This past weekend, Phenom Hoops made the trip up to Virginia Beach for our third annual 757 Showcase. The event featured a ton of notable teams, players, and offered several takeaways from the two-day stretch. Among those storylines, arguably none stood out more than Team Takeover 2030 (yes, sixth grade) and their pure annihilation of every opponent in their path. For those who have followed our content throughout the years, writing about kids this young is certainly rarified territory. However, the praise is justified. The coaching, discipline, unselfishness, and IQ across the board is so incredibly advanced for eleven and twelve-year-old kids. There are a lot of factors that’ll ultimately determine their respective development processes, but it’s easy to envision the path to success for each individual. Let’s take a closer look at their roster…
6’4 ’30 Khryi Tomlinson
Although each guy plays a critical role to the overall success of this team, it’s easy to see how Khyri Tomlinson stands out as a leader. We wrote extensively about him yesterday and his incredible appeal as a smart, skilled, athletic post prospect. Click here to read: https://phenomhoopreport.com/bendels-best-757-showcase/
6’3 ’30 Aaron Hornaker
His frontcourt mate, Aaron Hornaker, also has an array of special qualities. He consistently shined through his ability to anchor the paint defensively, involve himself on every rebound, and impressive blend of offensive skills. Hornaker possesses phenomenal length, mobility, energy, and instincts around the basket. Though he is taller and longer than most of his peers, the timing as a shot-blocker is real. Hornaker displays great awareness on the court. He runs the floor well in transition and finishes with regularity inside the paint. Similar to the other bigs on this team, Hornaker passes the ball extremely well for his size and position. Being unselfish, making the right play, and trusting one’s teammates is a common theme for this group, and he embraces that notion on both ends of the floor. Only eleven years old, Hornaker has the tools to be a special player with continued progression.
6’1 ’30 Oliver Gusky
Rounding out their trio of size, Oliver Gusky has a lot of obvious appeal. From a physical standpoint, he already possesses length, mobility, and (like the others) a frame that projects to continue growing. Gusky is a well-rounded forward who can reliably pass, dribble, and finish around the basket. He possesses nice shooting mechanics and shows flashes of perimeter shooting ability. Gusky is a useful rebounder and capable shot-blocker who plays with consistent effort on both ends of the floor. His adaptable game allows him to be comfortable in various different roles and alongside any collection of teammates. There’s already a lot to like about his foundation as a prospect. Add in his favorable genetics (dad is 6-foot-5, mom is 6-foot-2 and played at Virginia), and it’s easy to be intrigued.
2031 Cruz Webb
So much of a team’s success is contingent upon reliable point guard play, and Cruz Webb clearly knows how to set the tone with his unselfish, pass-first approach. He and his twin brother (below) are both fifth-graders playing up an age group, but that’s impossible to detect by simply watching. Webb is such a smart, poised floor general who already possesses an impressive understanding of how to control tempo, manipulate defenses, and generate scoring opportunities for others. Whether making basic reads or creating openings himself, Webb is a terrific playmaker. He also displays the ability to finish, knock down shots, and be a pest defensively. The IQ and natural instincts are a massive part of what separates him from others.
2031 Mason Webb
Though quite different from his brother, Mason Webb already finds a lot of success through his feel and perimeter shooting. He’s a steady guard who knows how to move without the ball and make an impact as a spot-up threat. Webb displays a willingness to make the extra pass, battle defensively, and capitalize on his chances within the flow of the offensive action.
2030 Chase Godfrey
Despite his slight stature, Chris Godfrey clearly has the makings of a meaningful player. He’s a fairly well-rounded guard with IQ and an understanding of how to produce within the team structure. Godfrey is a reliable shooter with solid vision and the ability to attack closeouts off the bounce. He appeared comfortable initiating the offense when necessary.
The duo of 2030 Corey Hawkins and 2030 Paris Kennedy both showed an understanding of how to fill in the gaps on both ends of the floor. Each guy possesses a well-rounded skillset accompanied with the IQ, motor, and unselfishness to make a solid impact while on the court.
Rounding out the roster, 2030 Eben Hadte, 2030 Chris Lightfoot, and 2030 Calvin Klassou combine to make a quality collection of guards. Each guy does a terrific job of producing within a role and embracing the team concept on both ends of the floor.
