An action packed summer on the AAU circuit and hyper competitive New York outdoor scene has given everyone a better feeling of who is who in the city. With that, a barrage of young guns have stepped into more meaningful roles and entertain bigger expectations as freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Here is a look at a slew of the stock rising underclassmen who have opened eyes this summer and fall:
Jack Nieradko, Kingswood-Oxford—The 6-foot-9 Class of 2024 big is beginning to blossom as a high motored big with versatility and an expanding offensive game with his sneaky explosiveness. Nieradko is a unique mismatch with his ability to stretch the floor out with reliable 3-point shooting and deep jumper.
Nieradko has improved drastically with his ability to score between a defender and the basket, an area most bigs are late to develop in. After garnering credibility with the New Heights Lightning on the AAU circuit this summer, Nieradko was among the noteworthy performers at the 2021 Jim Couch Super 16. Nieradko got above the rim and played with sustainable toughness throughout.
Daye Kaba, Bishop Loughlin—The big, 6-foot-5 guard has virtually come out of nowhere as a prominent 2024 prospect with a multi-positional presence. Kaba is long and athletic, which enables him to make vital stops and guard multiple positions defensively.
As a hard attacking guard, Kaba has some burst to him and knows how to finish above the rim and through contact. Kaba has developed as a shot maker and has made the outside shot a facet of his game. He showed promise this summer, which should build anticipation for his sophomore campaign at the traditional Brooklyn power Loughlin.
Nasir Muhammad, Xavierian —A sound and cerebral 6-foot point guard, Muhammad knows how to quarterback a team and subscribe to the game manager role. He’s got an ability to control the floor and get his teammates involved.
As a shot maker, Muhammad has evolved into a volume scorer. Like former Brooklyn product and Pittsburgh guard LeVance Fields, Muhammad is super poised under heightened pressure with a knack for that timely 3-pointer.
Badara Diakite, Northwest Catholic—The Long and athletic 6-foot-10 forward has been a hyped about prospect since he arrived at the doorstep as an unknown eighth grader at Redemption Christian.
Diakite is a dazzling above and around the rim finisher, with broomstick long arms and a notable hangtime and vertical. He brings rim to rim, baseline to baseline mobility that translate to the next level.
Diakite handles the ball well for a player of his size and has shown he can attack the run and advance the ball fresh off a defensive board. With his size, evolving skill set and the fact that he’s growing into his body this quickly as a freshman, Diakite is teeming with upside.
Christian Jones, Our Savior Lutheran—The 6-foot-5 Class of 2023 guard is a smooth left handed scorer who will play a more prominent role on a stacked OSL team featuring Tennessee commit Zakai Zeigler, Iona commit Sadiku Ayo, and four year starter and high scoring guard Jaquan Sanders (a high level scorer who recently decommitted from St. John’s and currently has a handful of high major offers). Jones is a knockdown shooter from deep and spreads then floor out with his spacing and catch and stick presence.
