South Carolina Top 80 Evaluations
Team 6
Coach: Brenden Marcell
#9: 5’9 ’21 Omazeon Tinsley (Lancaster, SC)
Starting things off, we look at a player that is already quite effective, but just beginning to unlock the makings of his game, Omazeon Tinsley. He’s a point guard prospect with sharp quickness and an incredible motor. Offensively, Tinsley looks to attack downhill and make plays around the free-throw line; he gets by opponents with relative ease and displays nice vision in traffic. Tinsley is capable of stopping and pulling-up from midrange whenever he wants, given his space creation ability. He’s somewhat small, but has no issue knifing through the opposition and making plays. Tinsley is a great rebounder for his size and frequently outworks his assignment. Next in his development process is becoming a more consistent shooter from beyond the arc, as it would make him a much more dynamic offensive threat. Coach Marcell on Tinsley: “Omazeon is a very speedy guard that works hard on the floor. He has range out to the three-point arc, but needs to develop a more consistent jumper.” It’ll be interesting to see how Tinsley performs this upcoming season, as he’ll likely hold the keys to Lancaster’s offense.
#15: 5’10 ’20 Sam Laydon (Charleston, SC)
Next, we look at a player that has truly exceeded any and all expectations at our camp, Sam Laydon. He’s a guard prospect that seamlessly fits with any group of teammates and still makes a constant two-way impact on the game. He’s somewhat small, but Laydon embraces his role better than a vast majority of recruits at this level. Offensively, he provides an excellent mix of spotting-up and creating opportunities for teammates while moving very well without the ball. Laydon’s three-point shot is insanely accurate and his actual shooting mechanics are textbook. He’s just a really smart player that knows how to make a constant impact on the game, without needing to constantly touch the ball. Laydon was an above-average defender that was willing to make any hustle play possible. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength, as it would allow him to take advantage of scoring chances around the rim. Coach Marcell on Laydon: “Sam has a great IQ and was a great teammate throughout the day. He defended and rebounded well at his position, but can still improve his finishing at the rim.” Laydon complements any group of players well, so a breakout junior season should definitely be in play.
#22: 5’11 ’21 Evan Gebhard (Irmo, SC)
Moving onto a player that brought a lot of intrigue to camp, given his masterful work as a playmaker, Evan Gebhard. He’s a point guard prospect with nice IQ and a very fundamental approach to both sides of the ball. Offensively, Gebhard puts a clear emphasis on breaking down the defense and creating scoring opportunities for others. He’s deceptively quick and does a solid job of getting by opponents. That being said, athletic and physical guards were bothersome to Gebhard in the half-court sets. He adds an interesting wrinkle with his ability to play without the ball and apply pressure as an effective three-level scorer. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength, as it would allow him to be more physical as the ball-handler. Coach Marcell on Gebhard: “Evan is a nice playmaking guard that needs to get stronger with his ball-handling, as he struggled with pressure. He’s a great passer and can shoot well off the bounce. Evan has a lot of translatable skills and is pretty young.” Gebhard was one of the most intriguing guard prospects on display at camp, so it’ll be interesting to see how his sophomore season unfolds, as he could begin popping up on many college’s recruiting radar.
#26:6’0 ’22 Davion Joyner (North Charleston, SC)
Continuing onto a player that has a pretty nice blend of production and two-way potential, Davion Joyner. He’s a guard prospect that is just entering the high school ranks, but already shows the ability to contribute to any team. Offensively, Joyner does a nice job of attacking opponents and scoring from all areas of the floor. His consistency and efficiency will continue to improve with time, so his ability to create with such ease is a pleasant surprise. Joyner brings a well-rounded approach to the defensive side as well, where he doesn’t gamble and remains disciplined when guarding his assignment. Next in his development process is working on his movement without the ball, as it would allow him to score more as a cutter and spot-up option. Coach Marcell on Joyner: “Davion was one of the younger players at camp, but all the tools are there. He made some mistakes early, but continued to improve as camp went on. Davion does a little bit of everything; he needs to work on becoming a more consistent shooter.” Joyner has an incredible amount of upside, so we’ll be closely monitoring his upcoming freshman season and the years thereafter.
#56: 6’2 ’19 Norman Nowell (Columbia, SC)
Next, we look at a player that was a considerable favorite amongst the entire coaching staff at camp, Norman Nowell. He’s a scoring guard with the ability to handle the ball or slide to the off-guard and apply pressure as a shooter. Nowell really embraced his time at camp and made his leadership presence felt whenever possible. He was a great teammate throughout the day and shot the ball well from all levels, while mixing it up on a regular basis. Nowell gave maximum effort on both ends of the floor and was willing to do anything to provide his team with an edge. He did a nice job of forcing turnovers and keeping his assignment honest on the defensive side of things. Next in his development process is continuing to tighten his ball-handling skills, as it would make him a more dynamic threat when creating for himself. Coach Marcell on Nowell: “Norman was one of my favorite players at camp! He hit pull-ups, three-pointers, rebounded the ball, went coast-to-coast, finished layups, and played with an excellent motor. Norman was consistently the hardest worker on the floor.” Nowell has college-level ability and should be ready to see an uptick in his recruitment after a strong showing at camp.
#69: 6’3 ’19 Jalen Johnson (Sumter, SC)
Moving onto a player that has built his reputation as a shooter, but showcased so much more at camp, Jalen Johnson. He’s a strong-bodied wing prospect with an excellent feel for the game on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Johnson can typically be found spotting-up without the ball and preparing to set the nets ablaze from beyond the arc. He’s a capable three-level scorer, but he’s certainly the most efficient from distance. At camp however, Johnson looked to make an impact in other ways, through creating havoc and his ability to force turnovers. He showcased a level of explosiveness that he’s rarely displayed and welcomed opponents to meet him above the rim throughout the day. Johnson has done a great job of continuing to build all facets of his game and definitely belongs at the collegiate level. Next in his development process is continuing to work on his ball-handling ability, as it would allow him to create for himself more often and attack the basket whenever he wants. Coach Marcell on Johnson: “Jalen is a phenomenal teammate that enjoyed a nice day. He was very coachable through the day and showed unselfishness on offense. Jalen simply gets stuff done and knows how to make things happen.” Johnson is an unsigned senior that should have a strong upcoming season, as he’ll be among the main contributors for Sumter.
#86: 6’4 ’21 Yaturi Bolton (Goose Creek, SC)
Continuing onto a player that has an abundance of two-way potential and an intriguing overall approach to the game, Yaturi Bolton. He’s a long, rangy wing prospect with a wiry frame and great measurements. Offensively, Bolton does a solid job of getting downhill and attacking his assignment around the basket. He showed flashes of knocking down shots from all three levels, but can continue to work on his consistency from the floor. That being said, his frame is somewhat unique and he’ll continue to harness his length on both sides of the ball. Bolton made numerous plays in transition and displays clear upside as a versatile defender. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength, as it would make various facets of the game much easier on him. Coach Marcell on Bolton: “Yaturi had some struggles today. He’s a long, athletic wing that is still trying to put the pieces together. He has lots of upside defensively and showed signs throughout camp.” Bolton will be one to watch progress over these next few years, as he could certainly break out of his shell during that time.
#87: 6’4 ’19 Allen Williamson (Florence, SC)
Next, we look at a player that enjoyed a phenomenal all-around showing during his time at camp, Allen Williamson. He’s a strong, athletic wing/forward prospect that knows how to make a constant two-way impact. Offensively, Williamson does a great job of getting downhill and attacking the rim with force; he’s strong and shows no worry about opponents in his path, as he’ll just ram through the defender. He shot the ball very well throughout the day and will be unstoppable this season if he continues to make an impression as a fluid three-level scorer. Williamson works hard on defense and rebounded incredibly well for his position. Next in his development process is continuing to work on his movement without the ball, as it would make him even more capable of scoring as an off-ball threat. Coach Marcell on Williamson: “Allen did everything well today! He hit three-pointers from everywhere and also bullied guys when driving to the rim. He needs to improve attacking with his off-hand and shooting off the bounce, but he showcased a pretty nice skillset at camp.” A breakout season could be in store for Williamson, who was clearly among the most useful two-way players at Top 80.
#100: 6’6 ’22 Julian Phillips (Blythewood, SC)
Moving onto a player that has a lot of skill, but an even stronger amount of two-way upside, Julian Phillips. He’s a long, rangy forward prospect with a wiry frame and impressive length. Right now, Phillips is somewhat between positions, but he still applies pressure as a three-level scorer with low-post ability. Offensively, Phillips showcases a nice-looking jumper from beyond the arc and does a great job of attacking opponents from fifteen feet and within. His potential as an offensive threat is unmistakable, especially given his quality IQ and feel for the game. Phillips has continued to grow as a defender and moves well laterally for his size. It’ll be interesting to see how much strength he can add within the next year, since he’s already so effective with his current frame. Next in his development process is to work on his ability to attack off the dribble, as it would allow him to score however and whenever he desires. Coach Marcell on Phillips: “At 6-foot-6 and just a freshman, the sky is the limit for Julian. He’s a long athlete and his skills are catching up. Julian scored on all three levels today and drew numerous fouls around the basket. His length allows him to challenge shots nicely on defense.” Phillips possesses one of the highest ceilings from camp and will be a prospect to keep a close watch on throughout the next four years.
#118: 6’10 ’19 Cooper Fowler (Greenville, SC)
Finishing things up, we look at a player that continues to make strides as an intriguing two-way presence, Cooper Fowler. He’s big, strong, and very skilled for a center of his massive stature. Offensively, Fowler is quite capable of creating offense for himself, but makes the biggest impact as a pick-and-pop guy in the two-man game. He’s smart, unselfish, and plays within his skillset on both sides of the ball. Fowler is a terrific shooter from midrange, and especially strong from beyond the arc. He utilizes his size well to fight for rebounds on both ends of the floor and did a great job of securing second-chance opportunities throughout the day. Fowler is also an exceptional passer from the high post and sees angles that other big men simply do not. Next in his development process is continuing to work on his conditioning, as it would allow him to run the floor better and dominate transition play. Coach Marcell on Fowler: “Cooper is a coachable kid that was a great teammate. He has excellent touch and can shoot the pick-and-pop three. He’s terrific in pick-and-roll situations and uses his large frame to post well. Cooper is a phenomenal passer.” Fowler has been somewhat of an enigma over the last few years, but he certainly belongs at the collegiate level and should warrant the attention of college coaches over the next few months.