Thanksgiving: Three under-the-radar signings in 2023 class.
With guys making things official with their future programs, I take a look at three guys who I believe are lying under the radar with the start of their college careers approaching.
I’m going to start in the ACC. Mike Young and the Hokies, continue to find these guards, who start as hidden gems and ultimately become vital parts of VT’s success.
Following that, Purdue got a legacy pledge but he’s going to cement his own legacy.
Capping it off, Mike Anderson, in my eyes, landed one of the best recruits for the Johnnies in the last few years.
Brandon Rechsteiner - Virginia Tech
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound guard out of Woodstock, Georgia established himself as a Top-100 prospect this year. He attends Etowah High School and has had tons of success with them. He won MVP at Damian Lillard’s Formula Zero camp alongside North Carolina’s Caleb Love.
Rechsteiner had tons of success with the Atlanta All-Stars as well, which is a strong program that certainly was beneficial to the development of his game.
His family has had tons of success in the wrestling world, you can see the passion and grit in his game that his family had in the wrestling ring. He had multiple WWE superstars in his family, and his brother is currently wrestling in WWE’s NXT.
Besides that, Rechsteiner has a high IQ and his scoring prowess continues to show. You see the guards Mike Young has had over the years in his system, from Storm Murphy to Sean Pedulla, to now another incoming frosh in Rodney Rice. Rechsteiner is going to be that next great guard piece that the Hokies will have to execute Mike Young’s system.
Myles Colvin - Purdue
Yes, his sister plays Volleyball at Purdue and his father starred in Football for the Boilermakers years ago, but Myles Colvin’s upside is major, and without a doubt, Matt Painter’s newest pledge in the 2023 class was a perfect fit for one of the Big Ten’s top programs.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard is entering his junior year at Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis and is fresh off a very nice sophomore campaign where he averaged 18.5 points and nearly seven rebounds per game. Colvin has proven himself as an effective three-level scorer who can space the floor really well and make things happen.
We discussed the legacy behind Colvin’s commitment but I don’t think people truly understand how much of a fit this really is for Matt Painter. You look at the strong wing defenders that run through Purdue, and you see the offensive prowess of Colvin and how it mends in the Purdue system, effective shooter, good size, rim-runner, etc, this is pretty much everything and more for Matt Painter.
Brandon Gardner - St. John’s
I’m sure many of you are familiar with the super-dynamic, 6-foot-8, dynamo of a prospect. He’s made drastic leaps in the game of basketball since he started playing the game just about four years ago. College coaches are raving about this kid, it’s simple. One word I’d use is Upside.
Coaches like the fact that Gardner is proving to be more than just a freak athlete, he’s been able to improve very important aspects of his game and is evidently working on improving his skillset. Gardner has been working on his three-point shot a lot.
He’s also becoming a threat off the dribble and has caused havoc for defenses all season long.
My personal favorite part of Gardner’s game is his defense. His ability to affect every single shot around the rim and be a menace in the paint, it’s just very fun to watch. As I mentioned earlier, his high motor and his athletic ability also are beneficial for him on the defensive end and that has been made clear.
With the Johnnies already off to a 5-0 start, you have to be happy with the current roster and the future.