01 Aug
Evan Mobley Rumors
G League approached top prospect Evan Mobley
USC signee Evan Mobley had also been previously approached by the G League with “an awesome package,” sources told 247Sports. The Temecula (Calif.) Rancho Christian big man is the No. 1 prospect in the nation — the first time USC has ever signed the country’s top recruit — and expected to be the cornerstone of the Trojans’ 2020-21 roster following the departures of five seniors and likely top 10 pick Onyeka Okongwu.
It’s nearing the end of practice, but Evan Mobley is dialed in. The No. 1 high school basketball prospect in the Class of 2020 doesn’t show a lot of emotion, so it’s hard to tell. But his coaches and teammates at 11th-ranked Rancho Christian know what to look for: a block party.
“He is as perfect a basketball player that I’ve ever seen,” Barefield said. “We all know he’s going to be in the NBA. When he picks up weight and if he’s on the right team, he could be an all-star with a big-time career.” While the focus on high school basketball this year has shined brightly on Sierra Canyon — the Los Angeles-based school featuring LeBron James Jr. and Zaire Wade — the best player in the nation is lurking in Temecula, a city 60 miles north of San Diego known more for wineries and a Kobe Bryant-inspired Twitter beef than producing basketball talent.
While Evan didn’t spend much time playing that piano his parents purchased for the home (“I took a few lessons, but I’ve basically forgotten all of that”), that hasn’t stopped Barefield from comparing the best player he’s ever coached to one of the most influential music composers of all time. Mozart. “I compare him to Mozart because all of this just comes easy to him,” Barefield said. “I’ve worked with kids who played college basketball, and it might take them 30, 40 tries before they get the perfect rep. With Evan, show him something one or two times and he nails it.”
