17 Year-Old Hoops Prospect Daniel Gadsden is Defying the Odds

Atlanta, GA – With the high school basketball regular season just around the corner, a number of top prospects from notable schools have already captured the eyes and ears of scouts and enthusiasts. However, there are other promising young stars who can undoubtedly boost their cache with a successful 2025 campaign. Among them is Daniel Gadsden, the electric rising junior at The Lovett School in Buckhead.

Close followers of Georgia sports may scratch their heads at the mention of Lovett, a school not known as a breeding ground for hoop stars. However, that’s exactly why Gadsden is special.  Ranked #24 in the state, the 6’6” small forward is a double-double machine who can jump out of the gym with a 40” vertical. His ability to rebound and get to the basket causes problems for opponents.

This season, Gadsden will be the cornerstone of the team, which will depend on him to maximize his supreme athleticism, leadership, and effectiveness as a dual threat on both sides of the ball. Reminiscent of a young Kawhi Leondard he dominated during summer league play under AAU coach Matt Harpring, who played 11 seasons in the NBA and was 3-time All ACC at Georgia Tech. He appears poised to make noise and make an appearance in the national rankings.

Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Utah State, and Youngstown State have already seen Gadsden in action, while others are curious to see what he will bring to the table as the Lions begin the regular season on November 8th against Collins Hill.

Lovett head coach Mike Harner is looking forward to a strong season from the 17 year-old – one where he displays fierce activity on both sides of the court and rises to the challenge in big moments.

“The great thing about Daniel is not only is he a great kid to coach, he is a straight A student who holds himself accountable and the other kids look up to him,” he said. “He leads in a positive way and that is a testament to his parents. Now, it’s time for him to really step more into that leadership role and continue to elevate his game. He will have a good supporting cast, so we’re looking for him to score 15 points a night, get 11 or 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and be more consistent with the 3-ball.”

Gadsden is eager to seize that opportunity.

“It excites me to be a leader on this team. I know I will be called on a lot from my coach and I am prepared to do whatever he needs me to do. Whether that is to score, get stops, or use my God-given athleticism and ability to rebound and be an impact player,” Gadsden said. “ I know that success is in the small details, so from my attitude, to uplifting my teammates, and giving maximum effort, I want to do it all.”

With the 2025-26 season just around the corner, the sky’s the limit for Daniel Gadsden, and he seems ready to rise to the occasion as one of the nation’s top high school prospects. View his sophomore reel here: