By TOBIAS BASS
The Class of 2022 was drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet one year later gyms are filling college coaches and prospects like Rylan Griffen are being seen by many for the first time.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard from Richardson (TX) holds 17 offers and recently took a visit to Kansas State from June 11-13.
“It was a nice campus. I enjoyed my time there,” Griffen said. “I talk to the coaches all the time, mainly about the NBA playoffs right now, so it’s just cool hearing from them still.”
Griffen is set to take his second official to Oklahoma State in July.
“I’m going to set a couple more, though,” he said.
Two weeks ago, Griffen put the basketball world on notice by making the Top-60 game at the Pangos All-American camp. This summer, he’s focused on improving his pace of play.
“I really have to work on playing with pace,” Griffen said. “I think that could take me to another level so just trying to master that is what i’m working on right now.”
Ranked by 247Sports.com as the No. 10 shooting guard and No. 70 overall prospect in 2022, Griffen is looking to tap into his potential.
“Most of the schools say they need me, so that’s good to hear,” Griffen said. They also think I have a lot of potential and raw talent that they can develop so I definitely want to learn from them and I want to get better.
“People talk about rankings and stars all the time, but I don’t care about that. It’s the end goal I care about the most. A lot of coaches tell me that, too. There are schools that look at that type stuff but the ones that want me don’t care about that at all.”
Running with Trae Young‘s AAU squad this summer, Griffen is playing alongside a number of future college players.
“We have nine Division 1 players, so with that team we just have to show we can play with other greats at the next level,” he said. “I just want to show college coaches I will do anything to win. I want to show them that I want to be great at that level as well.”
Starting the summer with Drive Nation, Griffen recently made the shift to Team Trae Young.
“Trae Young just was a better fit for me and what I have to work on,” Griffen said.
With the Hawks making the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17, Young’s father invited the AAU team to a playoff game against the Knicks earlier this month.
“With his dad raising a NBA superstar like Trae Young, when he pulled me over and gave me knowledge to the game, he told me some things that people look for at next level,” Griffen said. “It really helped me and I really appreciated that. I appreciate how he still comes out and supports us.”
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