Team 2
Coach: Kyle Caddell
#2: 4’10 ’27 Ridley Hightower (Wake Forest, NC)
Starting things off, we look at a player that operated with a consistently high motor during his time at camp, Ridley Hightower. He’s a small guard prospect that provides his team with phenomenal two-way energy. Hightower played unselfishly and looked to apply scoring pressure whenever possible. He was a good teammate with the ability to slide off-ball with relative ease. Next in his development process is working on his passing skills, as it’ll help him become a more useful point guard. Coach Caddell on Hightower: “Ridley is very young. However, he plays extremely hard and is a great listener. He has good shooting mechanics and above-average range on shots inside the arc, especially for his age. He anticipates well and gets off-ball steals quite often. Ridley will certainly get stronger with age.” Hightower got better throughout the day and should continue looking to add strength, as he could become a quality prospect with continued work.
#9:5’1 ’24 Andrew Neal (Cary, NC)
Next, we look at a player that seemed to understand his role quite well on both sides of the ball, Andrew Neal. He’s a small guard prospect that causes problems for the opposition with his ability to spot-up and knock down shots off the catch. Neal navigates well and understands how to position himself for success. Next in his development process is working on his ability to shoot off the dribble, as it would add a new wrinkle to his offensive game. Coach Caddell on Neal: “Andrew plays extremely hard and is vocal at all times. He has solid basketball IQ and handles the ball well. He gives great effort and can knock down three-point shots. Andrew moves well without the ball and understands how to make hard cuts. He can continue working on his off-hand in order to maximize his creation abilities.” Neal showcased a great foundation during camp and has the ability to develop into a quality two-way guard.
#12:5’3 ’26 Will Brown (Brasstown, NC)
Moving onto a player that worked extremely hard to make an impact during his time at camp, Will Brown. He’s a young, strong-bodied wing prospect that looks to create havoc and get involved however possible on both sides of the ball. Brown lacks a true offensive identity right now, but does a nice job of hustling and filling in the gaps as much as possible. Next in his development process is working on his ability to shoot the ball, as it would make him a much more impactful offensive threat. Coach Caddell on Brown: “Will has a great attitude and accepts criticism well. He’s a good on-ball defender and goes hard after rebounds on both sides of the ball. He had some good finishes under the basket. Will needs to work on his off-ball and transition defense.” Brown brought great unselfishness to this team and has ample time to continue expanding his two-way skillset.
#20:5’6 ’24 Drew Hollifield (Kings Mountain, NC)
Continuing onto a player that immediately asserted himself as one of the more physically imposing competitors on display, Drew Hollifield. He’s a strong-bodied guard prospect with great speed and quickness. Hollifield forced more turnovers than anyone in the building and pushed transition play with ease. He showed the ability to get by almost any defender in his path and finish strong through contact. Hollifield is also a very capable playmaker and perimeter shooter. Next in his development process is work on the utilization of his off-hand, as it would make him an even more dynamic creator and finisher. Coach Caddell on Hollifield: “Drew is a great young talent. He has great penetration ability and finishes well around the basket. He is a very good on-ball defender and has a knack for getting steals on a regular basis. Drew is very coachable and has an outstanding basketball IQ. He could continue to improve his transition defense.” Hollifield led the camp and averaged an exceptional 30.7 points over his three-game slate. It’ll be exciting to watch his continued progression, as he has the chance to be a really great prospect.
#29:5’7 ’24 Kwalei Carter (Roanoke, VA)
Next, we look at a player that brought a pretty intriguing offensive skillset to camp, Kwalei Carter. He’s a strong-bodied wing prospect that can really score the ball, especially when left alone and provided time and space. Carter utilizes his size well to fight for rebounds and absorb contact on penetration attempts. He showed the ability to coexist with or without the ball on offense, given his quality spot-up skills. Next in his development process is working on his playmaking abilities, as he possesses the necessary ball-handling and vision to create opportunities for others. Coach Caddell on Carter: “Kwalei is a very coachable kid with good overall shooting mechanics. He’s vocal and sees the game well. He needs to improve to defense and shore up his shot-selection.” Carter enjoyed a solid showing at camp and could be worth monitoring for the future, especially if he continues to work.
#52:5’10 ’24 Jordan Vick (Wilson, NC)
Finishing up, we look at a player that claimed the MVP award with his downright dominant showing at camp, Jordan Vick. He’s a long, wiry wing prospect with an incredible two-way feel for the game. Vick effortlessly scores the ball from all three levels and showed terrific vision when attacking the basket. He forced an abundance of turnovers, pushed transition play, and finished nearly anything he attempted near the basket. Next in his development process is continuing to commit to rebounding on both ends of the floor, as he possesses the tools to be a leading rebounder in any contest. Coach Caddell on Vick: “Jordan is a fantastic athlete. He has outstanding penetration ability and finishes at the rim. Jordan has a nice pull-up jumper and has a great ability to create his own shot. He has a great attitude and was very coachable throughout the day. He can still improve his effort on defense, especially when slotted off-ball.” Vick averaged 27.3 points, which was the second-highest mark at camp. He’s a special type of talent, especially considering his polish as a seventh-grader.