Josh Irving Scouting Report
After an impressive run on the PRO16 circuit—capped by a 17U championship—6'11" big man Josh Irving’s stock has skyrocketed.
After an impressive run on the PRO16 circuit—capped by a 17U championship—Josh Irving’s stock has skyrocketed. His dominant performances not only powered Team CPSA to the title, but also drew the attention of college basketball’s elite. Already holding an offer from Kansas, the 6’11” big man has now added a scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky to his growing list. It’s a major milestone for Irving, who has poured countless hours into refining his game and elevating his national profile.
On the court, Irving’s athleticism is nothing short of elite. He’s earned a reputation for making jaw-dropping, high-flying plays on both ends, showcasing the kind of explosive ability that demands attention. This season, he cemented himself as one of the most intriguing frontcourt prospects in the country. His impact was felt night in and night out—anchoring the defense with elite rim protection, finishing above the rim with ease on offense, and affecting the game without needing plays run for him. With a relentless motor, exceptional length, sharp timing, and complete buy-in on the defensive end, he’s exactly the kind of defensive stalwart college programs covet. Offensively, his improved footwork, expanding jumper, soft hands, and constant energy have made him a reliable lob target and an emerging low-post presence. Irving has faced his fair share of challenges on the court, particularly when it came to adapting to high-level coaching. He plays under two of the most respected basketball minds on the grassroots scene—Coach Cartier French-Toney and Team CPSA director Clint Parks—both known for their demanding standards and no-nonsense approach. Hailing from SoCal and Seattle respectively, French-Toney and Parks are relentless in holding players accountable, pushing them to reach their full potential. Josh’s development played a pivotal role in Team CPSA’s run to the PRO16 championship in Bryan, Texas.
Last season, there were moments where Irving appeared to struggle with being coached hard—his body language and response to criticism occasionally reflected the growing pains of a young player adjusting to elite expectations. But this season marked a complete turnaround. He embraced the tough coaching, responded to accountability, and not only handled it—but thrived in it. That shift in mindset has become one of the most appealing traits in his profile.
College coaches at the highest level are constantly seeking talent that can be molded, coached, and trusted in high-pressure situations. Irving has shown he’s not just physically gifted—he’s coachable, resilient, and now welcomes the kind of structure and discipline that wins games at the next level. He’s grown from being reactive to criticism into a player who seeks it out—knowing it’s key to unlocking his ceiling.
Offense
Josh Irving still has a lot of room to grow, but his rapidly improving offensive game is a major reason why he's so highly coveted at the next level—with the potential to one day reach the pro ranks. Last season, he stood around 6’7” or 6’8”; now he’s stretched to a legit 6’11”—a massive growth spurt that’s completely changed his on-court presence. Not only has he gotten taller, but he also looks noticeably stronger. His upper body has filled out some, and his lower body base has added much-needed strength, allowing him to hold position and absorb contact more effectively. With continued physical development, especially after a collegiate strength and conditioning program, we can expect to see a completely transformed Josh Irving take another jump—stronger, more explosive, and ready to dominate at the next level.
Irving is a very mobile big who runs the floor with purpose—something that separates him from many frontcourt players his size. He has massive hands and now catches just about everything thrown his way, which wasn’t always the case. Last season, he struggled at times with catching passes on the move and finishing through contact, mostly due to a lack of strength. But he’s clearly addressed those issues, and the improvement is obvious.
With those physical tools and development in place, let’s dive into what makes Josh Irving so effective on the offensive end.
Pick and Roll/Pick and Pop Play
Irving has developed into a legitimate pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop threat. With an improved jumper, he’s now able to stretch the floor and has even extended his range out beyond the three-point line—an evolution that significantly boosts his stock.
Josh sets fundamentally sound screens: he’s balanced, maintains a strong, wide base with his feet at least shoulder-width apart, stays stationary, and positions himself to split the defender cleanly. He doesn’t just go through the motions—he truly sets the screen, holds it, then quickly gets his head around and actively looks for the pass, making him a dangerous option whether rolling to the rim or popping out for a shot.
Shooting
One of the most noticeable areas of growth in Josh Irving’s game has been his shooting. Compared to last season, he’s made significant strides in both confidence and consistency. His form has become more fluid, and he’s now capable of knocking down shots from mid-range and beyond the arc, making him a legitimate stretch option in the frontcourt.
What’s especially impressive is how well he shoots despite having massive hands—a physical trait that often makes it difficult for bigs to get clean, controlled releases. For Josh, it’s quite the opposite. He generates smooth rotation and a soft touch, with solid arc and follow-through on his shot. His mechanics have clearly improved, and he's worked to develop a repeatable shooting motion that translates in both catch-and-shoot and pick-and-pop situations.
Whether it's spacing the floor in the half court or stepping into trail threes in transition, Josh is becoming a true offensive weapon. His growing shooting ability not only keeps defenses honest but also opens up driving lanes for guards and creates more opportunities within the offense.
Finishing at the Rim
Josh Irving has become a highly efficient finisher around the basket, using his combination of size, athleticism, and touch to convert at a high rate in the paint. Standing at 6’11” with long arms and excellent vertical pop, he’s a constant lob threat and a powerful presence on rolls to the rim. Whether it’s off a pick-and-roll, a dump-off pass, or an offensive rebound, Irving knows how to finish strong.
One of the most impressive parts of his development is his ability to finish through contact. Last season, he sometimes struggled to absorb bumps and maintain control. But with added strength in his upper body and a more solid base, he’s now finishing through defenders with much more confidence. He plays above the rim consistently, whether it’s a one-handed flush, a put-back dunk, or a quick second-jump finish.
Josh also shows improving touch when finesse is needed—he’s not just a dunker. He’s capable of using either hand, has shown soft touch on short hooks and floaters, and is developing solid footwork to maneuver in tight spaces. His massive hands allow him to catch tough passes in traffic and still go up strong, something that was a challenge for him earlier in his career.
With his combination of strength, bounce, touch, and growing patience around the rim, Irving is evolving into a complete finisher—one who can capitalize in both transition and half-court situations, and punish defenders who leave him unchecked near the basket.
Defense
On the defensive end, Josh Irving has had stretches where he completely dominates the paint and controls the airspace around the rim. He’s not just a shot blocker—he’s a true rim protector. His presence alone alters game plans. Opposing guards often think twice before attacking the lane when he’s on the floor. With his elite timing, massive wingspan, and huge hands, Irving has the tools to contest or block shots without fouling, and more importantly, to deter would-be scorers from even attempting to challenge him.
What truly separates him, though, is the growth in his defensive discipline. Earlier in his career, he could be prone to chasing blocks out of position or biting on fakes, but that’s changed significantly. Thanks to the structured, demanding environment instilled by his coaches, Irving has matured into a much more reliable backline defender. He now understands when to contest and when to stay grounded, how to wall up vertically, and how to use his body without overextending.
This progression in defensive IQ and patience has made him even more dangerous. He doesn’t hunt highlights—he plays winning defense. He anchors the backline, communicates with teammates, and takes pride in protecting the paint. His defensive discipline, combined with his physical tools, gives him a ceiling as a potential defensive anchor at the next level—exactly the kind of presence college coaches crave in a modern big.
As outlined above, here are some of the elite intangibles that set him apartas a prospect
Elite Rim Protection: Irving is a natural shot-blocker with excellent timing. He alters shots without fouling and anchors the paint at a high level.
Length & Mobility: His frame and mobility allow him to switch onto smaller players in spurts, hedge hard on ball screens, and recover well in help defense.
Rebounding: Strong instincts and soft hands make him a consistent double-double threat. He controls the glass on both ends and shows great second-jump ability.
Touch Around the Rim: Finishes well with both hands. Comfortable with hooks, drop steps, and short floaters. Developing touch from 10–15 feet.
Upside as a Vertical Threat: With his size and leaping ability, he’s a strong lob target and a rim-running threat in transition.
High Motor: Plays with energy and effort. Always engaged defensively and rarely takes possessions off.
Coachability: Known as a hard worker with a willingness to be molded. Responds well to feedback and has steadily improved over the past year.
Areas of Improvement
Strength and Physicality Irving is still growing into his frame and has made noticeable strides physically, but there’s room to add more strength. As he continues to fill out, adding muscle will be key to consistently battling and holding his own against stronger, more physical bigs at the high-major level.
Offensive Range
He’s shown promising flashes as a shooter, both from mid-range and beyond the arc, which adds intrigue to his offensive potential. However, to truly stretch the floor and become a reliable pick-and-pop threat, he’ll need to knock down those shots with greater consistency and in higher volume.
Balance and Post Scoring
While Irving has solid touch around the rim, further development in his footwork, balance, and back-to-the-basket moves will elevate his effectiveness as a low-post scorer. Adding more polished counters and learning to maintain control through contact will make him far more dangerous in isolation situations on the block.
Passing Out of Double Teams: Irving has shown the ability to recognize and pass out of double teams effectively, often making the right read and finding open teammates. However, at times he can rush his decision-making under pressure, which occasionally leads to careless turnovers. As his poise and patience continue to develop, this is an area where he has the potential to become a true asset, especially as defenses begin to key in on him more at the next level.
Projection
Josh Irving is an elite rim protector with the kind of length, mobility, and natural instincts that college coaches covet in a modern big. His defensive presence is game-changing—he alters shots, controls the paint, and can switch out in space when needed. Combine that with his ability to run the floor, catch lobs, and finish above the rim, and it’s clear he possesses rare upside as a true two-way big man.
What makes Irving even more intriguing is how much room he still has to grow. His physical tools suggest a high-major ceiling, and if his frame continues to fill out and his offensive game keeps progressing—particularly with his shooting touch and passing ability—he has the potential to evolve into a long-term pro prospect. He’s already shown flashes of pick-and-pop range, improved touch around the basket, and a willingness to be coached hard—all traits that elevate his projection.
As he gains strength and continues to refine his skill set, Irving has the potential to be a cornerstone piece at the next level. Programs like Kentucky, Kansas, or USC, Texas A&M—who value rim-running bigs with defensive versatility and a high motor—would benefit from his presence on both ends of the floor. If he continues on this upward trajectory, he could be one of the most impactful bigs in his class, with the tools to make a name for himself far beyond the college level.