By: Brandon Wingo
2027 5’10 Kamari Manuel (Mooney St Boys)
Kamari has been on a tear the last 2 events and has caught some eyes in the process. He’s an offensive weapon that brings a ton of energy to the floor. He’s pretty athletic and extremely crafty with the ball, and he shows it by being a nightmare in one on one situations. He can score it from all 3 levels, and although he is most effective at getting to the rim, his mid-range game has thoroughly impressed me. Multiple times I’ve seen him dribble guys down and hit tough shots at different spots. He’s got good defensive instincts and fills up the stat sheet in transition. He’s a vocal leader on both ends of the floor and is poised to have a nice start to his high school chapter this upcoming season.
2029 6’4 Floyr Kuminga (FMYBL 2029)
Being 6’4 at 12 years old with the last name Kuminga is enough to generate some buzz alone, but the NBA star’s younger brother was exciting to watch before I knew his last name. Physically he gets up and down the floor pretty well, has good hands, and is fluid with the ball. He’s got a big frame and does a good job clearing guys out inside. Apart from his physical attributes, he’s got a good-looking jump shot and looked very comfortable taking shots around the perimeter. He knocked down three 3’s in his second game and has good fundamentals. Excited to watch him develop his footwork and see him grow.
2026 6’2 Nick Keith (Team United Triad Elite)
Nick has his hands full this weekend, playing on a team with just 5 guys and having the ball in his hands a lot, but he did a great job yesterday staying under control and setting the tempo for the game. He’s a crafty combo guard who can get to the rim at will and does a good job drawing and finishing through contact. His mid-range game is fairly advanced, he doesn’t need much space to get his shot off and is efficient in getting to his spots. Nothing crazy, just good footwork and uses his body to create space. He’s got impressive court vision in transition and did a great job handling double teams, where he made some great skip passes from the backcourt when the defense would rotate his way. Expect a productive sophomore campaign next year for Keith.
2025 6’3 Tory Sims (Premier Players)
Tory stood out as one of the best 2-way wings I had seen all day. He guarded the opposing teams’ best players in both games yesterday and brings a ton of defensive energy. He’s tough as nails, uses his athleticism and length to stay in front of guys, and doesn’t pick up tic tacky fouls in the process. Offensively, he’s a high-motor slasher who has great touch around the rim. He made some really tough runners in traffic and can get downhill very quickly. He should be an impact player for Blythewood this upcoming season and can become a weapon as his offensive skillset continues to develop.
2025 6’5 Darius Franklin (Carolina Rebels)
Franklin immediately stood out to me for his impact on both ends of the floor and his under-control, polished game. He’s a strong-bodied, athletic wing who operated really well in the middle of the floor in the half-court as well as the press break. He showcased his ability to handle the ball in transition and played within himself while making the right decisions. In the half-court, he has a very effective mid-range jumper and uses his athleticism to create problems around the rim. He made some pretty dump-offs and kick outs to open teammates when defenders collapsed on him in the middle. He’s a high-IQ player who should have a big year at powerhouse Ridgeview HS.