Brandon Slater hasn’t always been the fastest or the most athletic player, but when push comes to shove, he is ready to compete. This summer, playing with Team Takeover (DC) Slater has placed all doubt aside to emerge as one of the top players in the 2018 class. Now, as the recruiting process begins to heat up, all hinges on him, if he hopes to reach his full potential and make the NBA. “Everybody is trying to give me their best shot so that they can make a name off of me," said Slater. “It’s definitely something new.”

 

The attention may be new, but the work ethic certainly is not. When Slater was only four years old, he started playing basketball under the guidance of his older brother and since then, it has gone from a simple hobby to a lifestyle. “Hopefully, I’ll go to college, graduate, and make it to the pros if I have the chance.” said Slater.

Now that he is entering his junior year, and schools are able to contact him, choosing a college is definitely on his mind. With offers from schools such as Louisville, Miami, USC, among others, Slater is a hot commodity in the Class of 2018. Being a highly recruited athlete, he always has his family by his side, especially when it comes to making a decision. “They never pressure me to make a decision.” says the 6’5”, 180lb small forward. “They just tell me, flat out, if they feel that it’s best for me, and I like the school, then they’ll go along with it.”

 

Not only is Slater receiving attention from colleges, but also the media. Ranked by ESPN as being the 29th best player in the Class of 2018, Slater also has to deal with the added pressure of being ranked. “It’s definitely something new,” he says. “Everybody is trying to give me their best shot so that they can make a name off of me. It’s different, but I’m doing well, so far.”

While he may be receiving attention now, it hasn’t always been that way, growing up, Slater has always been a skinny person. For a while, that took it’s toll on him, as he said, “Being the skinniest person, that always gets annoying. Everybody is stronger than you.” Slater continued. “When I used to play, I was always the youngest, so I was never big. That’s one of the biggest things that pushed me.”

 

Now, that Slater has grown into his own, he is clearly making the most of it. After a dominating performance in Peach Jam with Team Takeover, all eyes are on him as he nears, his ever so important, junior season. Although he was not able to achieve his ultimate goal of winning Peach Jam, Slater’s presence was felt, even drawing comparisons to NBA players, Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. “When I was little, Kevin Durant and I were from the same area, and I’m kind of skinny, so I had a lot of Kevin Durant, but now it’s guys like Danny Green or Kawhi Leonard.”

 

   With his junior year awaiting, Brandon Slater is proving to be an undeniable force in the 2018 class. If he can build up his strength and continue to work on his game, expect to hear his name in his upperclassman years. As Slater says, “I’m motivated just by my family, my friends, and knowing that I have some talent. I don’t want to waste my talent, so I can see how far I can take it.”