Earlier this travel ball season, we had the opportunity to see Desmon Rose for the first time. The versatile, 6-foot-6 wing from John Marshall showcased the full arsenal across numerous games. Given his obvious level of ability, it was perplexing to consider why he wasn’t committed or being pursued by various types of Division I programs. He later informed us that he had recently decommitted and was planning to do a prep year.
Thereafter, we discussed his game in great detail, stating, “In terms of what he highlighted at our 757 Showcase, it’s pretty aligned with how Rose sees himself. He’s an incredibly smooth creator with the size, athleticism, and general versatility to be a legitimate matchup problem for opponents. Rose is basically a big guard whose physical attributes naturally make him a mismatch. He overpowers smaller guards and is too explosive to be contained by most wings or forwards. That being said, Rose is a smart, fundamental player who utilizes the basics to his advantage. Although he can highlight impressive dribbling combos or explosive finishes at the rim, he’s proven reliable at getting to the basket, finishing through contact, hitting jumpers along the perimeter, or setting up others as a playmaker. Rose is versatile enough to actively toggle between various roles or positions on both ends of the floor. Add in his rebounding sense and transition ability, and it’s easy to see the appeal. All signs point to Rose blowing up during his prep year and collecting a ton of Division I offers before deciding where he’ll further his playing career.”
Since then, a lot has changed. Rose opted out of his intended prep year in favor of Odessa College. The Juco has placed several notable players into the Division I ranks, and Rose feels incredibly likely to be added to that list.