By: Ethan Reece
2024 Will Fowler (Upward Stars Upstate)
The sooner teams figure who fulfills this role on their team like Will does, they will immediately see a boost in their offense and a level of balance across the scoresheet. He's a tough minded, pass first point guard who consistently looks to share the wealth and get everyone involved. He makes quick quality reads off the bounce, and even though he is more than capable of scoring with a set of skills, his main concern looks to be 'how are WE gonna score', not 'how am I gonna score''
2025 Jordan Watford (Upward Stars SE)
Even though the entire roster displays a unique set of balance, talent and overall length, Jordan always seems to be a focal point for good things happening. His size and length at this age at the point are unmatched. He's already showing high level play and general understanding of how he can impact the game, actively pressuring up, pushing the ball, and relieving worries with the ball in his hands to work out what they want. Their team is really special, and he has as much potential as any to flourish and grow to unknown heights just now entering his sophomore year.
2025 Braylen Bowman (Team Hope)
Just as this demonstrated at the Summer Havoc, they're loaded with guards for small ball and are well coached to compete with anyone. And while they all feature well rounded games, Braylen seems to be the front man in handling the ball and more of a true 1 than 2-3. He's shown good decision making, getting by guys to open up the defense, hitting cutters with good bounce passes, and looks defenders off to open up options. He also showed a beginning defensive awareness off the ball, particularly in backside help when guys try to feed the post.
2024 Jackson Burnham (Upward Stars YC)
Jackson was a top scorer at the Summer Havoc, and he has continued that play here rolling out buckets. He's a smooth operator with a genuine shot making ability and prowess to find his spots whenever and wherever. There's no shot he doesn't like, but does tend to do a lot of damage with his pullup. Whether it's a 3 in transition or attacking a spot off a jab, his pullup is the best part of his game and separates him from other scorers. He went for a cool 27 in their win today.
2025 Julien Kabori (Team Wildcat)
You can see all the things coaches/scouts look for in Julien minutes in as he easily passes the eye test. He's long and athletic with all the immediate tools to be successful as a versatile big. He's mobile and can handle the ball in transition, looks to alter shots and seek out rebounds, and he showed flashes of what it would look like if it all came together. Even on misses, there a couple nice next level skill moves he made that are certainly promising with his frame, and there's a lot of potential to soak up here in the years to come.
2024 Jackson Smith (Team Wildcat)
The best shooter I saw on the day, Jackson's shot is textbook form on the setup, release and follow through. And what I really liked best was his straightforward motion with the ball. Very much like Klay Thompson or Duncan Robinson, he takes the ball straight up from where he catches it without any wasted motion. And just like finding openings for spot up threes, he also was an opportunistic scorer running the floor and cutting around the basket for guys to assist on lays.
2023 Jordan Cooper (All Carolina)
Don't let his size be too much of a factor, because Jordan is a tricky matchup. Especially given the nature of how guys 'box out' these days, Jordan's a a dangerous presence around the rim that you have to keep track of. He's a springy lightfooted guard with the understanding of how to use his given toolset to his advantage. He's an aerodynamic finisher with a quick first step and body control hanging in the air. And he's slippery and elusive to slide through the defense, getting baskets or putbacks with guys underestimating his size and hops.