6’0 ’28 Deuce Geer (Durham Hurricanes)
It doesn’t take very long to notice everything Geer brings to the table for this group. Already armed with great size, skill, and athleticism, he’s basically unstoppable. Geer utilizes his height to regularly secure rebounds and overwhelm opponents defensively, which often leads to easy transition opportunities. He excels in transition, displaying the ability to effortlessly get to the rim and finish. However, Geer is a reliable perimeter shooter and intelligent passer who knows how to consistently create for himself and others. He has all the tools to be a phenomenal player, especially if he continues working.
6’2 ’28 Kingston Hardie (CP3BA)
Given his blend of size and versatility, it’s easy to see the appeal with Hardie. He’s already bigger than the majority of his peers, yet appears quite comfortable in a variety of different roles. Hardie can initiate the offense, create off the bounce, and apply scoring pressure from all levels. He’s a useful rebounder with the ability to push the break in transition. Hardie blocks shots at a nice rate and is capable of switching onto smaller guards when necessary.
6’5 ’28 Zion Johnson (Team United GSO)
For a guy who just started playing basketball within the last few years, Johnson has a ton of long-term upside. His current identity is a long, fluid post prospect with solid instincts as a defender and rebounder. Johnson can finish around the basket, but doesn’t necessarily require offensive touches to make an impact. He moves well for his size and runs the floor effectively in transition. For a prospect who is truly only scratching the surface, Johnson could be a name worth noting over the coming years.
5’10 ’29 Jayden Velez (Team United GSO)
Although we saw him previously at our Winter Nationals, it’s impossible to ignore Velez and his consistent production. Clearly built as a guard, he’s already very skilled with excellent size, nice athleticism, and a projectable frame. Between his IQ, creation ability, and scoring prowess, Velez is capable of dominating a game. He forces turnovers at a healthy rate, applies scoring pressure from all levels, and rebounds the ball well for his size/position. It’ll be interesting to see how his body develops going forward, as Velez currently has all the traits of an enticing prospect.
6’3 ’29 Trace Dukes (Team United GSO)
Rounding out this group, Dukes possesses a lot of potential as a long, wiry post prospect with excellent size at this stage in his development. While plenty of kids have intriguing physical tools, he has the motor, aggression, and general toughness to be great. Dukes stood out through his ability to rebound, block shots, and score around the basket. He’s a quality athlete who utilizes his length very well to generate turnovers and accumulate deflections. Only a seventh-grader, Dukes will be a player to monitor over the coming years.
