6’2 2020 Rahkeem Sims: LBA Thunder 16U
Sims is one of the best defensive rebounders at his size and his age I’ve seen all weekend and that’s largely due to the way he competes at that end of the court. He knows his physical gifts and limitations and works within them, never trying to do something he isn’t capable of, yet continuing to produce at high level over the course of an entire game in which he plays multiple positions. He knows how to use his body when attacking the rim and is definitely someone that D3s should watch moving forward.
6’3 2020 Austin Locklear: CSB Hunt 16U
Locklear is simply an offensive weapon that gets buckets whenever he wants to. He can create his own jumper off the bounce, get to the rack, and is incredible moving without the ball in his hands. He finished with 14 points on limited opportunities and did a great job initiating offense for others, bringing the ball up the court and setting up the offense. He’s got a very legit shot at becoming a scholarship level talent.
6’0 2021 Michael Best Jr: Garner Road 15U Whitley
Best did an incredible job asserting his presence throughout the contest in a multitude of ways. He finished with 17 points on at most 10 shots, used his incredible anticipation on the defensive end to create turnovers, and did a great job making the extra pass turning good shots into great ones. Best is another piece of the lineage of talent that the City of Wilson, NC produces and I completely expect him to develop into a scholarship player right before our eyes in the coming years.
6’1 2021 Jaden Cooper: Garner Road 15U Whitley
Cooper is one of the more versatile backcourt slashers I’ve seen within his age group all weekend with his ability to finish at the cup and defend 3 positions at this point in his young basketball career. He does a great job grabbing rebounds and pushing the ball in transition using his speed and making sure his offense is set up the right way, nothing is rushed, but everything is fast with Cooper, he has simply found the right balance on the court.
6’2 2021 Scott Martin: WCBA 15U
Martin has incredible size for a combo guard at this age and does a great job commanding his presence on the perimeter, running his offense to the best of his abilities. He’s a knockdown perimeter shooter that can take over a game with his ability to get hot from deep and will have you amazed with that talent of his. He is definitely one to watch for coaches as he further develops his skillset and body.
6’5 2020 Daymond Tinsley: Carolina Dream Team 16U
Tinsley is the classic hard nosed, tough rebounding undersized big that has made a living at the Division 2 level as long as I can remember. He plays with a super high motor and is going to give you a double double, or close to it just about every time out. He isn’t going to make any major mistakes at the basket, possessing nice touch around the cup and excellent anticipation on the offensive glass. Tinsley has a very real chance to be a next level player, and is one for D3s and D2s to have on the radar heading into the High School season and next summer.
5’11 2021 Collin Mills: Team Vision 16U
Mills is such an incredibly smooth scorer that is rapidly improving his efficiency levels at all three levels as he gets more comfortable creating his own shot off the bounce. He is starting to develop the kind of confidence that his brother has, and while he’s still two years younger and not even close to his brother physically, you can see the obvious connection in just a couple of minutes watching the protege hoop, I cannot wait to see how he develops over the course of the next 3 years. He is no doubt a scholarship kid at this point and will continue to see his stock rise over the course of his High School and AAU career.