By: DeAjai Dawkins
6’5 2021 Tureon Walker (NC Wildcats 17U)
Today was my first time watching Tureon Walker, and it was an initial surprise to see the respect he already had from some of the spectators watching the 8AM game. A senior combo guard, Tureon plays with hints of the composure desired of a standard lead guard at the college level, and shows that he’s capable of scoring the ball at all 3 levels. Tureon has the athleticism to occasionally finish above the rim and despite bouncing back from a leg injury, he displays little hesitation when attacking the rim.
6’0 2021 Khalil Brantley (Mint Hill Lakers 17U)
I was asked earlier today who I thought the best player in the gym was today, I said Khalil Brantley with little to no hesitation. Brantley has garnered noteworthy attention on the east coast altogether, establishing himself in both New York and North Carolina. Khalil plays with a rare level of flare that is often met with criticism when being displayed by other players, yet the game comes so naturally to Brantley, the flare leads to positive plays more often than not. Today he separated himself from the competition with his ability to score at will from anywhere on the floor, especially behind the arc. His facilitative instincts were on display today, zipping passes to both suspecting and unsuspecting targets. There is no question that Khalil Brantley can play in college at any level he pleases, the question we all await now, is where'
6’4 2023 Jalen Tomilson (NC Wildcats 17U)
On a team of talented prospects including the aforementioned Tureon Walker, I was impressed with 2023 Jalen Tomilson’s ability to stand out on a stage where talented players often sacrifice showing off their talents for the betterment of the team. Tomilson provides both promising size and length at the guard position, and holds the commonly referenced “big guard” build that the modern game has grown to covet. This frame allows Tomilson to attack the rim and get to the line, but his lateral movements are fluid enough to create shows for himself off the dribble.
6’1 2024 Ryan Lewis (Charlotte Royals 2024)
Ryan Lewis was able to watch an Ardrey Kell team defy preseason odds and take Millbrook to the wire in the 2021 4A state championship game. This event left a hunger in Lewis that I imagine you can find throughout the entire program. My first time watching Ryan Lewis in a full game’s worth of action left me impressed, as this is a player that could develop into a truly reliable varsity scoring threat. For starters, Ryan’s body composition resembles certain elite guards that the state of North Carolina has produced over the past few years, combining height, strength, and length to his advantage. He showed the ability to serve as a knockdown three point shooting threat, sinking 4 in the first half.