This category is annually the most challenging. Except for this year. For whatever reason, these players, above all others, made the most of their opportunities, resulting in a significant increase in their recruiting profile.
2022 STOCK RISER: Dillon Mitchell, E1T1/Montverde Academy
We’ve been at this for nearly two decades, and we don’t recall anything like Mitchell’s meteoric rise this spring and summer. Far more often than not, players get noticed for their offensive capabilities. For the 6’8 Mitchell, his rave reviews came for his ability as a versatile defender. When Mitchell faced then-No.1 ranked player in the ’22 Class Emoni Bates at the Midwest Mania event in the spring, he made things difficult for Bates and frustrated him into an unusually poor offensive performance. From that point on, Mitchell was watched closely by scouts and coaches. Despite not being an effective perimeter shooter at this point, Mitchell gets a ton of scoring opportunities pursuing offensive rebounds, running the floor in transition, and finishing lobs around the basket. Still, it is his ability to guard all five positions at 6’8 with generous amounts of athleticism and length that have high major coaches salivating at his potential. NBADraft.net stated that his biggest strength is outworking his opponent after watching him at the Pangos All American Camp. Mitchell will play his senior season at Montverde Academy which should only elevate his reputation as a game-changing defender. He will definitely be in the conversation when it comes to picking participants for the McDonald’s All-American Game in March of 2022.
2023 STOCK RISER: Carl Cherenfant, Team Florida/Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian
The 6’5 rising junior played up a level on a Team Florida 17U unit that was quite successful this travel season. He displayed an ability to get to the rim as well as rise up and knock down shots inside the arc. Cheranfant is long, athletic, and has a ton of upside while still being really good right now. He succeeded at playing both guard spots throughout the spring and summer. By all accounts, his play was key in getting Team Florida the championship game win in overtime at the Bob Gibbons’ Tournament of Champions event in the spring. Cherenfant already has offers from the likes of LSU, Florida and Miami. No doubt that list of high majors should grow over the next year-plus. Playing on a stacked Calvary Christian squad this coming season whose strength is on the interior, don’t expect Cherenfant to put up big numbers. However, do expect him to make timely contributions and winning plays whenever given the opportunity.
2024 STOCK RISER: Asa Newell, 1 Family/Choctawhatchee
The 6’8 rising sophomore benefitted from playing at both the 16U and 17U levels with the 1 Family program this spring and summer. With the 16s, Newell was a key player while he was a solid contributor off the bench for the 17U group. It was at the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association Team Camp, open to NCAA coaches (hear that FHSAA?) that Newell got his name out to a larger crowd. The 6’8 rising sophomore proved to be a matchup problem with his ability to knock in shots from the perimeter and take the ball strong to the basket. With his length and ability to run the floor, schools like Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, and Ole Miss have already offered scholarships to Newell.