The season has finally started and what a way it did in the early games of the Carmel Christian Tip-Off Classic. Teams came out strong and geared up, ready to go in front of a sold-out crowd.
In the first few games, these were just a few players that earned the attention of our scouts at the event, with much more action coming your way throughout the weekend.
6’4” 2021 AJ Smith – Hickory Grove Christian
Smith is a dominating 2-way force. After dropping 31 in the first game and winning the game MVP, he also led his team to a victory Christ School. Not only was he able to score the ball, every which way, but he also created stops and rebounded the ball at a high rate. Smith is a very strong guard, he can defend multiple positions and he is able to create offense off the bounce and off the catch. Expect a big bump, could be considered a Top 150 type recruit.
6’10” 2020 Justice Ajogbor (Harvard) – Christ School
Ajogbor is a high-level rebounder, he finished with 20 of them in this game alone. He is very active, very strong, very long and has good hands. What Ajogbor has done has really picked up what he is doing on the offensive end. He has good hands, showcased good touch and has some polished footwork. After being out with injury for the better part of the last two years, Ajogbor should be considered a Top 100 type prospect again.
5’11” 2020 Shakeel Moore – Moravian Prep
Moore has an elite, translatable skill, a skill that he is able to use to dictate and control a game. He is an elite-level defender, both on and off the ball. He had 7 steals and just as many deflections, as he was able to control the game on that end. Moore shot the ball well here finishing with 15 points on 2-4 from 3 and 6-11 from the field. We all know he is athletic and highly explosive, but his ability to dictate a game on the defensive end makes him special.
6’9” 2020 Josh Hall – Moravian Prep
Hall did exactly what you want your 5-star to do, he took over the game in the fourth quarter, and kept it out of reach. Hall is a legit 6’9” wing, who can shoot and handle. He is very athletic, and he rebounded the ball well, late, here. Hall finished with 20 points, two of which were included in a monster poster dunk. The sky is the limit here.
6’8” 2020 Cheick Traore (Youngstown State) – Concord First Assembly
Traore was a physical force around the basket here. He has good hands and really tracks the ball rebounding it. He finished with both hands around the basket and showed patience with the ball in his hands. Excellent showing as he should prove to be a double/double machine and Moravian couldn’t quite find an answer for him. Good stuff from Youngstown State.