Next Level Sundays: 7 Prospects That Caught My Eye

My visit to Next Level Athletix's group training this past weekend was everything I expected it to be. It was the perfect combination of athletes ready to work and coaches ready to teach. It's mind-blowing the amount of knowledge these players are receiving when they show up to these sessions. I also find it special how the coaches are able to eloquently translate their knowledge of the game to their athletes to the point where these players are able to take the information and implement it directly into their skillset. As a result, these players are starting to "think" the game—and that's when an athlete truly becomes elite. So without further ado, here are seven prospects that caught my eye this past weekend at Next Level Athletix. <hr />   <h5><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Sean Kinard | DB | Brother Rice '22</strong></em></span></h5> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111760" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> As Sunday's session came to a close, one of the coaches pulled me to the side to let me know how impressed he was with Sean's performance. What I liked most about Sean is that he wasn't afraid to come up and get physical at the line. He held his own against the bigger receivers and made light-work of the smaller wideouts. He showed no problem being able to turn and run with his opponents and he possesses the instincts, length and wingspan to be a pass-deflecting maestro.   <h5><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>John Nestor | DB | Marist '23</strong></em></span></h5> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111761" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt2-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> After watching him fly around the field this weekend, I can say with confidence that John Nestor is going to be a "problem" by the time he's a senior. Safeties need to have solid man-coverage skills, but it's even more important for them to cover space. Nestor was around every pass that went in the air and showcased his ability to cover the field from sideline-to-sideline.   <h5><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Vaughn Teodoro | DB | Lincoln-Way East '21</em></strong></span></h5> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111762" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt3-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> I watched him trot over to the sideline a few times, and I noticed that he looked gassed–but it wasn't because he was out of shape; it was because his motor runs at full speed, which was evident during the session because not one time did I see him take a play off. He plays for Lincoln Way East, the defending 8A State Champions, so it's no surprise that he approaches the game with a champion mindset. He's a twitchy DB with great instincts who displayed solid speed and loose hips. He also showed that he's a physical DB who isn't hesitant to dish out punishment at the LOS.   <h5><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Sterlen Henton | ATH | St. Laurence '22</em></strong></span></h5> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111763" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt6-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> I've gotten a chance to see Sterlen on multiple occasions over the past few months and he never disappoints. He's an old-school type of player who isn't going to wow you with an array of flashy moves, but he's productive and gets the job done more times than none. He has soft hands, is light on his feet, and is versatile enough to line up in the backfield or out wide. There would be a lot more buzz surrounding his name had it not been for COVID delaying his junior season.   <h5><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Malik Armstrong | WR | Minooka '22</em></strong></span></h5> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111765" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt7-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Armstrong definitely passes the eye test. He stands at about 6'2" with a long wingspan which equates to him having a huge catch radius which I'm sure his QB loves. One thing that really stood out for me was that he doesn't lose any speed going in and out of his breaks—a skill that every WR isn't equipped with. With the size and speed that he possesses, I expect him to begin climbing up the WR rankings quick, fast, and in a hurry.   <h5><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Justin Taylor | ATH | Nazareth '22</strong></em></span></h5> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111767" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt4-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Sometimes I look at an athlete and I can tell that they have "IT." From the moment I walked in and spotted Justin, I could tell that he was there for business, which was even more apparent once the session started. He's a very skilled route-runner that knows how to use his head and eyes to get open. Has amazingly quick feet with a good set of hands to consistently snag balls out the air. You could see the confidence oozing out of this kid after every rep, and it's obviously because of the work he's put in. He has that combination of skill and athleticism and it's only going to improve over the years. The scary part is, he's only a sophomore.   <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><em>Alex Clue | WR | Palatine '21</em></strong></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-111749" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/nxt5-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> I've been saying that Alex Clue is one of the most underrated prospects in the state for the past couple of months. If you're looking for speed–he's got you covered. Need a reliable pass-catcher–he's got you covered. Looking for a receiver who runs crisp and precise routes–you guessed it, he's got you covered. He's another kid from Sunday's session that was clearly about the business of getting better and wasting no reps. I expect him to have a huge spring season. Reminds me a lot of Stefon Diggs.