Grind Session Kentucky Standouts: The Underrated Recruits
Despite dominating their competition at the Grind Session Kentucky event, these five high school prospects are still flying under the radar
Sure, it’s fun to watch and discuss five-star recruits, but in a flooded market I believe that covering underrated players is far more important for the betterment of the sport. I feel a responsibility to give deserving players the coverage they have earned when they find themselves far too low in their class’s rankings. The five players I’m covering today fit into that category and are players that I’m confident will succeed in the future. These are players that college programs should be dying to have and are instead being under recruited relative to their peers. Let’s get into it.
Anthony Felesi | Utah Prep
6'5” | 180lbs | Wing | 2026
Utah Prep is one of the best high school basketball teams in the nation, mostly because they are led by the top recruit in the 2025 class, AJ Dybantsa. That’s not to say they don’t have other solid contributors, but when the average fan watches the team, they are watching for Dybantsa. That said, I’m not the average fan, and when I was given the chance to watch Utah Prep play twice in this event, my attention was immediately drawn to four-star junior Anthony Felesi. Starting point guard and offensive initiator, JJ Mandaquit, was away from the team for these two games, causing Utah Prep to change their gameplan on the weekend. Dybantsa shifted to a floor general role, and Felesi was thrust into the spotlight as the team’s second option on offense. Most players would struggle with this increase in usage, but not Felesi. Instead, he excelled as an off-ball scoring option and showed why he’s one of the most underrated recruits in the 2026 high school class.
As I mentioned, Felesi operated as an off-ball option on most offensive possessions. Opponents, knowing that Dybantsa wasn’t used to playing point guard, sent a ton of pressure his way with double-teams and bigger defenders. However, Dybantsa did a great job of handling the pressure, which allowed Felesi to take advantage of weakened defenses all weekend. Felesi is an elite athlete with a quick first step and the ability to finish well above the rim. Once the defense had shifted, he simply cut to the basket, received a pass, and threw down emphatic dunks through traffic. One could chalk this success up to being a product of the system and defensive circumstances, but I would argue that this ability to effectively apply off-ball rim pressure is the foundational skill that will catapult Felesi to the top of the high school ranks next season. In the few opportunities that he was given to put the ball on the floor and create a shot for himself, Felesi looked smooth and comfortable knocking down off-the-dribble jumpers from both the mid-range and beyond the arc. These flashes of solid on-ball scoring combined with his proven ability to thrive playing away from the ball suggest that Felesi is a far more advanced offensive player than we may have previously thought.
Up to this point, the defensive end is where Felesi has hung his hat, acting as the defensive stopper for this Utah Prep team. His athleticism both on and off the ground gives him a lofty ceiling as a defender, and his defensive IQ and instincts wrap everything up and puts the metaphorical bow on top. That said, he still didn’t draw the Darryn Peterson assignment in Utah Prep’s matchup against top-ranked Prolific Prep. Instead, he found himself guarding players like sharpshooter Winters Grady and glue guy guard Seven Spurlock. He gave Grady a ton of trouble in the first half and kept Spurlock from making any sort of scoring impact. When he did switch onto Peterson, he looked more than comfortable. These are some of the best high school players in the world (Peterson is the second or third best player in the 2025 class, depending on who you ask), and Felesi gave them all trouble. His upside as a defender will carry him to higher levels of the sport, giving him a bigger timetable on allowing his offense to develop.
His weaknesses are pretty self-explanatory based on what I’ve covered thus far, but I’ll go through them anyway. Positionally, I would like to see him shift from a wing to a two-guard based solely on positional size. At 6’5” and 180lbs he would have decent size at the two, but if he’s being classified as a wing, he’d be on the smaller end compared to his peers. This would limit his defensive ceiling, which is not something he wants to do considering that defense is his calling card. As far as his actual playstyle is concerned, there’s nothing wrong with being an off-ball agent with some on-ball skills. I think his scoring will blossom next season as he takes on a more prominent role for Utah Prep. I would like to see him grow as a passer and secondary playmaker, further cementing himself as a well-rounded and difficult to predict offensive player. Overall, this is a player with a super high ceiling if he continues to develop his already very advanced skillset. I’m excited to see how he adapts to a new role next season, but I’m sure he’ll be just fine.
Seven Spurlock | Prolific Prep
6'5” | 200lbs | Wing | 2026
Prolific Prep likely bolsters the deepest high-school basketball roster in the nation, which is why three-star prospect Seven Spurlock may not immediately appear incredibly intriguing when watching the team play. However, Spurlock has offers from schools such as Auburn, Houston, Iowa, and Arizona State because smart coaches recognize the impact he makes on the game whether he plays a prominent role for Prolific on a nightly basis or not. I was impressed with what I saw from him in this event, as he perfectly assimilated into the role asked of him despite being someone who could be the best player on almost any high-school team in the country. Instead, he shares the floor with the likes of Darryn Peterson, Niko Bundalo, Winters Grady, Obinna Ekezie, and Gabe Nesmith, all players who are better highlighted within the Prolific system than Spurlock is. For most, this would be a major detriment to one’s ability to set themselves apart. For Spurlock, it shows exactly why he will succeed with whatever program he decides to join for his collegiate career.
My main takeaway while watching Spurlock was just how well he processes the game. When he had the ball in his hands his intentions were clear and concrete, he was looking to create the easiest offense possible, whether it was for himself or for a teammate. Despite sharing the floor with Darryn Peterson, everyone was completely fine with Spurlock taking the ball up the court and initiating the offense. His confidence and comfort on the ball was immediately apparent, and it translated to efficient and replicable offense almost every time he had the ball. He often doesn’t look for his own offense at all, instead preferring to actively search for opportunities to set up his teammates for open looks from beyond the arc and at the rim. Defensively, he makes his mark as an effort player who remains active at all times. He feels bigger than 6’5” on the defensive end, carrying himself on wide shoulders, which allows him to stand his ground against multiple positions.
I categorized him as a wing because he just doesn’t feel like a small forward to me. In a perfect world I would like to see him try his hand as a full-time point guard, but as long as he plays alongside Peterson, he will be asked to be a secondary ball handler at most. Either way, I’m confident in his ability to fit the mold of several different positions, and that’s mainly because of his composed playstyle and solid positional size for either of the guard spots.
Obviously, his biggest issue is his scoring acumen. I’m sure that this wouldn’t be as big of a problem if he were the main priority within his team’s offense, but that’s just not the case right now. At this point it seems to be more of a mindset hiccup than anything else; he simply isn’t interested in creating his own offense most of the time. If he were a point guard this could work, but as long as he’s playing most of his minutes as an off-ball agent he will be asked to score more than he currently is. I’m curious to see what his role looks like next season after Peterson, Bundalo, and Grady graduate, but for the time being I’m happy with him playing his role and impacting the game as an all-around team player.
Mike Jones | Chi Prep
6'7” | 200lbs | Small Forward | 2025
Some players separate themselves from their peers via their physical intangibles, others do so through their outlier skill level; Chicago Prep’s Mike Jones does both. I was able to watch him suit up against Albuquerque Prep, and it was clear from the tip-off that Jones was there to eviscerate his competition. Standing at 6’7” with a sturdy 200lb frame, he showcased his elite athleticism and impressive scoring acumen from start to finish, proving why he’s already garnered offers from Arizona State, Northern Illinois, Bryant, Eastern Illinois, and UL Monroe. That said, after the showing he had in this event, I expect him to start gaining traction with more power-conference programs going forward.
Jones was the biggest player on the court in Chi Prep’s matchup against Albuquerque Prep, who went small with five scoring guards in the game. He immediately took advantage of that strategic decision, punishing Albuquerque around the basket while playing as an off-ball option. That dynamic quickly changed when Chi Prep guard Tristian Ford checked out of the game due to foul trouble, allowing Jones to take over as a primary ball-handler. This is when he really began to shine, as he was able to further showcase his versatile offensive skillset. He has a tight handle for a forward, creating driving lanes for himself as he manages to keep the ball on a string. Once he penetrates the paint, he’s liable to finish over interior defenders with standout vertical athleticism. He’s also capable of knocking down off-the-dribble jumpers from both the mid-range and perimeter. Finally, I was impressed by his ability to find open shooters with accurate kickout passes, something that will be vital for him if he continues to base his game on the drive.
Defensively, his game is less skill-based and more founded in his athletic profile, which works considering how explosive of an athlete he is. Despite being listed as a power forward (he looked way more like a three than a four to me) he’s able to move well laterally on the perimeter, allowing him to contain quicker guards and wings. Where he really excels on the defensive end, though, is as a help side rim protector. His ability to get off the ground with haste combined with his long arms makes for a ton of havoc when protecting the hoop. He has a super strong defensive foundation, so as he develops on this end of the court there’s a chance that he ends up being more effective on defense than offense at the higher levels of the sport.
It’s difficult for me to make concrete statements concerning his weaknesses seeing that I was only able to watch him play one game, but I’ll tell you what I saw. He didn’t seem to be super comfortable as a catch-and-shoot option beyond the arc, preferring to put the ball on the floor and create for himself. He has a tight handle but not necessarily a super complex dribbling package, so after a couple of drives he becomes somewhat easy to predict. Because of this, I do think he would fare better as an off-ball slasher most of the time, mixing in on-ball reps on occasion. As of right now, I’m not totally convinced he’s comfortable playing that way. With all of that said, he clearly has a super high ceiling and will impact the game on both ends at the collegiate level.
Braydon Hawthorne | Huntington Expressions Prep
6'8” | 175lbs | Wing | 2025
Three-star recruit Braydon Hawthorne was a player I had heard of before this event via his recent signing with the West Virginia Mountaineers, but this was the first time I had actually watched him play. That said, I could tell he would be an intriguing player just by glossing over his physical metrics. Standing at 6’8” while weighing only 175lbs, Hawthorne fits into a very specific archetype of player, especially considering he spends his time playing the two and the three. He’s a sharpshooting wing who, due to his height and length, is able to limit the effectiveness of contests on his outside shot when he’s defended by smaller guards. He plays the role of a three-point shooting play finisher for a very good Huntington Prep team, and he plays it very well.
Hawthorne is a polished outside shooter with development work to do for his overall offensive game. He’s at his best flowing within the offense, moving off the ball to find advantageous court position. When he finds his spot and receives a pass, he’s able to quickly get into his shot motion and reach his high release point. If he’s able to generate rhythm during this process, you better believe that the shot is going in. He’s also able to put the ball on the floor to create a better shot for himself from beyond the arc. Hawthorne doesn’t have a very complex handle, but he’s able to take a few necessary dribbles to create just enough artificial space for him to feel comfortable taking the shot. He’s also a very effective fast break and transition player, which is where he finds most of his at-the-rim action. His athleticism pops when he’s able to pick up speed in the open court, and I’m curious to see if this athletic rim pressure further develops into his half-court game as his career progresses.
I was a fan of his defensive impact, and much like how his physical profile supports his offensive output, he shines on this end of the floor mostly because of those assets. His length really stands out when defending opposing shooting guards, as it allows him to put up strong contests on outside shots and contain guards on the perimeter. Add to that his vertical pop and you’ve got a guy who can offer some support around the rim as well. When he gets beaten off-the-dribble he’s able to recover better than most of his peers as he must make up for less room because of his long arms and ability to get off the ground. I wouldn’t consider him to be a lockdown defender, but he’s well above average (from what I saw) on this end of the floor.
Players like Hawthorne are incredibly valuable in the modern basketball ecosystem. Someone who has fantastic positional size who can shoot from beyond the arc at a solid clip both on catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble looks is going to hold value at every level of the sport. When you also consider his ability to turn opponents over before becoming an active participant in the fast break you begin to paint a picture of a player who offers a ton of efficient offense. He does have real weaknesses, such as the ability to create his own shot at multiple levels in the half-court and not being able to stand his ground defensively due to his thin frame, but those are things he can work on going forward. He will put muscle on throughout his time in college, and his offensive flaws will be obvious points of concern for his developmental staff. All in all, West Virginia is going to love having a guy that they can develop into a professional, which is exactly what Braydon Hawthorne is.
Kruz McClure | St. John’s DME
6'5” | 180lbs | Shooting Guard | 2025
This event was the second time I’ve been able to watch four-star DePaul commit Kruz McClure play in person, and I must say that both times I’ve walked away very impressed with his game. He’s a smooth operator on the offensive end, putting up scoring numbers both as a traditional off-ball two-guard and as a primary ball handler and shot creator. He has a well-developed offensive arsenal which suggests that he will be an immediate contributor at the college level, especially at a program without a ton of talent depth such as DePaul. McClure has what it takes to be a star at the collegiate level, and if he goes about developing his game in the proper ways, he has the skill level to make the transition to the professional level at some point down the road.
McClure definitely prioritizes offense, and for good reason. He’s a very versatile perimeter player, giving the St. John’s DME coaching staff a ton of flexibility in how they use him. If they want him to put the ball on the floor and drive to the hoop, he can do it. If they want him to run off the ball and knock down catch-and-shoot threes, he can do it. If they want to sit him in the corner in search of back cuts for easy baskets at the rim, he can do it. He’s probably at his best somewhere in the middle, working off the ball for most of a possession before catching a pass and making the decision whether to pull-up for a jump shot or attack the basket. He’s a very smart passer too, but I would probably categorize him as more of pass-second shooting guard than a floor general or offensive initiator. If a coaching staff can find the perfect medium for him between on- and off-ball reps, you’re looking at a guy who could become an incredibly efficient scorer and effective secondary passer and playmaker at the college level.
I wouldn’t say McClure stands out on the defensive end, but I also wouldn’t call him a negative defender by any means. I have found myself checking the post-game box score several times after watching him play and thinking to myself, “Really, he finished with how many steals?” He often picks up a staggering number of steals despite not really standing out on this end, and to be honest with you, I’m not sure what that really means. I’m going to work under the thought process that four or five steals are four or five steals, and that McClure is a solid perimeter defender. I think the reason he doesn’t stand out is because he regularly finds himself matched up against players who aren’t overly involved in the offense. Instead, he saves his energy for the offensive end, which is probably a smart strategy for the overall well-being of his team. I would call him a defensive disruptor, picking up steals and deflections when they present themselves, but not going out of his way to seek out high level defensive assignments, which is fine for an offensive talent like himself.
Based on the four games I’ve watched of McClure in person, I can confidently say that he’s a very underrated recruit. There’s no way this guy isn’t a top 100 player in his class. He’s too advanced on the offensive end and solid on the defensive end for me to believe there’s 130ish better players than him in the 2025 class. I hope to see him add some muscle to his frame throughout his debut college season, because right now he tends to get pushed around on both ends, but that’s really his only physical detriment. As far as skill flaws go, I think a tightened handle and quicker first step would go a long way to further open up his overall offensive game. If he can improve at applying consistent rim pressure, his game will benefit at all three levels. Defensively, I’d like to see him spend more time defending tougher matchups just so I can get a better gauge on his defensive outlook, but as I mentioned I don’t mind him saving his energy for offense as of today. All in all, McClure is a player who I fully expect to make a name for himself next season at DePaul and someone who could emerge as a sneaky NBA prospect down the road.
Honorable Mentions:
Jalin Holland | Dream City Christian | 6’4” 190lbs | Shooting Guard | 2025
Mahliq Guiseppi-Kitson | Fort Erie International Academy | 6’6” | Wing | 2026
Tristian Ford | Chi Prep | 6’3” 175lbs | Combo Guard | 2025
Tacko Fawaz | Dream City Christian | 6’10” 235lbs | Center | 2025
Christian Gilliland | Albuquerque Prep | 6’2” 175lbs | Combo Guard | 2025
Tristan Beckford | Fort Erie International Academy | 6’5” 180lbs | Wing | 2025
Kam Mercer | Huntington Prep | 6’4” 180lbs | Shooting Guard | 2028
Caleb Cameron | Wilson Academy | 6’5” | Shooting Guard | 2025
Culen Browne | Wilson Academy | 6’3” 155lbs | Combo Guard | 2028
Mohamed Kourouma | Accelerated Prep | 6’8” 190lbs | Forward | 2028
LaTrevion Fenderson | St. John’s DME | 6’5” 205lbs | Small Forward | 2026
Ryan Wingard | McCallie School | 6’7” 185lbs | Wing | 2027
Apolo Caetano | Balboa School | 5’11” | Point Guard | 2025