By: Cooper Hart
5'11' '26 Hudson Fitzgerald (WCBA/Broughton)
It felt like Fitzgerald hit everything he shot on Saturday. He's got confidence and range like no one in his class. His extremely repeatable shooting mechanics make it so that he rarely misses more than two in a row and he's one of those shooters that can hit 5-6 straight without getting too high (many shooters struggle after getting hot simply because they're aware that they're hot). While not necessarily physically imposing, Fitzgerald is more than strong enough to handle bigger and more physical matchups. His shooting and positional strength combination give him a uniquely high floor while the natural yet unpredictable growth that HS freshmen go through will ultimately determine his ceiling.
6'4' '26 Andre Gyaabah (NC Spartans Neisler/Lexington)
Gyaabah has been slowly getting more and more productive as the spring has gone on and it seems like we might be nearing the culmination of it all. He was simply incredible today, doing his usual work inside via face ups, cuts, and rebounds, and added a barrage of outside shooting on top of it. Given his size for his position, it's critical that Gyaabah be able to shoot to play at the next level and the fact that it's happened so quickly is a very, very positive sign towards future development. How he continues to build off this weekend will be important, especially going into a sophomore season where he could see serious court time.
6'6' '24 Aidan Davies (Wilmington Excel/Coastal Christian)
Davies is your classic old school big. He's not flashy but he always produces. Thrives off physical post play, usually quick post ups or offensive rebounds. Understands offensive and defensive positioning and how to contest without fouling. Davies' motor is high and unwavering, never changed by how tired he may be or the foul count. His motor is amplified by how good he is at finishing through contact as it feels like he capitalizes every time he gets an offensive rebound. His workhorse mentality and constant presence on both ends of the floor should appeal to college coaches come July.
6'4' '25 Martin Giant (NC Spartans Patton/Phoenix Prep)
Giant absolutely dominated both sides of the ball in their quarterfinal win tonight. He's able to out-athlete anyone he wants, regardless of the fact that he's playing up a year. When his motor is going, he's a nightmare defensively, jumping passing lanes, dominating traps, and hawking down loose rebounds. Offensively, he thrives on simply outworking opponents on his way to the rim as defenders can rarely meet his level of physicality or intensity on drives. Given the obvious physical tools and upside, Giant should be a popular breakout candidate next season with Phoenix Prep (AZ).
6'3' '26 Dane Cassada (NC Spartans Henderson/Calvary Day)
Cassada is a case study in decision making that all young guards should pay attention to. He simply always makes the right play. Obviously, he's incredibly talented, given that he's a physical mismatch nearly every game (despite playing up a grade) and he can draw defenders to him seemingly whenever he wants. But his biggest strength is his decision making and that's why his travel and HS coaches gush about him. He makes the right play, at the right time, all the time. He understands how to read the second and third lines of defense and can process that information in a quick and unselfish manner en route to making a simple but effective play. Coaches should be pointing to Cassada when trying to teach their young guards how to process the game at a high level.
Other Names to Track
6'6' '24 Trey Manhertz (Strong Center/Green Level) – Manhertz hit multiple threes in both games today, furthering the notion that he can play on the wing at a high level. He's athletic for his size, has great defensive instincts and positioning, and has already proven himself as an interior threat. Expect to see his development as a wing continue through the summer with Garner Road and into the winter with Green Level.
6'2' '24 Taj Boone-Chambers (DB Elite Lee/Wakefield) – Boone-Chambers plays with such a high motor. He's always going 100% on the court and it allows him to make a lot of plays that wouldn't be possible without his sheer will. He has a nice handle in transition and can flip a lot of difficult layups in. The shot is good when it's on and it's something I'll be watching for on Sunday.
6' '26 Caden Ryker (NC Spartans Abrams/NCLA) – Ryker's a fun scout because of how aggressive he can get going downhill. He goes from standing upright to in a split stance to two steps past his defender about as fast as anyone I've seen this spring. If the appeal of a wicked first step wasn't enough for you, Ryker seems to revel in getting hit at the rim. He finishes through contact with as much confidence and control you can want from a rising sophomore,
