Anthony Felesi Scouting Deepdive
Being surrounded by elite talent has caused the Utah Prep X-factor to fly under the radar; here's why he could emerge as one of the best players in the 2026 class
Very few things impress me more than a great player being able to scale their game down and play a supporting role when asked to do so. This is a clear indicator of success at higher levels of the sport, and a player proving they can do this in high school shows they’re ahead of their peers when it comes to making an impact on winning basketball. Utah Prep’s Anthony Felesi is an excellent example of this phenomenon, a top 50 junior who plays a tertiary role for a stacked high school team. Despite sharing the floor with AJ Dybantsa, the best high school player in the country, Felesi has managed to stand out in every game I’ve watched him play. Let’s break down what makes him one of the most versatile and flexible players in all of high school hoops, how he’s still flying under the radar in recruiting circles, and why he’s primed for a breakout year next season.
Player Profile:
Anthony Felesi is a 6’5” and 180lb shooting guard/small forward/wing originally from Orem, Utah. He began his high school career at Orem High School, where he broke onto the scene as one of the top players in all of Utah. He eventually leveraged this into a spot at Utah Prep, a program that would go on to bolster one of the best rosters in all of high school basketball. Now, for his junior campaign, he shares the court with BYU commit AJ Dybantsa, Washington commit JJ Mandaquit, and a handful of other division one talent on a nightly basis. He’s a consensus four-star in the 2026 graduating class and is ranked as highly as 46th in his class by ESPN. He already has an impressive list of offers under his belt from programs like BYU, Houston, Louisville, Utah, Creighton, Mississippi State, Washington State, Cal, UNLV, FAU, Hawaii, and Utah State. He has been climbing the national rankings as of late, and if he continues at this rate, he could end up graduating as a five-star recruit in the 2026 class.
Interior Scoring:
Most of Felesi’s scoring is generated around the rim, as he’s a premier off-ball play finisher in addition to showing some solid dribble-drive flashes. He’s an elite athlete with great finishing touch under and above the rim who’s able to not only cap off drawn up sets but also be an effective offensive support option when plays fall apart. That skillset makes him an excellent fit alongside Dybantsa and Mandaquit, two offensive initiators with immense gravity. When those three are on the floor together, Felesi sees a ton of good looks at the rim, looks that make up most of his shot diet.
Felesi has a skillset perfectly suited to play an off-ball slasher and baseline cutter role. He’s fantastic at both drifting behind unsuspecting defenses and accelerating past his matchup along the perimeter. Most of the time, he’s already in position to score when he receives the ball, but even when he isn’t he does a good job of setting himself up for open looks under the hoop. He utilizes pump fakes, power dribbles, and his physical traits to finish through traffic when the paint hasn’t cleared itself out. Most importantly, Felesi possesses instinctual timing, which builds the perfect foundation for the rest of his traits to work for him in these situations. That natural timing combined with his standout athleticism and strength makes for a near guarantee that he will excel in this role at every level of the sport.
At this point in his career, Felesi is definitely better slashing away from the ball than driving with the ball in his hands. That’s not to say he’s bad at applying rim pressure off-the-dribble, but it’s definitely an area where he’s still actively developing. That said, once he gets past his initial defender and is able to pick up downhill speed toward the basket, he’s just as effective in these situations as he is cutting off-ball. He doesn’t have the tightest handle in the world, but what he does have is an excellent first step, elite vertical athleticism, and solid finishing at the rim. If a defender closes out too aggressively or doesn’t give Felesi a ton of space on the catch, he’s able to simply accelerate past them and gain momentum before converting when he reaches the basket. This is an area where I expect him to grow in the future, but as of right now I’d consider him slightly above average (relative to his peers) in this department.
Where Felesi probably puts the most stress on opposing defenses is in transition and especially in the fast break. He’s an excellent rebounding guard who is at his best when he picks up as much speed as possible when attacking the rim. That’s the perfect recipe for an elite transition player, which is exactly what he is. If there’s any aspect of his game where you can clearly see his star upside, it’s when he handles the ball in transition. He doesn’t lose speed with the ball in his hands, and it actually seems like his handle improves when moving at a faster pace. This is where he draws most of his fouls, an underrated element of his game that I think he should further polish in the future. All in all, Felesi is one of the better low usage rim attackers I’ve watched in a long time, and I look forward to seeing him grow here throughout the remainder of his high school career.
Mid-Range Scoring:
Felesi’s mid-range scoring game is strange, because while it’s by far his least prevalent scoring level, I would argue that it’s his smoothest and most fluid offensive trait. This makes sense considering our modern understanding of mid-range scoring and its questionable value, but the difference in his shot motion between the mid-range pull up and outside shot is dramatic. I think he may just be cracking the surface of his in-between game, but the eye-test tells me he could truly excel in this department at some point down the road.
As far as off-the-dribble offense is concerned, Felesi’s shot creation in the middle of the floor is by far the best-looking part of his scoring arsenal. For some reason, he just looks more confident in his handle when he knows he’s about to take a pull-up jumper. He raises up well and lets the ball go quickly at a high release point. If you only saw a few clips of him pulling up in the mid-range you would think this is a vital aspect of his game, but he very rarely goes to these shots. I’m curious to see if he further incorporates these shots into his game next season when he’s given more scoring responsibilities in the offense, because it really does look like he has the makings of a legitimate three-level scorer.
Outside Shooting:
In an odd juxtaposition from his mid-range scoring, Felesi takes and makes significantly more outside shots than he does mid-range shots but has far less eye appeal from beyond the arc. Now, I’m a firm believer that if it works it works, which is the philosophy that I must subscribe to when watching Felesi play. He’s actually a very good three-point shooter, primarily operating away from the ball as a catch-and-shoot option. His ability to knock down the outside shot forces defenders to close out to him, allowing him more opportunities to attack the rim. When defenders don’t close out with intensity, he’s able to knock down his outside looks. It really is the perfect two-level scoring dynamic.
As you can see, Felesi gets very little lift on his outside shot and releases the ball with a visible hitch. He almost catapults the ball from his forehead, most of the time on basically flat feet. That said, his shot motion isn’t necessarily slow, and again, he makes them at an impressive rate. His shot motion looks better when he steps into the shot on kickouts to the top of the perimeter or to the side on kickouts to the corner and wings. When he is stationary in the corner (which is where he’s typically stationed because of his baseline cutting acumen) is when he gets the least lift and where his hitch is the most evident.
It’s easy to nitpick a player’s shot motion when they are missing their shots, but this isn’t the case for Felesi. He’s not a great off-the-dribble shot creator from deep, but as far as catch-and-shoot looks are concerned, he’s a very capable shooter. This is definitely an area where he can and likely will grow in the future, but I’m not worried about his outlook as an outside shooter in the slightest.
Passing & Playmaking:
Much like his mid-range shooting, most of Felesi’s passing concerns are generated because it’s not something that is often asked of him. He’s primarily a play finisher, and when he is handling the ball within the flow of the offense he’s more of a connective passer. That said, he has shown flashes of being a solid passer, and it’s an area of his game that I think we will get a better feel for next year.
Why I think Felesi could end up being an impactful passer is because he’s already shown flashes of being able to generate efficient offense for teammates simply by playing his game. Players like Felesi, who can knock down the three and attack the rim at an elite level, have a natural gravity that opens the door for them to make an impact with their passing. He doesn’t have to be an incredibly creative passer to separate himself in this department. He has already shown his feel for finding teammates around the perimeter after getting to the rim or coming up with an offensive rebound, which are things he will continue to do in the future. I am of the opinion that as his scoring usage increases, his assist volume will naturally increase in the process.
To further build on the idea that Felesi is a major difference maker in the open court, it’s important to take into account his passing in transition. This is where he shows signs of being more than just a secondary playmaker, as he is significantly more creative in fast paced scenarios than he is in your average half court setting. Him thriving in these situations suggests that he’s a good quick decision maker who digests the game at a faster rate than most high school players. Those traits will translate to his passing in the half court down the road, and I think there’s a very real world where he’s able to develop into a well above average secondary playmaker at the college level. That would be a wildly valuable development.
Offensive Rebounding:
Felesi’s swing skill is probably his offensive rebounding, which he does at an elite rate compared to similar players. He is able to generate a ton of offense for himself and for his teammates simply by being an active offensive rebounder. He grabs rebounds that he has no business grabbing because of elite instincts, timing, strength, vertical pop, and a willingness to fight down low. In reality, this is a skill that most high-level high school players possess, but what differentiates Felesi from the majority of guards is his impressive motor and effort level.
Not only is Felesi a good rebounder, but he’s also a smart decision maker following rebounds. You’re taught when growing up to always go back up with the ball after getting a rebound, but I’ve always found this to be somewhat moronic. Felesi regularly finds himself underneath the trees, and he smartly decides to dribble or kick it out in that situation more often than not. Most of his points on the glass come from tip-ins or putbacks before coming back down. He only goes back up when he knows he’s in a good position to score. Not only will Felesi continue to make an impact on the glass, but I think he will get better as he continues to develop physically throughout his last two years of high school and into his collegiate career.
Defense:
Now that we’ve covered how he makes a difference on the offensive end of the floor, let’s look at where he has really hung his hat up to this point in his career. I haven’t had the pleasure of watching every top high school player in the nation, but of the elite talent that I have watched I can confidently say that Felesi is one of the best defenders I’ve evaluated this year. He’s one of the best lateral movers I’ve ever evaluated at this level of the sport, and he is deceptively strong at only 180lbs. He can comfortably guard one through three and even holds his own against legitimate power forwards from time to time. He has matched up against some of the best players in the country on multiple occasions, and every time he impresses me with his performance. Much like his rebounding, as he continues to develop physically, he could blossom into an elite defensive weapon at the collegiate level.
His ability to stick with ball handlers and deny access to the rim is professional level stuff. He is incredible at forcing his opponents into tough mid-range jump shots, and he makes them even more difficult by offering a perfect contest every time. He’s able to consistently achieve this by moving his feet extremely well and because he’s, like I said, deceptively strong. Felesi stands his ground better than just about any guard I’ve ever watched in high school, giving no leeway to bigger opponents when they try to penetrate the paint.
On top of being an elite denial artist, Felesi also has quick hands and standout timing. He turns opponents over at an elite rate, and while he isn’t the greatest at avoiding fouls, he’s not the type of guy to be in real foul trouble throughout games. When a player like Felesi, who excels on fast break opportunities, is also great at creating those opportunities, you see a ton of easy offense generated in the open court every time he steps on the floor. Overall, this is a guy you want defending the point of attack on almost every possession, and a guy that opposing stars hate to see checking into the game. If he does make a professional leap down the road, I expect a big reason for that jump to be his high defensive floor and ceiling.
Summary:
Before I fully summarize Felesi’s game, I want to list out any and all weaknesses currently facing him. It’s important to remember that flaws should be viewed as areas in need of improvement, not as elements without the possibility of it. This is an especially vital philosophy when looking at a high school prospect, a junior at that. If a player can address their weaknesses while maintaining their strengths, they will be better for it.
He’s not an infallible finisher around the rim, sometimes getting sped up and just barely missing his mark. Luckily, he’s a good enough athlete to finish a lot above the rim. That said, his non-dunk finishing still needs a little polishing.
Despite being good at absorbing contact at the rim and drawing fouls, he’s not the greatest free-throw shooter. He’s not bad from the charity stripe, but he still misses out on a fair number of free points.
Has a loose handle when driving to the rim, resulting in unnecessary turnovers. Really needs to develop his handle if he is going to be a primary offensive option at any point.
He doesn’t have a real in-between game, not incorporating floaters, push shots, hooks, or any real soft touch shot making into his shot diet.
Doesn’t take enough mid-range jump shots to be confident in him as a legitimate volume scorer from that part of the floor. While the shot looks good, the volume isn’t quite there yet.
Outside shot has little to no lift and a strange hitch. Doesn’t seem to affect his ability to knock down the shot but definitely makes it easier for defenders to close out and contest.
Similar to his mid-range game, I haven’t seen enough from him to feel comfortable projecting him to be an offensive initiator or great passer in the half court. That said, I do think he already has what it takes to achieve this in the open court.
As I mentioned, he does pick up unnecessary fouls relatively often. I don’t think I’ve watched a game where this was a major detriment to his team, but I could see that occurring.
He sometimes will get too comfortable on the defensive end when defending off-ball and get back cut by opportunistic opponents. That’s really the only issue I have with his defensive game.
To understand Anthony Felesi’s game you have to look at his role from two different perspectives. When he’s acting as a role player, he’s the perfect complement to legitimate offensive initiators, which is why he has thrived playing alongside Dybantsa at Utah Prep. He has nearly perfected his off-ball slashing and baseline cutting and is a ferocious finisher at the rim. He’s a weapon as both a scorer and passer in transition, which is also where he looks the best handling the ball. Speaking of handling the ball, he’s able to drive to the rim with the ball in his hands just well enough to keep defenders on their feet. He has already proven to be an above average outside shooter despite some shot motion concerns but hasn’t proved a ton from the mid-range despite his shot motion looking great.
When you look at him from a long-term perspective with hopes that he could be a primary scoring option as soon as next season, there’s things left to be answered before we can be incredibly confident in his outlook. His handle needs work, but most of the time it’s sufficient for achieving what he’ll need to achieve. I’d like to see him increase his shot volume from both the mid-range and beyond the arc. Finally, I want to see what he looks like as a secondary or even primary playmaker once he’s given more offensive responsibilities. What we do know for sure is that no matter what role Felesi plays, he’ll be a prolific defender on the other end. No matter what his offensive game eventually looks like, his defensive floor alone will be enough to carry him to higher levels of the sport.
A lot of these questions will be answered when he’s thrust into the star role for Utah Prep next season. If he can quell even a few of the concerns I have for his game, I think he’ll end up cracking the top 25 in his class. His defense alone should have him in that conversation already. I think he’s the type of player and person to excel in the position he’ll find himself in this time next season. Because of that, I’m incredibly excited to follow his game throughout the remainder of his prep career, and I’m confident in him developing in a more than positive way.
amazing breakdown.