Shakur Juiston, a 6-foot-7 forward from Hutchinson (KS) Community College, continues to play well and gain attention from high-major programs.
The former Paterson (N.J.) Eastside star is averaging 15.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for national power Hutchinson (15-0)
Illinois coach John Groce came to see Juiston last week, while Iowa State, Seton Hall, Rhode Island, Arizona State, Rutgers, La Salle, UTEP, St. Joe’s, Ole Miss and DePaul are also involved.
“Shakur is a walking double-double,” Hutchinson assistant Jay Cyriac said. “He has an unbelievable motor and does everything you need to win. He won a lot of games for Paterson Eastside and at the Peach Jam with the NJ Playaz and was an important player last season as a freshman. He’s a tremendous athlete, and better kid.”
The Newark, N.J., native is playing this season as a tribute to his brother Shadir, who was shot and killed a few blocks from their New Jersey home on Jan. 21, 2011.
As far as recruiting goes, Juiston plans to focus on graduating from Hutchinson and then will take visits in the spring. He did visit Seton Hall over the Christmas break.
“He’s not like most of the kids today who need to put up their recruiting status on their social media,” said Playaz director Jimmy Salmon. “He’s old school, he just takes care of business. When he’s ready to announce, he will. He’s not interested in giving everybody a play-by-play.”
As for his skillset, Salmon said: “He’s an old-school basketball. He has exceptional IQ for the game and can defend the 2, 3 and the 4 effectively.”
RUTGERS, UCF WORKING HARD FOR 2018 GUARD MONTEZ MATHIS
Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell and UCF coach Johnny Dawkins were in on Monday to see 2018 guard Montez Mathis, a 6-foot-4, Class of 2018 shooting guard from John Carroll (MD) School.
He’s ranked the No. 34 shooting guard in the Class of 2018.
“Rutgers already offered him,” said Jide Sodipo, the Executive Director of The Team BBC Youth. “[Pikiell] wants him, and they are currently the most aggressive school recruiting him right now. And so is Central Florida.
“Montez’s upside is tremendous. He’s still working to improve is overall game. He’s a big-time athlete that loves to attack, and as he continues to improve his shooting — which he has improved a lot the last two months due to is work in the gym — he will definitely be a top 25-50 prospect by the spring.”
Photo: The Hutchinson News
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