Top prospects in the Class of 2021 really don’t have a whole lot of control right now over their individual recruiting.
The cornavirus shut down the end of the high school basketball season, erased the April evaluation periods and all the club basketball events this spring. The likelihood of any high-profile events with their high school teams this summer seem unlikely.
High school film can be evaluated, recruiting services can rave about the prospect and early impressions can still go a long way; that’s what college coaches have been relegated to while being shut down during these unprecedented days.
But the old fashioned way of building a rep and adding college interest before the early signing period in November is out of the prospect’s hands.
Nonetheless, there are a few prospects who have already committed and others who have seen their stock rise despite the current circumstances. But Notre Dame’s Troy D’Amico hasn’t been one of them –– at least to the extent he should be recognized.
D’Amico took a massive step forward over the course of his junior season. He ended up averaging 15.6 points while taking just 9.7 shots. He chipped in 5.1 rebounds and three assists while shooting 40 percent from the three-point line.
The majority of college coaches still haven’t seen him. We’re talking really see him –– the locked in on a prospect evaluation see him.
They may have caught a glimpse of D’Amico, who was then just fresh off his sophomore season, last spring and summer. But he’s a different player than he was 12 months ago. No one saw him live this spring, and who knows what’s in store in coming months?
The very few coaches who did get out in the winter months to see him were lucky, because D’Amico took a big step forward with his all-around game and easy-to-appreciate intangibles.
“Troy took a huge jump during the season, so now I’m not sure college coaches have seen what I saw this past season,” Notre Dame coach Kevin Clancy said of his Sun-Times All-Area forward. “Without having seen him in the spring, you’re not sure if college coaches are able to recognize that he’s a different player, a more complete player than the one they saw play last summer.”
Since the season ended for D’Amico and Notre Dame in early March, he’s added just a couple of offers. He locked in a few offers a year ago and currently says Southern Illinois, Valparaiso, Loyola and Toledo are the schools who have offered and are the most active with him. But he’s also hearing from Virginia Tech, Utah State, Cincinnati and Florida Atlantic, though none of the four have yet to pull the trigger.
The City/Suburban Hoops Report’s No. 7 ranked player in the Class of 2021 remains vastly under-recruited in comparison to other players in the class and country.
“I definitely feel a little overlooked,” said D’Amico when specifically asked about the overall interest he’s receiving.
But D’Amico isn’t a kid who moans and whines about being disrespected or shouts in his tweets about a lack of this or a lack of that. He doesn’t even advertise his own offers. His old school approach, humbleness and mature mindset is refreshing.
“It’s not something I worry about and it doesn’t get into my head,” D’Amico said. “But it does motivate me. Any college that hasn’t been interested, that’s their decision.”
At 6-7 with emerging ball skills and some point-forward ability as a 4-man, D’Amico fits what college coaches are all clamoring for at the position. He can handle the ball, pass, step out and make a shot while always competing at a high level. There is a more refined skillset and the ability to exploit mismatches with a whole lot of offensive versatility in his game.
“His leadership took a big step from his sophomore to junior year, and along with that came a ton of confidence,” Clancy said. “With his I.Q. and decision-making, we put the ball in his hands a lot. He played more inside-out and became tougher to guard. Physically he became more explosive and stronger. He has a ways to go still, but you put all those pieces together and Troy was ready to really open eyes.”
But that’s been the problem. D’Amico hasn’t had a chance to open eyes, to enhance his stock and showcase the well-rounded game he’s put together.
“Everyone obviously wants to play, so it’s been tough,” said D’Amico of the forced time off. “The end of the season and trying to win a state championship was taken away. Then you put in all the work over the past year in preparation for your final AAU season and leading up to EYBL … It’s been really tough.”
D’Amico says he’s keeping an “open mind” during these odd times without the ability to visit campuses or play in any showcase events. He’s making the most of phone calls and zoom meetings with college coaches. But the time table hasn’t changed.
“I still want to make sure I commit before my senior year, before the season starts so the sole focus can be on winning a state championship,” D’Amico said.
