It is time for the third, and final, installment of the short preview of some early standout recruits in the class of 2017. Part I and Part II of the mini-series were published before important events like the Nike EYBL Peach Jam and the adidas Uprising Gauntlet. That helped the Part III group, and those who broke out over those few weeks made an even bigger push to be on this list.
It’s important not to think of the order of the players as “rankings.” The junior class has a long way to go until the final rankings are set, and as we all know, final rankings are not always spot on. It is a process, and this is simply to get a few names out on the web for recruiting enthusiasts to remember.
Taking a Look at the Class of 2017: Part III
Trae Young was the man that impressed everyone in this AAU season, from coaches, to recruiting analyst, to the fans in the crowd. The point guard is lightning quick getting to the basket, and can be a pest on defense. Young has an improving jump shot that will keep the defense honest when it fully develops. Young played for the MOKAN Elite squad in the Nike EYBL this spring, and was overshadowed to a degree by his teammate Michael Porter Jr. — another class of 2017 stud. Young came from out of the shadow, though, while he and Porter made a great combo. Young would average 18.2 points per game and four assists per game, which were eighth and fourth best on the circuit, respectively. With improved shot selection, Young could be the surprise point guard — he’s the 22nd best player according to ESPN, and the third best point guard — from this class.
Markus Howard is another point guard that is trying to show the country he should be ranked higher than he is. Having another highly ranked 2017 point guard — Troy Brown Jr. — on his Las Vegas Prospects team may have gave him a shooting guard label, but Howard can certainly task any ball-handling duties. That said, Howard can get to the rim at absolute will, as he scored 20.2 points per game for the Prospects, good for fourth in the circuit. He also shot 46 percent from three, an indication that he can be a multidimensional scorer. His defense can improve, though. At 5 feet 11 inches, Howard can have some size issues against the ever growing guards. He’s a strong player that has good instincts, so that bodes well for him.
Billy Preston is a versatile power forward that has good potential to be an inside-outside threat. He’s 6’9″ and 215 lbs., but with a feathery outside stroke, he could potentially offer matchup nightmares for future opponents. He could even grown another inch or two. Preston is active on the boards, sporting long arms to snatch rebounds. If he can improve his three-point shooting and ball handling skills, it wouldn’t be out of the question to slide him to the three. Preston has played for MW Elite this year and has risen up the rankings, even getting a scholarship offer from Kansas. He’s a bit under the radar still, but the No. 20 prospect on ESPN’s board is going to keep improving.
D.J. Harvey Jr. another versatile player, but he is a natural wing that can score in bunches. He has size at 6’6″ 209 lbs. and has time to grow. An improved shooter, Harvey shot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three for Team Takeover during the EYBL circuit. That led to averaging 13.2 points per game, not to mention a 4.2 rebounds per game average. His defense is solid at best; and he is not a superstar athlete, but his offensive skill is enough for coaches to be interested already. He is ranked 17th on the ESPN 60 list, and could be a name that slides up the board soon.
John Petty is best defined as a raw talent, but he has a load of talent. He is best in transition, where he can use his blend of size and speed to get ahead of the defense for easy points. His jump shot can fall inconsistent, but he shows good form that suggest he can improve it. He has the athletic tools to be a force on defense. The small forward is ranked as high as No. 5 on ESPN 60’s list, mostly due to his unmatched athleticism. He’s 6’6” 190 lbs., and is drawing consideration from many schools. Petty, who is from Alabama, is a high priority for new head coach Avery Johnson as well:
Alabama going full staff for John Petty tonight.
— Dan McDonald (@CoachD_Mac) July 24, 2015
Avery Johnson on the 2017 SF already.. Smart move, though. Petty would help Bama tremendously. https://t.co/PqI2ftdMqL
— Bailey VanHouten (@LWOSVanHouten) July 24, 2015
While his five ranking does not seem to fit the bill at this point, Petty can become a good player if he can develop his skills past being a superior athlete.
