NSD: If they played football ...
In the world of high school sports, there may not be a bigger day than football's National Signing Day. In our annual hoops nod to the gridiron, we take a look at 10 members of the Rivals150 that we could envision trading in high tops for cleats and being successful.
Bam Adebayo, PF, High Point (N.C.) Christian
Attributes: Headed to Kentucky and ranked No. 7 overall in the class of 2016, Adebayo is an athletic marvel. He carries a chiseled 250 pounds on his lean and strong frame and moves with the grace and agility of a much smaller player. He’s explosive, tough, has huge hands and has a very quick first step for a guy his size.
Projected position: Defensive end
Lonzo Ball, PG, Chino Hills (Calif.)
Attributes: Currently ranked No. 8 overall, the 6-foot-5 Ball is a long and rangy athlete. Blessed with incredible vision. Ball is as talented a passer as we have scouted in the last 10 years. He throws long bombs that are on the money and lead to scores regularly and may throw more touchdown passes at UCLA than Josh Rosen.
Projected position: Quarterback
Miles Bridges, SF, Huntington (W.V.) Prep
Attributes: A 6-foot-6 athlete, Bridges is already put together like a college veteran. He loves physical play and uses his strength to clear out space where possible. More than just strong, the Michigan State-bound small forward, who ranks No. 11 nationally, is also explosive in tight spaces, has great hands and retains his athleticism through contact.
Projected position: Tight end
Mustapha Heron, SG, Waterbury (Conn.) Sacred Heart
Attributes: Standing 6-foot-5, the No. 21 player in the class would surely draw a double take from Gus Malzahn if they crossed paths on the Auburn campus. He has good speed, can rise up in a crowd to snatch rebounds and is as tough as they come on both ends of the floor. He also has great body control.
Projected position: Wide receiver
Seventh Woods, PG, Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School
Attributes: Ranked No. 35 overall, Woods is one of the most athletic players in the class of 2016. The North Carolina-bound guard is particularly impressive as a defender. He is explosive out of turns, has exceptional lateral quickness and can go climb the ladder whether he’s on or off balance.
Projected position: Defensive back.
Shamorie Ponds, PG, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Jefferson
Attributes: Ranked No. 42 and headed to St. John’s, Ponds isn’t the most physically imposing guy. He’s maybe 6-foot and probably doesn’t weigh much more than 160 pounds. However, he’s incredibly quick, is as shifty as they come off the dribble, has explosion and is a true competitor who shows little regard for his own well being the way he hurls his body around.
Projected position: Athlete
Bruce Brown, SG, Saxtons River (Vt.) Vermont Academy
Attributes: If it came down to it, the No. 49 player in the class looks like somebody who could help out Mark Richt at Miami. Brown is an explosive athlete with terrific end-to-end speed and he has a physically mature 6-foot-4 frame. He’s a nasty competitor and is the kind of guy who is going to win most fights for loose balls.
Projected position: Wide receiver
Jarron Cumberland, SG, Wilmington (Ohio) High
Attributes: If you saw the well put-together shooting guard and learned he was a four-star athlete going to Cincinnati on a scholarship, you would immediately assume it was for football and not basketball. A beastly 220-pound shooting guard, who ranks No. 61 overall, Cumberland is already a grown man and he’s unafraid of rough and tumble play.
Projected position: Linebacker
Mark Vital, Dallas (Texas) API
Attributes: A 6-foot-5 forward who ranks No. 74 nationally, Vital is one of the most explosive and physically tough guys around. Despite a lack of size for a power player, he regularly kicks tail on the interior and out-toughs much bigger players for rebounds or dunks in traffic. There’s probably never been a person who hasn’t wondered what the Baylor signee would look like in football pads.
Projected position: Tight end/Defensive end
Eric Hester, Oldsmar (Fla.) Oldsmar Christian
Attributes: One of the top defenders in the class of 2016, the Florida-bound four-star ranks No. 87 overall and has a lean and wiry-strong 6-foot-3 frame that could easily carry much more bulk without costing him athleticism. He’s dangerous playing centerfield and reacting for steals, and he can check a guy one-on-one.
Projected position: Safety