Player development is one of the most fascinating parts of evaluating prospects. Every year, we see unexpected guys emerge and high-upside players begin tapping into their potential. Conversely, there are plenty of talented individuals who stop developing or quit working on their game before they’ve actually “made it.” There is no definitive way to differentiate between those who will pan out versus those who won’t, but desire and work ethic are two of the intangible traits that typically yield positive results. Although we’ve been high on him for quite a while, it feels like Keyonee “KJ” Terry is preparing to take his next step as a prospect.
We had the opportunity to watch Terry perform in several games with Team CP3 throughout the weekend, and he certainly didn’t disappoint. For a player who already possessed an amazing foundation featuring size, fluidity, athleticism, defensive switchability, and natural passing instincts, he’s made massive improvements as an overall offensive threat. He’s displayed an improved handle and shot the ball better than ever before, both from midrange and beyond the arc. At first, it was encouraging to see Terry knock down a couple of spot-up jumpers, but then he just kept going. Not only did he continue to hit three-pointers, but he showed the ability to do it off the bounce and catch (and appeared comfortable coming off movement). That being said, Terry still applied pressure as a downhill attacker and finished above the rim or made quality kickout passes to open teammates.
The development is clear, and there’s still so much time for Terry to keep adding to his game. He recently made the move from South Granville to Crossroads Christian and should immediately be their undisputed focal point. Coming off a sophomore campaign with averages of 18.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 6.2 APG, 3.2 SPG, and 1.8 BPG (52/31/65 splits) is undeniably impressive. Folks should expect him to blossom and start warranting offers from Division I coaches as he enters his upcoming junior season.