Heading into the July live periods, college coaches continue to value players who can impact the paint. While 3-point shooting and flashy ball-handling get most of the attention on social media, the players who secure rebounds and finish at the rim are often the difference in winning games. Here is a look at several who have controlled the paint for their teams this spring and summer.

Reid Boland – PSB Tampa 17U – 2027

Boland should be a priority for college coaches this month. The 6-foot-8 forward excels in one-on-one situations on the block. He also has the mobility to switch defensively and harass guards off ball screens. He is a high-academic prospect with real upside in today’s college game.

Hassan Abdur – Georgia Fire 17U – 2027

Abdur earned praise this spring for his motor and activity in the lane. The 6-foot-8 forward is powerful and explosive around the rim. He pursues rebounds aggressively and has shown soft touch when finishing with angles. @Proven_Prospect wrote this on him from the Atlanta Classic: “Hassan Abdur-Rahman stood out as a top prospect for Georgia Fire throughout the weekend. He was effective on the interior, protecting the rim with timely blocks and limiting opponents’ second-chance opportunities. Abdur-Rahman displayed strong footwork in the paint, read defenders well, and consistently found ways to get around them and finish inside.”

Mike Lynch – Atlanta Standard OTR 17U – 2028

Lynch has been the model of consistency for Atlanta Standard. He anchors the team with strong finishes at the rim and can stretch the floor as a forward who reverses the ball from the high post. He is shooting 64% from the field and leads his team in blocks, which lets his guards pressure the ball more freely.

Quavion Mobley – Thunder Select OTR 17U – 2027

Mobley is an athletic forward who played above the rim and showed improved ball-handling skills. He is a big-time rim protector who alters shots at the basket.

Charles Lewis – Griffin Grasshoppers Elite 17U – 2027

Coach Duck Richards called Lewis a “pure dominator on the inside.” The 6-foot-7, 227-pound forward creates space in the lane with his physicality and runs the floor well. Those traits are hard to ignore.

Dominion Bunch – All Georgia Elite (AGE) 17U – 2027

The 6-foot-7 lefty forward shows good footwork and mobility. He can finish above the rim through contact or step out and attack from the perimeter. College coaches should have him on their radar this month.

Reece Styles – TWU OTR 17U – 2027

Styles has built a reputation as one of the top interior players on the circuit over the past few years. His body control and touch help him carve out space and finish consistently. He is a modern in-and-out post player who can stretch the floor with his jumper, but his production usually comes from double-double effort every night.

Seven Pounds – Warriors Life Elite 17U – 2027

Pounds has been one of the top risers this spring. The versatile wing impacts games in the paint and does many other things well. @TriHoopsNet wrote in April: “long, versatile wing that keeps drawing attention with the more you watch him. Covers ground well, plays with activity, and impacts the game in multiple areas whether it is finishing, defending, rebounding, or making hustle plays. His length stands out right away, but what makes him intriguing is the way he uses it within the flow of the game.”

Notables…

• 6’7 PF Jerry Fernandez – Gold Elite OTR 17U

• 6’7 PF Jeremiah Williams – Sunshine Elite 17U

• Aaron Burks – Atlanta Panthers OTR 17U

• Mekhi Grey – Beach Boys Elite OTR 17U

• Cyrus Pipkin – Florida All Stars 17U

• Connor Fenerty – HoopGrind 17U

• Jason Smith – Elite Playmakers 17U

16U Paint Presence

Nicholas Lindsey – Future Stars 16U – 2029

Lindsey is a 6-foot-2 guard who earned his spot on this list through his work in the paint. Instead of settling for jumpers, he attacks the lane and finishes well. OTR evaluator Allen Pettigrew wrote in April: “Lindsey is a freshman with effortless finishes above the rim. At 6’2” he has a varsity-ready frame with long arms. A high flier for a guard who can get in the paint and hit open 3s. Definitely an underclassman to keep an eye on.”

Yehor Koshelev – OBG OTR 16U – 2028

Koshelev earned praise this spring with his play at the Sweet Sixteen. Here is what Josh Tec told us about his game: “6-foot-11 Yehor Koshelev provides a paint presence few can contend with at this level. He’s a rim protector on one end and a reliable at-the-rim scorer on the other. He’s not a slight 6-11 either. He can play through contact. That’s especially helpful on the boards. There might not be a better rebounder on the circuit.”

Leon Lowman Jr. – Sunshine Elite 16U – 2028

Lowman Jr. is building a reputation as one of the top big men in Florida’s class of 2028. He averaged 2.6 blocks per game this spring. Ross Van De Griek noted that the 6-foot-8 forward “runs the floor exceptionally well in transition as well as in the half-court. He also displayed strong hands and was active around the rim finishing with two hands off the catch and bounce.”

Daviss Jones – PSB Tampa Robinson 16U – 2028

Jones is an emerging big man in Florida. He averaged 1.7 blocks per game this spring and has turned heads with thunderous dunks on the offensive end. He should keep trending upward as a junior.

Notables

• Quintavious Prather Jr. – On-Go Elite 16U

• Micah Toomer – HoopGrind 16U

• King Aleyto – Florida All Stars 16U

• Lisandro Rondon – G-Force Ryders 16U

15U Paint Presence

Dylan Lemoine – Sunshine Elite 15U – 2029

Lemoine continues the strong pipeline of big men at Sunshine Elite. The 6-foot-6 power forward is physical and efficient in the paint, with good versatility on the offensive end.

Robert Adams – Flo Elite 15U – 2029

Adams played a big role in Flo Elite’s early success. His strong lower body helps him secure position for rebounds and interior finishes. He complements their guard play nicely.

Ernest Townsell – Flo Elite 15U – 2029

Flo Elite is one of the few teams with two impactful bigs. Townsell is a strong defender and shot-blocker who pairs well with Adams. His length and wingspan fit their defensive scheme perfectly.

Rajon Daniels – PNP 15U – 2029

PNP has a talented group of underclassmen. Daniels anchors the defense in the paint. As Coach Alleyne said, his “presence in the paint defensively with his long athletic frame” was key to their success.

Landon Davis and Azike Ikuweme – Florida Blue Chips 15U – 2029

Florida Blue Chips were among the top 15U teams this year. Their frontline and wing versatility played a major part. Davis and Ikuweme stood out for their athleticism at the 3/4 spots, where they excelled as rebounders and defenders.

Notables

• Hudson Mitchell – Wood Elite 15U

• A’mir Hatten 6’1 G – Elite Playmakers 15U

• Ben Okpok – Dream Prepare Compete 15U

• Mason Stallworth – AEBL 15U

• Kam Trotter – Gwinnett Eagles OTR 15U

• Zayden Bell – On-Go Elite 15U

Written, edited, and formatted for web by the author.

Jonathan Hemingway has been a National Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2013. He has been involved in the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director, and evaluator. You can reach him at CoachHemi@gmail.com and follow him on X @CoachHemi and Instagram @Coach_Hemi.