by Alex Schwartz

After previously going over the recruitment of four class of 2012 prospects, this final recruiting piece from Orlando will feature a quartet of underclassmen. Included are a pair of 2013 players and two 2014 stars.

One of the biggest surprises in Orlando was Quinton Stephens, a 6'8 small forward out of the Marist School (GA). The 2013 prospect who plays up with the Atlanta Xpress U17 team said that he did not have any scholarship offers, but he has the look of a kid who will likely be a high-major player.

Although no program had yet extended an offer when Northstar Basketball spoke with Stephens, he was garnering interest from numerous schools. Stephens listed Clemson, Auburn, Georgetown, Georgia, Florida, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Maryland, Alabama, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State as schools involved in his recruitment. He noted that there are others as well.

As for his favorites, Stephens remarked, "I mean, I like the University of Florida campus and everything. I like Clemson, I like Maryland. I like a lot of schools. I just feel like [I am looking for] the best fit for me."

Stephens said that Clemson, Georgia Tech and Georgia were the schools coming at him the hardest. He has already visited Maryland and Clemson and been to Florida for a team camp. In addition, he said he was planning to trip to Georgetown and South Carolina in the near future.

A 5'11 point guard who runs with the U16 All-Ohio Red squad, Jaaron Simmons has a number of schools coming after him. The class of 2013 prospect out of Archbishop Alter (OH) said that his only offer right now is Ohio U, but other schools are expressing interest.

Simmons also mentioned that Xavier, Dayton, Wisconsin, Iowa, DePaul, and Cincinnati are involved in his recruitment. He said Xavier, Dayton, Wisconsin, and Iowa are "the main ones recruiting me the hardest."

The only campuses that Simmons has been to thus far, either for a game or a camp, are a pair of in-state Atlantic 10 schools in Xavier and Dayton.

Jalen Lindsey, a 6'6 small forward out of Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN), was on the Northstar Basketball Pre-July 2014 Top 40 Watch List. A rising sophomore who plays U17 ball with the Tennessee Travelers, Lindsey has a whole host of early college interest.

Lindsey said he has offers from Memphis and North Carolina State as well as numerous other schools involved. He mentioned Ohio State, North Carolina, Georgetown, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Alabama, DePaul, Marquette, and Florida as other schools showing interest, noting that there are more as well.

"UNC is my favorite right now," Lindsey said, continuing on to say of why that is, "I like their background [and] . . . it's just a great school."

Lindsey, who said he has a 3.3 GPA, said that academics will play a part in his decision, but location will not. Thus far he has visited Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Memphis. He said he had no other trips planned, but noted, "I would like to visit UNC, Florida, all the big schools."

"Probably Marquette," Lindsey said of who is recruiting him the hardest. He said that he grew up a UNC fan and said of whether he would commit on the spot if he got an offer from the Tar Heels, "Probably not, I probably would wait."

Joel Berry, Jr. was also included on the Northstar Basketball Pre-July 2014 Top 40 Watch List. A 6'1 point guard out of Lake Highland Prep (FL) who plays up at the U17 level with Each 1 Teach 1, Berry is still in the early stages of his recruitment.

He said that Miami was the only school that had offered him a scholarship, but mentioned Central Florida and Florida as other schools showing interest. Berry said that other SEC and ACC schools are involved too, but did note that Florida State is not one of them.

"I'm really looking hard at the home schools in Florida," Berry said. "I'd like my parents to come see me play . . . but if I have to go out of town I will."

Berry said that he would be fine with going to any part of the Sunshine State. He has already taken visits to Miami and UCF and was planning to visit Florida in August or September.

Note- photo is of Jalen Lindsey and is from http://nashvillecitypaper.com/