As D’Shawn Schwartz dazzles scouts this AAU season, he gives fans all across the country a sneak preview of what’s to come as he enters his senior year of high school. Standing 6’5” and 215 lbs, Schwartz has been a menace on the court in his first year with KC Run GMC. With offers from schools like UCONN and Colorado, college coaches are beginning to take notice. “At first it was really fun, but it’s starting to get a little stressful,” Schwartz said on his recruitment. “My parents have been here supporting me since day one, even when I thought I couldn’t do it. They’re a big influence on me. If they can say something that will sway my decision a little bit, then I will definitely take that into account.”

Coming out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Schwartz has grown up as an avid basketball fan, first starting to play in the third grade, but it wasn’t until middle school that he realized he is one of the best players in the country. “Things really started to really pick up around seventh grade, when I started training with my trainer, Trey Harrison.” Schwartz continued, “I played a little bit of flag football and soccer when I was really little, but I told myself that I was going to be a one-sport athlete and just stick to one thing.”

That decision turned out to be for the best as Schwartz has just begun to be recognized as a top-100 player in the Class of 2017. Today, he is even ranked by some, including ESPN, as being the top player in the state of Colorado. “I just try to treat it like it’s day one. I don’t let it get to my head and just keep playing like I’m not ranked at all,” he said. “I was never there until now. I’m obviously trying to move my ranking up, but the only way that I’m going to do that is by not being complacent.”

After electing to join KC Run GMC this year for AAU season, Schwartz has proved to be anything, but complacent. Playing alongside fellow top recruits such as Bol Bol and Mitch Ballock, Schwartz has been able to display his talent, while also getting his teammates involved. This well-rounded aspect to his game is something that separates him from other players in his class. “I think that the greatest strength in my game is that I’m really good overall. I know the game very well and I think that I can make an impact in all different ways without scoring.”

There is no denying that Schwartz’s game has improved tremendously, since joining KC Run GMC. That is no coincidence, as he says, “AAU is a lot different from high school. There are a lot more games in a day. Fatigue plays in. Pressure plays in. Traveling plays in, but it’s a fun experience and I really like it. Some of my best moments have come from AAU basketball.”

Despite playing basketball year round, the high school Junior still has time to be a teenager, as he says, “I like to make music and I like yoga. Those are my two things.”

One may wonder how he has time to focus on his education, as he attempts to balance school and sports, but Schwartz handles it with ease, stating, “It’s never really been that hard. I’ve always been able to stay on top of things. I’ve never really gotten behind, so I really just take advantage of the time that I do have and use it for school.”

This hard-working mentality has led to Schwartz being praised as one of high school basketball’s most promising prospects.

With his senior year not far away and a tremendous AAU campaign to build upon, D’Shawn Schwartz should definitely be on everyone’s radar. If one thing’s for sure, D’Shawn Schwartz is "On Top of His Game".