinks the floor with his length and elite shot-blocking ability, whether it’s on the ball or coming from the weak side. He also does a great job of contesting shots and doesn’t always go for the home run swat.
B. He has the ability to sink jumpers, which is extremely uncommon for his size. He strokes them comfortably and within the flow of the offense. Not comparing him to Tim Duncan, but Turner can bank shots from the midrange like the NBA superstar.
C. His passing from the low-post is tremendous. He can score a little out of the low post when led to the rim, but he can hit cutters and skip the ball to the opposite side of the floor.
I'd like to see him run harder and faster, but when you combine those three attributes you have a player primed to move up in the rankings. He sits at No. 10 so there’s not a lot of room for him to go, but if he continues on this track, he can be a special riser in this class.
2. Isaiah Whitehead (Brooklyn, Lincoln), No. 35
Why he could move up: Improved decision-making
He’s a consensus top-25 talent in terms of scoring ability and playing the game at a high level, but he has made marked improvement in his decision-making. In recent play, he has allowed his elite scoring ability to come within the flow rather than doing his own thing at an inopportune time. When he makes a good decision, he’s an excellent scoring guard with the ability to distribute. As he limits his mistakes and continues his prolific scoring, his stock rises. The ability to process the game during action is vital for him to grow.
3. Reid Travis (Minneapolis, De La Salle), No. 40
Why he could move up: Great production
Travis has a physical, college-ready body and features one of the most efficient and effective face-up games at the 4-spot. Sometimes he gets overshadowed on the AAU circuit by teammate and No. 3 senior, Tyus Jones, but it also grants him exposure that he might not receive during the high school season. With that said, what people will see is an extremely productive player who can stroke it from 15-19 feet, creatively use shot fakes to get to the cup and fearlessly rebounds in traffic. He’s the eighth-ranked power forward in the class but his production could help him rise.
4. Kameron Chatman (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly), No. 42
Why he could move up: College scoring skills
Chatman is a multi-skilled player with a polished college scoring arsenal. But those skills have flown under the radar as Chatman is still relatively unknown on the national scene after sitting out the high school season due to ineligibility following his transfer from Oregon. He managed to open a lot of eyes with his play at the NBPA Top 100 Camp a few weeks ago. Chatman has a high IQ and is a versatile scorer. The southpaw is interchangeable up front, able to slide to the 4 and stretch you out behind the line or go inside to dominate smaller guys at the 3. You can see the confidence in his game and he has the instincts to get to his spot on the floor and score at all three levels.
5. Isaac Copeland (Raleigh, N.C./Brewster Academy), No. 47
Why he could move up: Upside is too great not to
This is an important month for Copeland as hopefully he has spent time in the gym recently and will bring a new, fresh approach on the court in terms of his effort. His size, length and skills are well established and scream potential but he needs to be more productive. With his physical gifts and talents he should affect the game more than he does. July is the time that production needs to manifest itself to see him go from potential to player. If that happens, you’ll see him rise up the charts.
6. Parker Jackson-Cartwright (Los Angeles, Loyola), No. 52
Why he could move up: Healthy again
This Arizona commit has been held back by injuries but he appears to be healthy and is displaying the skills and production of an elite point guard. Forget his size -- he’s listed at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds – Parker is a true leader on the floor with a great basketball IQ and you need to put a heavy price tag on that. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with quickness and savvy – two attributes that help him be a productive point guard. When he’s not setting the table for others, he has the ability to score with open jumpers, dribble pull-ups and floaters in the lane. Now that he’s healthy, I think we’ll see more of the Jackson-Cartwright we saw in the past.
7. Pascal Chukwu (Westport, Conn./Fairfield), No. 58
Why he could move up: Becoming more assertive
When you’re 7-feet tall, there’s always a chance for your stock to rise. What jumps off the page against Chukwu is his length and explosion. He’s another elite shot-blocker in this class sand makes opponents think twice about coming into the lane. He rebounds with length, often tipping the ball to himself, and while his scoring is minimal, he can finish via drop-off passes and lobs. He’s becoming a hot commodity as college coaches will flock to see him throughout July.
8. Elbert Robinson (Garland, Texas), No. 60
Why he could move up: Getting in optimal physical shape
July will be a big month for Elbert as the constant competition this month will make scouts aware of how serious he takes his conditioning – an area of his game that needs improvement. This lefty is massive at 6-foot-11 and 270 pounds and makes his presence felt on the offensive glass. His ability to pass out the post is impressive as he can connect with the entry man to repost or skip it out to a shooter. He works hard for deep position and he knows how to make and maintain deep contact with his man. His conditioning is an area of concern for long-term success but his best basketball still lies ahead of him.
9. Riley Norris (Albertville, Ala./High School), No. 64
Why he could move up: More exposure in July
At first glance he doesn’t pass the eye test, but he’s a big-time shooter who’s equally efficient hitting shots off rhythm dribble or catch-and-shoot. He reminds me of former Creighton star and current Atlanta Hawk Kyle Korver. I love the way he runs off of screens to make shots and he’s not afraid to shoot spot-up 3s in transition. I think he’s still feeling out how to dominate a possession like a gifted player should, but his unique ability to get his shot off will make him a long-term success.
10. Ja’Quan Newton (Philadelphia, Neumann-Goretti), No. 67
Why he could move up: Competitor
He started out as a young player with a big reputation and there was a period of time where he leveled off a little, but he’s starting to make a rush back to elite status. He has a GPS for getting to the rim and he’s never off course. On his dribble penetrations, he attacks the seams and gets to the rim or finishes with his patented floater using body control. He thrives in the transition game and loves to be the punctuation mark on a play. He’s not a great shooter but he’s got the competitive nature to take big shots and the mindset that he will make it.
Five more to consider: Trey Kell (No. 100), Joe Burton (98), Boubacar Moungoro (99), Dominic Magee (71) and Devin Robinson (74).