6’6 ’19 Jace McKenney (WBC Elite)
The development process can be a long, grueling road for some players, but Jace McKenney has rapidly transformed into a quality prospect over the last year. It doesn’t seem that long ago when McKenney couldn’t shoot in the slightest, but now he’s hitting five or six three-pointers in any given contest. He has continued to expand his ability to create off the bounce and still looks to get to the rim as much as possible. However, the addition of a reliable three-point shot has made McKenney a dual-threat on offense, allowing him to spot-up and stretching the opposing defense with ease. He’s somewhat between positions, but his quality athleticism enables him to play either forward spot, depending on matchup. He thrives in transition and will play above the rim whenever possible; his strong frame is able to absorb plenty of contact and draw fouls in abundance. McKenney has upside as a defender and playmaker, but he continues to show steady improvement with each passing game. Keep a close eye on the combo-forward over the next few months, as he could feasibly acquire a variety of offers.
6’0 ’21 Bobby Pettiford (Team CP3)
There is a lot to like with this young CP3 squad, given their glut of dynamic prospects at every position, especially the point guard spot. The most intriguing of the bunch is Bobby Pettiford, who is so different than most guards, given his special blend of athleticism, polish, and intelligence. Offensively, he is capable of anything from the scoring and playmaking realms, able to generate shots for himself or others at an incredibly high frequency. As a creator, Pettiford makes sharp, decisive movements with the ball and truly shows an understanding of how to scatter opposing defenses. He has an exceptional IQ and feel for the game, on both sides of the floor, and it’s quite clear in the way he positions himself without the ball. Pettiford scores efficiently from all over the floor and shows a lot of creativity off the bounce, while also displaying the ability to play off-guard and thrive as a spot-up threat. He makes one play after another and is capable of doing so under great amounts of pressure. There is a lot of positive chemistry on this team and Pettiford is a big part of that, with the fun, unselfish way he runs the lead guard position. That being said, he makes his presence equally felt on the defensive end, where he absolutely hounds opposing guards and forces turnovers in abundance. Pettiford is a special prospect, and college programs will certainly start taking notice over the next calendar year.
6’6 ’21 Keyan Mims (Team CP3)
As mentioned above, this team is full of exciting prospects, but Keyan Mims is the most unique player on the entire roster. He stands at 6-foot-6 and is somewhat positionless, given his two-way versatility and ability to affect so many facets of the game. Mims is able to be featured on the perimeter or inside the arc—usually around the high post—but also scores quite well around the basket. He has a strong, athletic frame and fights pretty hard on the glass, frequently earning (and converting) second-chance opportunities. Mims has an expanding skillset as a ball-handler and overall creator, but he’s pretty efficient with his touches and rarely forces the action on offense. There aren’t many guys more capable of securing a defensive rebound, pushing the break in transition, and then finishing with a bucket or assist. He displays a solid IQ and makes quality decisions with the ball. Right now, Mims can defend three positions comfortably, given the way he moves laterally and utilizes his length to alter shots. There is a lot of promise and upside with the two-way forward, yet he’s already quite productive, so it’ll be interesting to see how much Mims’ develops over the next year.
6’2 ’21 AJ Smith (Team Charlotte)
The amount of toughness on Team Charlotte is clear, and they’ll continue to be in good hands when AJ Smith is put in charge. Few guys are able to earn significant minutes playing up within this program, but Smith has taken that challenge by storm. He’s already emerged as a quality glue-guy and knows how to make a constant impact on the game, even without the ball. Offensively, Smith is typically featured off-ball, but has clear capabilities as a secondary creator and often highlighted his playmaking throughout the past week. Built like a tank, the combo-guard is so strong, tough, and welcomes contact from opposing defenders when barreling towards the rim. Smith is a quality all-around athlete, with great foot-speed and leaping ability; he rebounds the ball really well and is able to make plays in transition. There were various times when Smith was the main catalyst for this Charlotte squad, coming off the bench and providing a major boost on both sides of the ball. He’s already showcased a vast arsenal of tools and will only continue to get better, so it’d be wise to start keeping tabs now.
6’4 ’19 Sidney Dollar (Team Denver-NC)
The month of July is always full of excitement, from coaches to players to spectators, it’s quite a journey, and that’s especially true for Sidney Dollar. There are always an abundance of recruits that separate themselves from the pack during this month, and Dollar is a likely candidate to further that trend. He’s an excellent all-around guard prospect with a college-ready game on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Dollar is a natural scorer who can generate clean buckets from all three levels, and also possesses the ability to spot-up or create for himself off the bounce. He has quality athleticism, intangibles, and measurements for an off-guard at the next level, which is why his initial lack of recruitment was so shocking. Dollar is terrific in transition and poses a variety of threats with the ball in his hands, especially when going downhill with numbers in his favor. He’s a plus-defender, but has even more upside to unlock on that end of the floor and could emerge as a true stopper one day. Dollar has picked up numerous offers, but there is a lot of reason to believe that he won’t stop now, going into the final week to prove himself to college coaches.