National Prep School Invitational: Day 2 Standouts
North Providence, Rhode Island: Day two of the National Prep School Invitational brought the same fireworks as day one. There had to be some schedule juggling with some teams pulling out due to the ice, sleet, and snow throughout the day, but the college coaches and NBA personnel were in attendance. So was On3 Sports, and here are the standouts.
Tyrese Proctor
Proctor was one of the featured players of the event. Since his play at the Tarkanian Classic in December, the 6-foot-3 guard has had quite the buzz swirling. Since then, the NBA Academy – Global junior has picked up offers from Duke, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Louisville and took his first official Arizona visit.
Proctor is an elite-level passer. He has excellent vision and can spray the ball across the court from any angle. He plays balanced and with his head up. The jump shot, especially off the catch, is pure. The question with Proctor will be what position he will end up being, with his lack of burst and somewhat loose handle. He is still young, and his IQ is undoubtedly there. Tuck him away and track his development. He finished with 15 points on five made threes at NPSI.
Papa Kante
Kante built his reputation last summer with The Expressions travel program on Nike’s 16u EYBL circuit. What sticks out the most about the strong-framed post is his motor. Listed at 6-foot-10, he plays good angles on defense, works hard on his rotations, and is an active rebounder. Kante finished here with a workmanlike double-double, playing strong and confidently.
Kante has taken early unofficial visits to UConn, Providence, and Rutgers. The South Kent (CT) School junior says he will start taking official visits after his season ends.
R.J. Luis
This event is our fourth or fifth time watching Luis, and he has delivered each time out. The 6-foot-6 wing at Lanham (MD) Mt. Zion Prep is a gritty defender, both on and off the ball. He is a good passer as a secondary ball-handler, especially in the pick and roll. Luis knocked down three threes in this National Prep School Invitational game. His recruitment is trending up with St. Bonaventure and UMass offering, and several power five programs are becoming actively involved.
Leonard Miller
This viewing was our second of Miller in as many days, and his game is unique. Miller is now 6-foot-10, but he plays primarily on the ball for his Fort Erie (CAN) International Academy team. He knocks down threes from an array of angles, gets into the paint, and makes a play, and he is a good rebounder. Miller is just scratching the surface of what he could be. He finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Rod Strickland was front and center for both Miller’s games at NPSI. So were ten to 15 NBA personnel. Miller’s brother Emmanuel is a junior at TCU, where Miller has taken his only official visit to date.
Fredrick King
King was a terror in this NPSI game, seemingly grabbing every rebounding and finishing everything around the basket. It was a stark difference from his day one performance and one that looked like he could end up an ACC difference-maker. King showcased rebounding prowess, on both ends, with good hands and an excellent motor to get the ball. On the offensive end, he had good hands, and he showed powerful dunks and footwork and touch. King has signed with Louisville and had the look of a top 100 big.