Tennessee Jr. Phenom 150 Evaluations
Team 8
Coach: DeVault
#3: 4’11 ’24 Carter Gilliam (Kingsport, TN)
Starting things off, we look at a player that showcased an excellent motor during his time at camp, Carter Gilliam. He’s a guard prospect with nice quickness and a quality feel for his role, especially as an off-ball threat. Offensively, Gilliam made the biggest impact as a spot-up shooter, where he consistently applied pressure from midrange and three-point territory. He fought hard on defense and even forced a few turnovers throughout the day. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength, as it would allow him to become a better finisher around the basket. Coach DeVault on Gilliam: “Carter is a great shooter with a great attitude and overall unselfish approach to the game. If he has his feet set when he catches with any space, he will knock it down. Carter is quick and finishes well for his size. He’ll continue to add strength, but displayed some quality skills at camp.” It’ll be interesting to see what type of player Gilliam grows into, especially if he maintains a team-first approach.
#4: 5’1 ’24 Mason Meece (Brevard, NC)
Next, we look at a player that looked to outwork opponents on both sides of the ball, Mason Meece. He’s a guard prospect with a well-rounded approach to the game, able to play on or off-ball and make an impact. Meece plays hard and understands how to disrupt opponents with his motor and quick hands. Offensively, he did a nice job of knocking down open shots while taking advantage of his opportunities in transition. Meece made scrappy contributions on the defensive side of the ball and pushed the break whenever possible. Next in his development process is working on refining his overall skillset, as it would help make him a more complete player. Coach DeVault on Meece: “Mason is a hard worker and plays with his teammates quite well. He has a great attitude and always plays hard. Mason is highly coachable and understands how to take what a coach says and apply it to the game. He was able to make an impact throughout camp.” Meece is an intriguing prospect that will only continue to progress with time and we’ll be watching his growth along the way.
#9: 5’4 ’23 Jayden Harper (Asheville, NC)
Moving onto a player that showcased a lot of promise and productivity on both sides of the ball, Jayden Harper. He’s a natural point guard, but can also slide off-ball with relative ease and still make a quality impact. Offensively, Harper handles the ball nicely and knows how to create well off the bounce, both for himself and others. He scores efficiently from all three levels and displayed a great IQ when attacking the opposition. Harper forced numerous turnovers as an on-ball defender during the day and overwhelmed opponents, despite his slight frame. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength, as it will make him even more difficult for opponents to contain. Coach DeVault on Harper: “Jayden is an excellent ball-handler with good vision, especially when reading screens. He has great range on his jumper and can knock it down from anywhere. He can catch and shoot or attack off the bounce. Jayden was coachable and unselfish throughout the day.” Harper has a lot of two-way talent, and should only continue to get better with added strength. He’ll definitely be one to keep an eye on going forward.
#12: 5’4 ’23 Ty Hopson (Bluff City, TN)
Continuing onto a player that displayed a solid work ethic and team-first approach to the game, Ty Hopson. He’s a guard prospect that brings a motivating presence to both sides of the ball. Offensively, Hopson knows how to set up without the ball and knock down shots off the catch, especially from the midrange area. He understands when to mix things up and take opponents off the dribble while also getting his teammates involved in the action. Hopson worked hard on defense and was above average when defending the ball. Next in his development process is continuing to work on his ball-handling, as it would allow him to play either guard position seamlessly. Coach DeVault on Hopson: “Ty has a great attitude and is very coachable. He is very strong in catch-and-shoot scenarios, but can also penetrate and finish. He plays very hard on both ends of the court and knows how to outhustle opponents.” Hopson showcased a nice skillset at camp and should continue improving on both sides of the ball.
#22: 5’7 ’23 Brady Aldrich (Johnson City, TN)
Next, we look at a player that displayed one of the strongest motors throughout camp, Brady Aldrich. He’s a strong-bodied wing prospect with the ability to outwork opponents on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Aldrich utilized his quickness to beat opponents off the dribble and finish strong around the basket. He was able to knock down shots from all levels while displaying an understanding of how to play within the team. Aldrich made a massive impact on defense and forced an abundance of turnovers through his high motor. Next in his development process is working on his ability to shoot off the dribble, as it would make him a more useful offensive threat. Coach DeVault on Aldrich: “Brady is a very hardworking player that is very coachable. He has great ball-handling skills and penetrates very well. Defensively, he will get up into opponents and make it hard for them to do anything.” Aldrich’s focus on defense should make him a favorite amongst coaches, especially if he’s able to maintain his high level from camp.
#23:5’7 ’24 Hayezon Tobe (Asheville, NC)
Moving onto a player that really made a strong impression with his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor, Hayezon Tobe. He’s a forward prospect with great length and an unselfish approach to the game. Tobe has a nice looking jumper, but his consistent penetration and finishing abilities were unparalleled. He displays a firm understanding of his skillset and knows how to attack opponents. Tobe has a quality IQ and it’s highlighted on the defensive side of the ball, where he really overwhelms all types of positions with his motor, length, and positional understanding of angles and timing. Next in his development process is continuing to work on his movements without the ball on offense, as he could see an uptick in his shooting accuracy with some added space to operate. Coach DeVault on Tobe: “Hayezon is an all-out kind of player. He is one of the hardest working kids throughout camp. Hayezon gets after it on defense and shows a willingness and desire to guard any position on the court. He can finish off penetration with either hand.” We’ll be keeping a close watch on Tobe’s continued progression, as he could be one to emerge in the Hoopstate.
#29: 5’9 ’23 Bradin Minton (Church Hill, TN)
Continuing onto a player that showcased a terrific feel for every facet of the game at camp, Bradin Minton. He’s a wing prospect with nice size and the ability to make plays without necessarily needing the ball in his hands. Minton shot the ball exceptionally well from midrange and three-point territory while also taking opponents off the dribble on occasion. He was able to play as the lead ball-handler and create quite well for the team, displaying a nice IQ and strong vision throughout the day. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength, as it would make him a more imposing defensive presence. Coach DeVault on Minton: “Bradin has a lot of skills and truly knows how to play the game. He can shoot the ball very well, on the move or standing still. Bradin sees the court with great vision and can penetrate and finish pretty well. He is very efficient with his touches and showcased a strong IQ throughout the day.” Minton brings a lot of positive intangibles and attributes to the table, so it’ll be interesting to see what type of player he grows into over the next few seasons.
#31: 5’9 ’23 Miles McPeak (Bristol, VA)
Next, we look at a player that knows how to make an impact on both ends of the floor, Miles McPeak. He’s a long-bodied wing prospect with a nice motor and unselfish approach to the game. Offensively, McPeak shot the ball pretty well from the perimeter and effectively got to his spots in transition. He never forced the action on end of the floor and did a solid job of passing to open teammates whenever possible. McPeak hustled hard and was willing to do whatever dirty work necessary to provide his team with an edge. Next in his development process is working on his ability to contain his off-ball assignment and avoid getting spurned by backdoor cuts, as it would make him a more complete defender. Coach DeVault on McPeak: “Miles is a good shooter that can really get it going when he’s hot. He was a very coachable kid throughout the day. He plays hard at all times and did a solid job of impacting the game.” McPeak will continue to improve his game on both sides of the floor and should be one to revisit in the coming years.
#58: 6’1 ’23 Athan Gill (Woodleaf, NC)
Finishing up, we look at a player that displayed an abundance of versatility during his time at camp, Athan Gill. He’s somewhat of a positionless player at the middle-school level and thrives as a result. Gill has a great frame and was slotted as the center in most lineups, despite his guard like athleticism, and knows how to play each position on the floor to some degree. Offensively, he set picks, moved without the ball, and utilized his strength to score around the basket. Gill went after rebounds on every possession and dominated the glass at times, making him a menace for opposing big men to account for. His midrange shot is very smooth and few players were able to match his consistency around the free-throw line. Gill was able to draw out opposing big men and blow by them on the perimeter, allowing him to score however he desired. Next in his development process is continuing to refine his perimeter skills, as it’ll only make him more useful on offense. Coach DeVault on Gill: “Athan has great size and understands how to effectively use both hands. He’s excellent at finishing around the basket and can make post moves with his back to the basket on either side of the hoop. When Athan plays hard, he’s simply unstoppable.” Gill was one of the most intriguing players at camp and should be one to watch closely throughout the coming years.