We've already told you that July is the biggest month of the year in basketball recruiting, complete with storylines, stock risers, college coaches and the biggest events to watch.
So as you can guess, our team of RecruitingNation scouts has a lot to keep their eyes on this month on the recruiting trail. With the LeBron James Skills Academy set to shift a busy month into high gear on Saturday, we decided to check in with our experts one more time, before they hit the road, to see what they'll be watching for in July.
What are you most interested to see in July on the recruiting trail?
Dave Telep: July is a month when good players have a chance to change their fortunes and become great prospects. For me, seeing guys get out of their comfort zone and raise their level of play is what it's about in July. I think a significant number of good players in the 2014 class have been stuck in cruise control or simply have too casual an approach. You want to be considered the best? Well, this is the one month on the calendar when you have a finite window to seize your spot. Going into the month, I'm particularly interested to see which power forwards step up because nationally that position doesn't appear to be deep.
Paul Biancardi: Each July there is a new class of recruits ready to perform. I am most interested to see certain traits and who really worked on and developed their skills since the school year. I will be on the lookout for players who have improved themselves and not players who are out solely to prove themselves. I want to see guys who play for the scoreboard and not the scorebook and who play within the flow of the game and within their capabilities. That shows a winner's mentality and a willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team. Players such as Tyus Jones, Joel Berry, Justise Winslow and Stanley Johnson beat you not only with their talent but also with their basketball IQ. I also want to see guys who give good effort and high energy for an entire game. When I watch players such as Cliff Alexander, Jae'Sean Tate and Abdul-Malik Abu, they might not always play at a high level, but you can always count on their hustle and workmanlike approach and passion. They continue to win over coaches and scouts with their enormous competitive spirit. Finally, I will be on the lookout for traits such as passion, respect, preparedness, improvement and knowledge of the game.
Reggie Rankin: I am most interested to see how many head coaches will be following ESPN 100 center Myles Turner, who went from unranked to No. 10 overall in the 2014 class this spring and just this week trimmed his list to a more manageable number heading into July. Turner has been an off-the-charts performer this spring and early summer in numerous events, and his recruitment has simply exploded as calls and offers have been extended on a daily basis. Turner is without a doubt the hottest name going into the July evaluation periods. It will also be very interesting to see which schools make the cut as he plans to trim his list even further after this month. It is safe to say the head coaches who will be watching Turner in July will not be in evaluation mode -- he has already passed that test. Instead, they will be in full recruiting mode, wanting to be as visible as possible and making sure Turner, his family and his coaches know they are present and in hot pursuit. The key for those coaches in July is showing Turner that he is a priority and proving their level of commitment to him.
Adam Finkelstein: One of the most interesting parts of the summer is sitting back and seeing which prospect emerges, because inevitably someone will shoot his way up the national rankings based on what happens in the next four weeks. We'll watch ESPN 100 center Myles Turner closely for early signs of explosion, but he might be too obvious a choice at this point given how fast he's already risen up the rankings. Instead, the real fun is when a prospect truly comes out of nowhere to make a name for himself. The signs often follow a similar pattern: A prospect will make a big splash in Week 1, solidify that performance in Week 2, and then cap the summer with a strong final showing at a big venue like Orlando or Las Vegas. I'm not exactly sure who will fit the bill this year, but I know somebody will.
Joel Francisco: I will be looking forward to attending the LeBron James Skills Academy from Saturday to Monday in Las Vegas. This is the camp where you get to evaluate the players from around the country other scouts have written about, and it gives me a perspective on how the West Coast prospects stack up with the rest of the country. In addition, because it's a camp setting that focuses on skills and development, the level of accountability the players are held to is unprecedented.
John Stovall: I am really interested to see how the top players finish out the summer. I am sure if the rankings were redone today, there would be some changes. Once the camp season ends and everyone returns to their travel teams, there are some very important tournaments in the month of July. The top-ranked players need to finish strong because they will have targets on their backs every single game, and everyone -- including college coaches -- will be watching.