“The most important thing is you must put everybody on notice that you’re here and you are for real.” — Five-time NBA Champion, Kobe Bryant

HOOP DREAMS 

Res Whitaker’s senior campaign as a basketball standout for Marriotts Ridge in Maryland is looming.

That means the possibility exists his recruiting process figures become rather intense in the coming months.

For instance, Dr. Marcea Whitaker, Res Whitaker’s mother has gone to great lengths to ensure her son fully grasps the attention — and turn heads — of college scouts and recruiters — much sooner rather than later.

“Introducing Res Whitaker – Premier Basketball Point Guard 6’3” 200# 3.2 GPA,” Dr. Whitaker said in a weekend post via Facebook.

RES ON THE ROAD

To grasp a full concept of why Res Whitaker’s parental support — which is spearheaded by his father, Restia Whitaker — has assumed a rather zealous approach in helping the 6’3” combo guard garner the essential exposure he needs as a rising senior, look no further the immeasurable strides he’s made in recent years, particularly on the ever-evolving AAU circuit.

For starters, Res Whitaker has been nothing short of impressive for Howard County, Maryland-based Topp Tier Basketball (TTB), coming off a stellar 2023 season in which he averaged 15 points and five rebounds while dishing out five assists.

Add to the fact that he has at his disposal one full season of prep basketball ahead of him, and it’s no wonder all signs point towards this speedy, gifted kid, in all likelihood, steadily emerging as an attractive college prospect by the time his senior campaign culminates next Spring.

“My parents tell me to always compete at my best and try your hardest no matter what,” Res Whitaker told Making Headline News this week. “I will make them proud by attending college and majoring in Business and playing the sport I love on a basketball scholarship.”

To his distinctly unique credit, Res Whitaker, by all accounts, enters a crucial senior season in which he undoubtedly will assume the business-like approach.

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“I am very excited. He knows he has the gift to impact the game,” Restia Whitaker told MHN, assessing his son’s continuous progress on the court. “And it’s great to see college coaches starting to reach out to discuss playing at their universities.”

Indeed, they are, as evidenced by one recruiting agency, which wasted little time chiming in on Res Whitaker’s fascinating display of late, during which he emphatically made his presence felt time and again in gymnasiums across the country.

According to a July 16 analysis by The New England Recruiting Report:

Res Whitaker (Marriotts Ridge): Maryland’s Res Whitaker is a big guard that colleges should check out. He’s got a strong body which he uses to get in the paint and score, as well as an impressive handle to shot create. He stood out as a three-point shooting threat knocking them down in bunches, as well as leading his team in rebounds.

UNDER THE RADAR 

For what it’s worth, such creditable commentary couldn’t have come at a better time for a rising college hoops prospect who doesn’t shy away from the notion that he’s destined to enhance his resume heading into his final prep campaign.

So far, so good.

With one full season of hoops audition in front of him.

“I’ve always loved basketball,” Res Whitaker said. “I grew up watching greats like LeBron (James) and have always dreamed of playing in the NBA. I remember writing that on a piece of paper on my wall: Basketball is also an outlet that allows me to be free from the pressures of being a kid. It keeps me sane.’

Now we know why.

“Res first fell in love with basketball at age four, shooting with the big kids at church school camp,” Dr. Whitaker recalls. “This led to him playing organized basketball in third grade.”

ONE SHINING MOMENT 

Res Whitaker, meanwhile, has since adopted basketball as a lifestyle, of sorts, a trend that, given his continuous progression in recent years, will almost certainly guarantee him the grand prize which he’s diligently pursuing: a full-ride athletic scholarship.

The only mystery, in the meantime, is which school will ultimately inherit this gifted combo guard, who figures to make even more noise in 2024-25 for a Marriotts Ridge team finished 13-11 overall and sixth (9-8) in the Howard County district standings last year.

“In the last couple of weeks, there’s been a few schools (expressing interest),” Res Whitaker said. “So, it’s starting to get crazy now that AAU has started.”

Stay tuned.

That’s because things figure to become even crazier — as in good for this flourishing hoops prospect, one whose recruiting process figures become rather extraordinarily intense in the coming months.

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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.

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