YOUNG PROSPECTS READY TO IMPRESS
By Antonio Curro - NY2LA Sports
February 5, 2008
See also Middle School Future Part 1
Yesterday we took a look at a few more young prospects who have been getting it done, today we do more of the same as we continue our look at the future of basketball in the Midwest.
First
up is Iowa where we take a look at 5'10" SG Casey Kasperbauer, one of the top
8th graders in the Midwest. Kasperbauer has nice size and excellent frame
and a BIG TIME stroke from the perimeter. He handles the ball well and
bottom line is if you leave him open...you can forget about it as he will light
it up from beyond the 3 point line time and time again. Casey put on a
monster performance at last fall's Generation Next regional camp in Iowa but all
that did was back up what we already believed...Kasperbauer can go. He's
strong, athletic, and plays hard on both ends of the court. Translation,
expect Kasperbauer to join the likes of Marcus Paige as two Class of 2012
prospects in Iowa who will be making a lot of noise in the coming years.
Illinois
is on the board again today as a young man named Keith Carter Jr. came out of
nowhere last summer to show people that he could be one to reckon with in the
Midwest over the next few years. Keith has nice size, good length, and
excellent athleticism making him one of the top slashing SG prospects in the
Midwest for the Class of 2012. During last summer's NY2LA Sports
Generation Next All-Star camp in August, Carter was sensational. In a
field that included guys like Marcus Paige, J.P. Tokoto, Trashaun Carroll, etc.
it was Carter who more than held his own and impressed myself and others at the
camp. With continued development of his skill set and physical tools as
well as growth, expect Carter to join the loaded young pool of talent in
Illinois as a star of the future.
We
can't have a discussion without including one of our favorites in the entire
Midwest, our main man 4'5" PG LaDell Hickman. Let me put it this way, when
I say this kid is a natural born leader and one of the absolute best kids to
have in a camp setting, I'm not even close to giving him his just due.
What LaDell lacks in height he makes up for in pure heart, leadership, tenacity,
and confidence. The left handed Class of 2013 (7th grade) PG prospect can
handle the ball, dribble penetrate, and stroke the perimeter jumper all day
long. However, his value comes as he has no fear and will challenge and
play against anywhere anytime and walk away with his head held high. He's
easily one of the top ball handling young guards around and also one of our
favorites in terms of personality and effort in the Midwest.
E-mail us at info@ny2lasports.com