Diarra continues to set pace in Connecticut 2020

Wednesday, February 19th, 2020

Of all six New England states, Connecticut stands alone when it comes to the overall depth in the class. 

Our updated rankings include 50 prospects, all of whom are clear scholarship prospects, with even more prospects at that level falling beyond the top 50. 

With that many scholarship candidates in one state, ranking them is an inexact science to say the least, because when the degree of separation is so finite it really becomes a matter of perspective, especially for college programs who may be prioritizing specific positions or attributes that best fit in with what they have returning on their roster. 

At the top of the class, things are much more clear as Hassan Diarra remains unchallenged. The Putnam Science guard has done nothing but consistently take his game to new levels over the course of the last two years with the progression of his skill-set, while his work-ethic, approach, and toughness are all contributes that suggest he should find early success at Texas A&M. 

His Mustangs' teammate Vlad Goldin is up next and has shown signs of stardom in his first season in the states. The 7-footer has a good build and solid athleticism around the rim, finishes well, changes ends, has potential as a low-post scorer, and the type of physical presence that should really emerge in a college weight room. He's still uncommitted for the time-being but considered a very hard lean for Texas Tech. 

Loomis Chaffee wing RJ Blakney debuts all the way up in the third spot. Blakeney arrived with a reputation for being a high-level athlete with great length on the wing coming out of St. Maria Goretti High School in Maryland but has vastly improved his skill-set and shot-making abilities this season while putting up some huge numbers in the process. He made an early commitment for Dayton and looks like a good get in the A10, even for a team currently ranked among the top 10 programs in America. 

PSA big man Josh Gray has arguably the most intimidating physical presence in all of New England. He's approaching 7-feet with a frame that is ultra-powerful and equally chiseled. His motor has vastly improved over the course of the last year, coming out of the Knox School in New York, while he's also made offensive strides around the bucket this year. He is uncommitted but has had multiple high-major suitors since the summer. 

Woodstock forward DYondre Dominguez rounds out the top five as the southpaw forward continues to put up numbers in his first year with the Centaurs. St. Thomas More's Jared Garcia, a Charlotte commit, is a stock-riser as he's finally starting to turn his long-noted potential into consistent production. Ronnie DeGray, Dominguez' running mate at Woodstock, remains a top-ten prospect and one of the more versatile forwards in New England. PSA's Melvyn Ebonkoli missed time with injury in recent weeks but had pushed his recruitment all the way to the Big East level this fall. Windsor's Corey McKeithan is the first CIAC product on the list as he has led the Warriors to the top of the various local state polls and has the type of advanced skill-set and deep shot-making ability that will translate well to the next level at Rider. UMass pledge Cairo McCrory rounds out the top ten as another high-level athlete and proven scorer at Woodstock. 

East Catholic's Matt Knowling, who is committed to Yale, is in the midst of a strong senior campaign and a stock-riser who has shown growth in his game. Loomis Chaffee's Reece Brown is a high-level athlete with still a ton of untapped potential who is on his way to UNLV. PSA's Mekhi Gray is one of the state's most improved players over the course of the last year and a potential steal for NJIT while Terrell Ard is an athletic combo-forward who remains on the board. Woodstock's Chad Venning is a wide-bodied big man who continues to make consistent strides while Elon may have gotten a steal in Canterbury's late-blooming big man Michael Graham. Woodstock's Jordan Mitchell debuts at 17 after finally being healthy for the first time in the better part of two years and could be a riser as he continues to emerge. Hotchkiss' Miles Brewster, a Boston University pledge, is an ultra-charismatic scoring guard with increasingly versatile tools. PSA point guard Marty Silvera remains uncommitted but has seen his recruitment shoot up this year as he has gotten into the best shape of his life and had several big performances. Suffield Academy's Jalin Sinclair, a Lehigh pledge, rounds out the top 20 while another diminutive guard, Fordham bound Julian Dozier from Putnam, sits one spot behind. 

The rest of the top 30 includes Dartmouth commit Dusan Neskovic from Hotchkiss, Woodstock's Jamon Kemp, Canisius pledge Asa Beyah from Cheshire Academy, Windsor alum and Rider signee Lawrence Foreman from Woodstock, unsigned PSA guard DMaurian Williams, South Kent's Mount St. Mary's pledge Josh Reaves, Prince Tech's extraodinary athlete Kazell Stewart, Woodstock's Bryant bound guard Joseph Moon, and unsigned St. Thomas More guard Jair Currie. 

Click here to view the complete top 50 for the Connecticut class of 2020.