2025 Recruits On The Rise: Part One

July 22, 2023 by Tony McNiff

Recruits On The Rise: In this content series I'll be diving into a collection of 2025 prospects who have been garnering buzz on the recruiting trail. Make sure to check out our full list of rankings for the 2023-2026 classes here.

Kelvin Odih
2025 | 6’4” Guard | South Kent School (CT) & Rhode Island Elite

Odih has garnered plenty of buzz this AAU season and his stock is set to continuously rise within the next year. He’s added offers from Marquette, Xavier, Rhode Island & Albany this summer, although don’t be surprised if more come his way in the near future. 

Odih is a bouncy, malleable & explosive athlete who is a springy finisher at the rim. Prominent lob threat who is dangerous in the open floor or off back-door screens & cuts. Powerful slasher at the point of attack who forces his way downhill while needing minimal dribbles to create advantages. Developing spot-up shooter who has become much more comfortable & confident scoring off the catch. The blend of size, strength & lateral agility gives him the ability to defend guards or wings. Tenacious on-ball defender who takes pride in guarding opposing team’s best players with his energy, motor and toughness.

Daniel Jacobsen
2025 | 7’1” Big | Brewster Academy (NH) & JL3 Elite (EYBL) 

Jacobsen has earned offers from Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, Xavier, & New Mexico during the July live periods. One of the hottest prospects on the recruiting trail at the moment and his stock is trending upwards. The New Mexico native decided this spring that he’ll be attending Brewster Academy (NH) and entering the 2025 class next season. 

The imposing positional size & disruptive length pop at first glance when watching Jacobsen live. Functional low-post scorer with a high release point & soft touch in the paint. Reliable lob threat with an adequate first jump & soft hands to secure high passes above the rim. Tends to be productive as a rebounder & shotblocker where he has a high activity level on the interior. Also has flashed some floorspacing upside out of the pick & pop which speaks volumes to his upside as a shooter.

Ace Flagg
2025 | 6’7” Forward | Montverde Academy (FL) & Maine United (EYBL)

Ace Flagg has added offers from Florida Gulf Coast & George Washington during the July live periods. He may not get the national spotlight or recognition his brother Cooper does, however he was a vital piece to a deep Maine United run at Peach Jam. He was notably productive against the highest levels of competition in Augusta. 

Ace is an ultimate competitor who is a double-double machine with his workman-like approach on both ends of the floor. Physical rebounder that plays with a relentless motor & a high level of aggression despite being matched up with bigger opponents. His will to win was on full display in Augusta and he thrives at playing within his skillset offensively. Also flashed some face-up touch when opponents heavily played the drive. Expect his game to continue to reach new levels while developing at Montverde Academy (FL). 

Zymicah Wilkins
2025 | 6’9” Big | Christ School (NC) & Team United (EYBL)

Wilkins has added offers from VCU, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Illinois & more this summer. He’s a prospect on the brink of entering our 2025 rankings and he seemed to increase his productivity as the summer progressed. 

Wilkins is a well-built, physical & abrasive athlete who is a powerful finisher at the rim. Showed glimpses of improving athleticism & an enhanced vertical by throwing down some big time dunks this summer. Capable floorspacer who continues to flash his ability to stretch the floor from time to time off the catch. His physical tools and positional size allow him to be a prominent putback threat, plus he rarely allows opponents to keep possessions alive. His blend of physical tools and improving skill/athleticism make him a fast-riser in the 2025 class. The North Carolina native is trending upwards and he’s a prospect to look out for. 

Kareem Stagg
2025 | 6’8” Big | Oscar Smith (VA) & Boo Williams (EYBL)

Stagg has earned offers from Providence, Texas A&M, VCU, & Maryland this summer. He strung together some impressive flashes while playing up an age division during the EYBL and he’s another prospect on the rise in the 2025 class.

He’s a physical & well-built athlete who is loaded with vertical pop as a rim finisher. Bouncy lob threat who has adequate hands & a springy first jump to finish plays above the rim. Hard-nosed rim finisher who has the build and strength to take bumps & play through contact. His power, vertical & physicality translate to the glass where he tends to be highly productive as a defensive rebounder. The next step in his game will be diversifying his shot profile & expanding his offensive versatility. 

Chuck Love
2025 | 6’6” Guard | La Lumiere (IN) & Mokan Elite (EYBL) 

Top-50 2025 wing guard Chuck Love has added offers from Oregon, Illinois, Washington & Wichita State this summer. We’ve been high on the Nebraska native at MADE Hoops for quite some time and it looks like his recruitment is starting to ascend. He also recently announced that he’ll be attending La Lumiere (IN) for his junior season. 

Love is a prospect that oozes with upside given his mix of size, length, & shotmaking. Smooth pull-up scorer with a fluid release & strong mechanics, plus his range extends out to the three-point line. Capable slasher who can attack closeouts with his ground coverage & feel, plus he has some touch at the rim. Instinctual defender who can guard in space & generate deflections with his length or hand speed. There’s some room to bulk up his frame and plenty of untapped upside for him to reach at the next level.

Preston Fowler
2025 | 6’7” Forward | East Catholic (CT) & New Heights Lightning (EYBL)

Fowler was awarded stockriser of the session honors in our “EYBL Awards” and it was only a matter of time before his recruitment expanded. The Connecticut native has added offers from George Washington, Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Temple, Quinnipiac, George Mason, Fordham, & more in this summer alone. He’s another prospect who will be in strong consideration for an entrance into our 2025 national rankings. 

Fowler is a mismatch nightmare who has developed into a legitimate floorspacer & inside-out scoring threat. Capable of posting up smaller opponents & finishing over the top of defenses, plus he’s a fluid face-up shooter that can score outside of the paint. Plays with a relentless motor on the glass & wasn’t afraid to matchup with bigger opponents all summer. Highly impactful rebounder whose motor, aggression and toughness makes him consistently productive on the glass. One to keep an eye on in the Northeast as he continues to develop at a steady rate.

Adrien Stevens
2025 | 6’4” Guard | Bullis School (MD) & WeR1 (UAA)

Stevens has seen his recruitment take off this spring & summer as he’s added offers from the likes of Maryland, Xavier, Penn State, Marquette, Butler, Providence, and multiple others. He’s been highly impactful on the UAA Circuit while making the most out of each live period. The Maryland native is a prospect who could make a jump into the Top-150 of our national rankings soon. 

Stevens is a long & fluid athlete with an appealing blend of size and versatility. Aggressive handler at the point of attack who is a forceful slasher off rip-throughs. Bouncy & athletic rim finisher who possesses the power to take bumps and embrace contact. Smooth spot-up shooter who has proven this summer that his range extends out to the three-point line. Willing playmaker who excels at creating for others in dribble-drive scenarios. His blend of length, fluidity & movement skills gives him imminent upside as a defender. The DMV native is a backcourt prospect to look out for on the East Coast.