This was supposed to be a huge summer for Jordan Riley. The chance to prove he was underrated, that he was among the nations premier players.

Instead, the Long Island native has had to settle for Zoom sessions, phone calls and backyard training due to the novel coronavirus pandemic shutting down the AAU circuit.

Jordan has decided to stay in public school. Had he done what everybody else does, re-class and go to a private school, he would be a top 10 in the country and a five-star athlete, his father Monty said. I know hes a five star, I know hes top 10 in the country.

Riley, a talented and high-flying 6-foot-4 shooting guard at Brentwood High School rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, was going to travel with the New York Lightning and play in the premier Nike Elite Youth Basketball League this summer for the first time. It would have offered him opportunities to showcase his talents in front of the top Division I coaches in the country after he averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists per game for the Suffolk Class AA champions and was named Newsdays Suffolk Player of the Year. But the virus wiped that away. The rising senior hasnt allowed the virus to stop him from working, though. Fortunately, his Bay Shore home has a makeshift basketball court in the backyard, and Riley has taken advantage, putting in up to six hours per day, he said.

Its given me time to work on stuff, learn new things, he said. Work on my left hand, get my shot right, ballhandling, getting stronger, quicker. Its how to help my body.

He has also become a mentor to several younger people in the area, training with them when hes not working on his own game.

Im just working them out, trying to get them better, show them things I usually do in games and moves that I do, he said. I like to see them getting better, them having a smile on their face.

Another downside of the virus for Riley is the inability to visit schools. Its led to his phone, and that of his fathers, being inundated with calls from coaches. At the beginning it was fun, but it has grown tiresome. Thats one reason Riley is planning to make his college decision soon. He wouldnt set a timetable, but it could happen this summer, before school starts in September.

Riley said being able to win, develop as a player and person will play pivotal roles in where he chooses. He has a final five of St. Johns, UConn, Kansas, Florida State and Georgetown and will be making his decision by the end of the week, his father said. The decision will come down to which school is 100 percent beneficial to Jordan, his dad said, and which place will put him in a prime position to make an impact immediately.

One head coach believes he was trending towards being a top-100 recruit before the pandemic and thinks he couldve exploded had there been an AAU travel season.

I think hes a heck of a player. He has a fierce toughness on the court, which I love, the coach said. Obviously hes skilled. He reminds of an old school Big East player. Just a tough, hard-nosed kid. I love everything about him.

Read this article:

Long Island basketball prospect's big chance wiped away by coronavirus - New York Post