Brandon Blakney, Phenom Analyst had his eyes on five names to really keep an eye on after Day 2 of the GrassrootsTOC
The second day of tournament play was one to remember as teams battled it out in Greensboro Coliseum for regional bragging rights.
Some of the most prestigious travel programs over six states gathered in Greensboro for this live showcase. Winning is always at the top of the list but getting noticed trumps all during the live periods. A handful of players helped their cause in front of 20 plus college coaches and recruiters, some of these hoopers were already known while others attempted to wake up the sleepers!
Demetrius Martin
Club- Upward Stars (Charlotte, NC)
School- Garringer High School (NC)
Martin was one of the best athletes on the court every time he laced up he’s truly a treat to watch. After a strong high school season that ended with Martin claiming POY for his conference he’s carried that momentum right into travel ball.
Only a sophomore the young point guard is playing up with older prospects and still stands out of the bunch. This weekend he showed a nice scoring touch finishing strong at the rim and knocking down mid-range jumpers, Martin is the type of player who uses the entire court and can get to any spot he pleases. The 2019 product is unselfish and really looks to get teammates involved in the game early.
Defensively he’s a dog with quick hands and long arms steals are a given this kid wreaks havoc on opponents. Currently he’s not receiving much college interest which isn’t necessarily bad considering he’s got two more years to polish up on intangibles and add weight to a skinny frame.
Maverick Larue-
Club- NC Spartans West
School- West Forsyth (NC)
The 6’5 two guard was on another level this weekend that hadn’t really been seen before. He was a solid contributor on one of the best high school programs in the state this past school season. Always known as a knockdown shooter Larue has shown so much more since travel season kicked off.
He truly has depth to his game playing on the wing and down low for his Spartans squad. Larue seems to have more confidence putting the ball on the floor and that added versatility has turned him into a matchup nightmare for defenses. As a bigger guard Larue can use his size to finish over smaller guards or blow by slower bigs with lateral quickness. As the son of a coach he truly gets the game and as a result teammates love playing with Larue.
Older brother Cooper made this same leap last year and he recently inked with ECU, look for little bro “Mav” to make a similar jump. As we get into summer don’t be surprised to see this kid rack up some looks.
Corey Rutherford
Club- Team Winston
School- Atkins (NC)
Rutherford was one of the top shooting guards performance wise at the showcase. The Atkins product might have been the best kept secret at the showcase but it didn’t take long for him to open up some eyes.
Currently standing 6’3 he’s got good size for the position and a very quick release which makes the odds of his shot being blocked unlikely. A rhythm shooter if Rutherford gets his feet set forget about it just go ahead and count it.
When coming off screens Rutherford is dangerous it’s hard to stop him from getting looks because he moves so well without the ball. This guy is never caught standing still like we see so many young doing without the rock. Defensively he plays hard and posses great footwork.
Atkins didn’t make much noise during the prep season so it’s easy to see how his talent could be overlooked. So far he has strong interest from Catawba, but now traveling with Team Winston the 2018 prospect will finally get to shine in front of college personnel like never before.
Odinakachim Oguama
Club- North Carolina Red Storm
School- Cardinal Gibbons (NC)
Possibly the most dominant defensive player at the entire event “Ody” was a human eraser swatting everything in his presence. He hosted a block party big enough for the entire city attend.
At 6’9 with long arms disrupting shots is his calling card Oguama can completely disrupt an offense. In all three games his squad participated in Saturday the 2018 big finished with three blocks or more. Also very active on the boards Ody can create second chance opportunities for himself or teammates. Most young players with his skillset and aggressive mentality on D find themselves in foul trouble but this isn’t an issue with the NC Red Star forward.
Currently he holds no offers which is mind blowing to say the least, but his shot blocking prowess will be on full display this travel season so that will change much sooner than later. Elite shot-blockers maybe as long as trees but they sure don’t grow on them.
Christian Blue
Club- God’s Property
School- Dutchtown (GA)
Only standing 5’9 the Georgia point guard doesn’t draw a lot of attention at first glance but catch him in action and you’re likely to find your jaw on the floor a couple times.
This kid has an old school feel to his game he doesn’t force the action or turn the ball over. In two straight contests Blue didn’t commit a turnover for his side and they won handily, on the fast break he’s a serious problem with excellent court vision it’s nothing to drop a sweet dime to an open running mate.
Don’t let the “old school” label mislead you though dude has major bounce and from deep his range is almost limitless at this stage. Blue can be a coach out on the floor currently he’s is being tracked by ECU and Winston Salem State. His top school at the moment is Kennesaw State look for him to continue to blow up heading into a big senior year.