As we get closer to the high school season, there is no better time to look at underrated players within the state. Most of these cases typically come from guys who live outside of the three major cities (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro) and/or have stayed loyal to their original high school programs. However, in an attempt to get ahead of college coaches looking for unsigned talent in the later summer months, we will identify players they should know about over the coming months. Folks within the grassroots scene may already know Aden Jeffries from the Durham Hurricanes, but his addition to Southern Durham should be getting more notice. Let’s take a look at what he’ll bring…
Standing at 6-foot-7 with incredibly long arms and a wiry frame, Jeffries’ physical profile immediately captures your attention. He’s a fluid athlete who moves very well for his size. Jeffries is able to consistently cause matchup problems due to his blend of IQ, size, creation skills, and scoring ability. He handles the ball quite well to generate clean looks for himself off the bounce, but can also set up others or find success as an off-ball threat. Jeffries is capable of applying quality scoring pressure from all levels, as he mixes it up well and knows when to attack versus defer. Although he’s already an enticing athlete, he’s still continuing to add strength and grow into his body. Jeffries is a capable rebounder with the ability to outwork opponents and push the break in transition. He’s also a disruptive defender with great anticipation for forcing turnovers.
Despite already having a lot of ability, the upside is obvious. Jeffries is a versatile two-way piece with a great frame and tons of potential remaining. He’ll join a team in Southern Durham that lost several key contributors (Jackson Keith, Zaquan Bowling, Dwight Vincent, Devin Perkins, Kejon Hughes, etc.) and needs to replace a lot of production. Fortunately, this program is known for its ability to consistently cycle in the next group of players and find success. Expect Jeffries to warrant a lot of attention from spectators and college coaches throughout his upcoming senior season.