6’4 ’19 Quinten Thomas (Upward Stars Charlotte)
The last year has been quite a turnaround for this squad. Formerly known as the Charlotte Nets, this new-and-improved Upward Stars Charlotte squad is a lot of fun to watch, especially behind the two-way leadership of Quinten Thomas. In terms of selflessness, few guys are as strong of teammates as Thomas, who is a leader at all times. You could be three courts away, and you’ll be able to hear the wing prospect encouraging his teammates from the bench or on the floor. It’s real too, he doesn’t put on an act for college coaches or scouts. This is how Thomas thrives, and it’s just one of the many qualities that only he possesses. His energy is incredibly infectious and teammates tend to genuinely get motivated by Thomas. As far as his skillset goes, he’s quite unique. Thomas has always known how to use his strength to decimate opponents, but his three-point shot has looked absolutely amazing throughout this July, which should do wonders for his recruitment. He puts the ball on the floor pretty well and has the ability to generate a clean shot for himself or teammates. His blend of IQ, motor, and strength are simply uncommon, and he’ll be a surefire Division I prospect if he continues to shoot like he has all month long. Thomas has done an excellent job of improving all facets of his game and deserves the appropriate recognition.
6’9 ’19 TJ Nesmith (Mid-State Magic)
The amount of big men that truly embrace their skillset is shockingly low, since most guys want to modernize their game and stretch out the defense. Well, TJ Nesmith is going against the grain and sticking to what he knows best. The 6-foot-9 big man can be found on the low block, where his touch is better than a lot of highly-touted prospects. He’s unstoppable when granted time and space, from either block and with either hand, but never forces the action. Nesmith is extremely reserved, though he will get vocal on defense, and simply comes to the game ready to work. Nesmith runs the floor as well as anyone and has an excellent decision-making process with the ball in his hands. His game doesn’t draw a lot of attention and won’t shut the building down, but Nesmith is just so effective that it’s impossible to ignore. Defensively, he displays a really strong IQ and feel for the game while being a disciplined rim-protector that can accumulate plenty of blocks and rebounds. The more you watch Nesmith, the more you can truly appreciate his fairly compete two-way skillset, and hopefully Division I coaches will begin to feel the same way.
6’2 ’19 Javeon Jones (Rocky Mount Mavericks)
The Rocky Mount Mavericks were easily one of the most exciting teams on display throughout the past week, given their unselfishness, up-tempo pace, and limited roster availability. These guys have leadership in various different forms, but Javeon Jones was arguably the spark plug that got everyone else going. He is, in many ways, the glue-guy of this team and possesses the ability to affect all facets of the game. Offensively, Jones shares ball-handling duties and is one of the most polished scorers on this team; he shoots the ball pretty well from midrange and three-point territory, but finishing at the rim is still his best scoring avenue. This squad highlighted their passing through outlets and transition play, with Jones typically securing the rebound and then the assist. As well-rounded as he was offensively, one could make the case that he’s even better on defense, given his length and ability to pile up the deflections. Jones can defend either guard spot and knows how to play with a pretty strong motor, which makes him a constant headache for opponents. D2 programs should be taking a serious interest in most of this team, but especially Jones, who had quite a strong showing over the weekend.
6’2 ’19 Jonathan Breeland (Team All or Nothing)
Sometimes, the evaluation process can be really difficult on some recruits and much more lenient with others. Unfortunately, Jonathan Breeland hasn’t gotten the fairest shake, yet still clearly showcases the abilities of a Division I point guard. Now set to attend Fork Union Post-Grad, the 6-foot-2 floor general will get another year to make his case as a worthy candidate for the collegiate ranks. As mentioned before, if Breeland shot the ball this well in the summer of 2017, then he would be preparing for his first season as a college freshman at a quality program. That being said, he shouldn’t be forced to alter his style, as everything he does will translate to the next level. Breeland has a quality frame for a point guard, but his craftiness and overall feel for the game are what make him special. He absorbs contact well and finishes nearly everything at the rim, but also has deceptive vision in tight spaces and various tricky maneuvers for opposing defenders. His former teammate, Robert Braswell, is such a talented player, but Breeland never really received appropriate credit for how much he set up the combo-forward on offense. Now with an improved three-point jumper, there is no limit to Breeland’s abilities. Prospects with his IQ and natural playmaking instincts aren’t growing on trees, so there should be optimism about Breeland and his direction going forward.
5’11 ’21 Denham Wojcik (TMP Elite)
After listening to various spectators speak about impressive players at our JMAC Showcase and CP3 Live, it’s become increasingly clear that many people don’t appreciate quality basketball players. Take Denham Wojcik, a small, physically undeveloped guard with no impressive measurements, yet continues to play up multiple levels and maintain a high level of production. On paper, Wojcik gets dismissed as a non-factor, but his on-court impact is truly incredible given his age and size. This young man is simply terrific on both ends of the floor, rarely making mistakes while consistently exemplifying an elite IQ and feel for the game. Offensively, he usually plays without the ball (since Josiah James is on the team), but can initiate offense as a strong secondary creator and should continue expanding as a ball-handler and passer over the next few years. Wojcik is an excellent spot-up threat, but also has a strong ability to pump-fake, make one or two decisive dribbles, and pull-up from the midrange area. He’s way tougher than he looks and will go right at the teeth of the opposition. Defensively, opponents try to pick on Wojcik, but have little success, since he’s a very capable defender that can accumulate charges or collect steals. People are welcome to continue judging Wojcik based on his look, but they’d be better served to let his two-way game do the talking instead.