Liberty Heights Oozing with Talent
It’s open gym season, what is typically a vibrant time with college coaches and scouts alike moving and shaking from high school gym, to high school gym. Trying to secure their next player who will win them a league title.
On Wednesday I walked into Liberty Heights Academy (Charlotte, NC) to take in their college day, but during this time of COVID we are in, it was a virtual day. So in essence the gym had 50 or so coaches in it, however they were in their offices, watching everything through a Zoom call and a live stream. It was a great strategy from Liberty Heights Head Coach Mike Wright, especially to get his players seen.
Even with a gym that was relatively empty (in person), the players really competed. The motor, the toughness and the speed of the play was off the charts. These times we are in are different, but it is our ability to adapt that pushes us to our limits.
Let’s go through some of the standouts and storylines from the day.
The Man
7’0” 2021 Jonas Aidoo
Offers: NC State, South Carolina, Marquette, Houston, Wake Forest, Providence, St John’s, Georgia, Western Kentucky, VCU, Miami, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Ole Miss, Iona, Wichita St, Virginia Tech, Clemson
For you to have said to many a year ago that Jonas Aidoo would be the top prospect in North Carolina’s 2021 class they would have looked at you funny. Even scouts in the gym today were looking around saying, I can’t believe how much better he has gotten. Well in having kept a close eye on Aidoo for three or so years now, he has always had the skill, however over the last two months his confidence has soared.
He moves around the gym, plays in the flow of the game, like he is a future pro. Still it is hard to believe he is only 17 years old, but he is just on a different level from his peers right now. So what is Aidoo, he is a supreme rim protector, one of the five best in the country. He is also a high level shooter, we are talking 40% from 3 range, who has touch over his right shoulder.
With the confidence has come a ferocity around the basket as well. Put him in the dunker spots, and he will attempt to put it on your head. The sky is the limit, the NBA scouts are calling about him and the blue bloods are close to getting involved. Expect him to continue rising in the national rankings and he should be in conversations for the Jordan Brand type post season events.
The Breakouts
6’9” 2021 Isaac Farah
Offers: IUPUI
Farah moved to Charlotte, North Carolina this year from Fishers, Indiana. In his move he also dropped a lot of weight, got bouncy and became a bonafide, multi-offer division 1 prospect. What really stood out about Farah in this setting, well it was two things really, but first off, was his skill. Farah is able to initiate the break and also drill 28 footers off the catch. Sure he can play on the block (really soft touch over his right shoulder) and at the high post as well, but him catching the ball facing around the 3-point line will create a lot of mis-matches.
The other thing that really pops about Farah’s game is his motor and his ability to move. He is a very switchable defender, able to guard both forward spots as well as at the point of a press. He is also quick at switching ends, as he is almost guaranteed to get points each game from simply beating his man down the floor. He has a new body, is playing in a new state (geographic region really) but the second these schools see him, expect the love fest to begin.
6’4” 2021 PJ Edwards
Offers: East Tennessee State, Charleston Southern, SIUE, Southern Illinois
What do all college coaches I talk to say they want? The simplified answer is shooting and toughness. Well, we would like to introduce you to pure shooting guard, PJ Edwards. Edwards is one of the very best shooters in North Carolina while also being one of the premier wing defenders in the…in the…in the country (there, I said it, in print, it’s out there now).
Edwards is originally from Chicago, Illinois and played last season at Minnesota Prep. He should take North Carolina by storm this year as he is a top 10 ranked player in the state. And after that first offer comes through, expect more to follow.
The X-Factor
6’3” 2022 Elijah Jamison
Offers: Ole Miss, Wilmington, Elon
Jamison is not a new name, however Elijah Jamison, the point guard for a nationally relevant program is new. Jamison has already scored 1,979 career high school points (26.4 average), he has also grabbed 9.7 rebounds and dished 3.1 assists per game for his career. Well now Jamison will not be the focal point of the offense, he will be given the keys to run the Lambo. The early returns of this transition have been incredibly positive, but Head Coach Mike Wright has put his entire confidence in Jamison.
Regarding his recruiting, look for college coaches to take a wait and see approach. It is well documented Jamison will need to be a point guard in college, and he is now learning to truly play the position on the fly. Without a doubt the offers will start flowing in as the season goes on and the college programs are able to get a good feel for how this transition is going. One thing you will never have to question with Jamison is work ethic and toughness, he brings that every day.
The Unsung Hero
6’5” 2021 Tee Bryan
Bryan is a Roanoke, Virginia native who came to Liberty Heights this season after spending last year at Moravian Prep. Bryan is the glue that holds things together on the floor, the one the coaches will have a hard time taking off the court because of his ability to make continuous winning plays. Bryan is the most vocal player on the floor, he is the anchor of the defense and he makes plays both in transition and on the boards.