By: Noah Hooper
6'11 2023 John Baldwin (Garner Road Bulldogs 2023 – Bryant)
In my time watching Baldwin this morning, he really showed me great flashes of long-term upside as he was a solid presence inside for his team. His ability to use his large frame to gain positioning on offensive and defensive rebounds was good as he was able to grab a good amount of them this morning. He also showed that he is willing to run the floor hard at his size which would make him a commodity for a lot of coaches given that he has good hands and a soft touch around the rim. This is a kid I cannot wait to see at the next level as a good strength and conditioning program will help him tap into that really high ceiling of his given his natural ability to play the game inside and his soft touch around the basket.
6'4 2023 Ahmad Grovener (Team Intensity 2023)
Ahmad really impressed me this morning as he did a great job of always being in attack mode for his team. He was also very active on defense as his high motor allowed him to move his feet well and disrupt passing lanes for the opposing team. Moreover, him being in attack mode opened up opportunities for him to show his nice touch around the rim as he caught my eye with a nice floater in the lane this morning. Another thing he showed me is that he has a smooth jumper as he showcased his mid-range game a tiny bit, which has proven itself to be a lost art in the game of basketball. Lastly, he proved to be a solid passer as he showed me the ability to find his teammates in transition and make the right decisions in the open court. I really believe this kid’s ability to play hard on both ends, make good decisions in the open, and attack the rim hard could land him a spot to play at the next level.
5'10 2023 William Hardison (Team Hope 2023 Laney)
While Hardison will not take the headlines for his team a lot of the time, his presence on the floor is really felt as the high-motor guard takes pride in playing hard on both ends of the floor. Hardison is the perfect role player that any coach would want on their team as he is willing to defend hard and do the dirty work for his team. Not only is Hardison really good at playing with pride on both ends, he knocks down the three at a reliable clip which makes him a huge threat offensively for this Team Hope squad as he has the ability to attack closeouts after he has hit a couple of shots from deep. This is a kid that I really hope a college coach takes a chance on as Hardison is a player that is consistent and provides his team with the same toughness and approach every game.
6'4 2023 Michael Nesbit (Team Hope 2023 Laney)
Nesbit is another player that I really love watching on this Team Hope group as his sneaky athleticism allows him to make plays for his team on both ends of the floor. Not only is Nesbit a really good athlete, but he also has the ability to hit shots from beyond the arc as he really put this part of his game on display this morning. Nesbit's ability to hit shots from beyond the arc makes him a bigger threat as it opens up room for him to attack closeouts and wow people with his amazing athletic ability. Nesbit is definitely one college coaches should be looking at on Team Hope as well.
6'6 2023 Arden Conyers (Upward Stars Southeast 16U 3SSB)
When you watch Conyers, there is really a lot to like about him as he is a long and athletic forward that is versatile at 6'6. The first thing I like about him is his athleticism as he caught my eye with a nice slam in transition. He also showed that he has a smooth jumper as he showcased his mid-range game a little bit, which again, is a lost art in the game. When you combine Conyers’ length and athleticism with the ability to shoot it, it makes him a fit for many programs at the next level and I hope coaches are taking notice.