Durham Hurricanes (15u)
The 15u Durham Hurricanes was an excellent team to get things started, as the Hurricanes refused to be denied their win. Throughout the game, the Hurricanes pushed the tempo and won the hustle battle early. Towards the end of the game it was clutch play after another from 6’5 Joshua Hall (2019). Although he is listed as a forward on this team, his guard skills are terrific, especially so as the off-guard. Hall lit it up in various ways, whether it is from a drive, pull up, or catch and shoot three, he wasn’t missing. He’s got very nice length to go with a great looking jumper, definitely so if he bumps over to a guard spot where he would be ideal height.
Aside from Hall, Tommy Riggins (2019) caught my eye continuously with his relentless play. Such a gritty, hard-nosed player Riggins proved to be; he didn’t need to fill the box score for his impact to be felt. Despite being listed at 6’3, Riggins plays at full speed throughout the game, including on the glass (both offensive and defensive), diving for loose balls, and showing that he can lock down on both the perimeter and low post. He doesn’t do it with flare, but Riggins is the type of player every program needs.
Team Elevate (17u)
This team possessed the ability to get points in a hurry. Team Elevate was lead by 6’5 Bailey Benham (2018) and 5’10 Weston Edwards (2017). Benham certainly has the size advantage to take over the game, but the ball just didn’t find his hands enough. While he scored at a very nice rate, it felt like he should’ve been more assertive with his touches. He’s a smart offensive player and can find his shot in a pinch—from either block, midrange, or three–but he’s going to need to be a more committed rebounder if he plans to continue play as the center or power forward position.
Next, Edwards, was one of the top two or three shooters in this tournament, hands down. Can shoot it regardless of difficulty level. He set the nets ablaze, hitting something to the tune of 25 threes over the weekend, including one game with six made threes. His shot mechanics are really nice; keeps strong balance and his back straight on every jumper he takes. Beyond that, Edwards made countless high IQ plays with the ball in his hands for his teammates. He is a tad undersize for playing any position other than the lead guard, but with as knock down a shooter as he’s shown; you grab this guy and figure it out later.
Carolina Knights (17u)
Meanwhile, the Carolina Knights put forth a quality showing over the weekend, despite getting edged out by Elevate by a single point. The most memorable players from their team were 6’0 Dezmin Austin (2017) and 6’4 Justin Parsons (2017). First, Austin had a remarkably high basketball IQ, as he appeared to be a step or two ahead of everyone else on the floor. He could score in a variety of ways, but continued to keep the defense on their toes by never taking the same shot twice. Austin kept his teammates involved on offense while leading the way on defense, hardly getting beat and anticipating steals before the pass was even made. For a tough lead guard, he works really well off-ball too.
Parsons affects the game in all other facets, especially by hitting the glass with aggression after every shot. Blessed with quickness and loads of strength, he gets wherever he wants when on the floor. Parsons is already a sound defensive player, both in the post and on the perimeter, an extremely useful skill to possess at the next level of play.
Team Felton (15u)
Of everyone on such studded team, 6’1 Jackson Gammons (2019) catches the eye from the opening tip. Clearly one of the smartest two or three players on the floor regardless of competition. Can score on all three levels, but his three point shot is certainly the most reliable option as he took and made a healthy amount throughout the tournament. With that being said, he is not just a shooter. Gammons displayed a firm understanding of team play, assisting on countless baskets both inside and outside of the paint. If there was a mismatch, he would look to move the ball to that matchup immediately. The last thing that stood out from Gammons was his tough, gritty defense. He could guard three positions with ease, was the first player on the floor for any loose ball, and also showed strong defensive presence both on and off of the ball. Can’t wait to see Gammons harness his versatility in the coming tournaments.
Durham Hurricanes (14u)
This is one of the most enjoyable teams to watch, as they were the youngest team in this tournament playing up in the 15u division. The roster is oozing with talent and was thoroughly impressive, especially to be such a young group. Beginning with 6’1 Lamar Lightbrown (2020), a player that seems to never make a wrong decision. It was really surprising at how Lightbrown does everything on the floor so well. He’s already armed with top tier athleticism, a silky shooting stroke, and an IQ that puts everything together. Very complete player for his age, already has great feel for the game and his decision-making is off the charts. On defense, his combination of length and speed makes him one of the toughest guys on this team to get past. He’s a glue guy and will take what the defense gives him, but there is no real weakness to his game, making it especially hard to contain him on offense. Would help any program of any caliber.
Next up would be 6’4 Drake Thompson (2020), a young man that did not take a single possession off. The high motor and relentlessness are things of beauty, but it was more than the grunt work that made Thompson special. He’s already an elite rebounder for his size, and even if he does need to grow into one of the big positions, he possesses the instincts required to be a strong rebounder. Thompson was constantly moving without the ball down low, and once he received the dump down it was straight towards the basket with no hesitation. Defensively, he was one of the best players in the tournament, staying in perfect posture and showing beautiful footwork. If his man got a shot off, the rebound belonged to Thompson.
Continuing on to 6’0 Micah Jones (2020), a scoring guard that can bump between either position and still attack with his sharp movements. Jones was impressive, but there are some things I noticed that would really tap into his potential. A gifted scorer, Jones can go to work on offense with the best of them, a scorer on all three levels. While he does make a lot of shots, he also takes a pretty healthy amount. He could easily turn five misses into five assists if he can recognize the defense before they send a double team. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the kid has chops to put the ball in the hoop. The more he gets his teammates involved the more his ceiling will rise, he’s shown poise and terrific instincts.
Lastly, 5’11 Cole Sinclair (2021) was the youngest player at the tournament, but that was certainly not evident through his play. Sinclair has such a maturity about his game, always looking to get his teammates involved. Not only is he a willing passer, he is a smart one too. He breaks down defenses pretty quickly, something hard to find in any others at the same age. Sinclair could look to score every possession, but he doesn’t, this keeps the defense off balance which allows him to choose when he wishes to attack. Very sound defensively also, doesn’t try to beat opponents with athleticism (although he could, he’s very quick), but rather wear them down with his mind. Always looking to keep the defense on their heels, Sinclair is a very low risk, high upside player.
Upward Stars Charlotte (17u)
Of the Upward Stars, there was one player that clearly stood out above others, that being 6’1 Caleb Bridgewater (2018). Bridgewater played with such a smoothness and calmness throughout his games, something typically unseen with the youngest player on a team. He’s long with quick feet, already making him a positive defender on the ball. On offense, the guy knows how to score. Bridgewater was another guy that had a game that included six threes (to go with 25 points), and it was no fluke. He could score at all three levels and is a real problem in transition, where he seems to just glide off the jump.
Team Felton (16u)
On this Felton team it wasn’t hard to be impressed with 6’2 Elbert Ellis (2018) and everything he was responsible for. He’s a really quick guard with good length and great vision. Can take any defender off the dribble and to the hole in a hurry; showed solid range on his three point shot. Between his quickness and long frame Ellis is a quality defender with active hands, piling up the steals. Huge upside on this young man, especially if he can fill out his frame with muscle. If he does that I’d find it hard to believe we wouldn’t be hearing about Ellis at the next level soon.
Mid State Magic (16u)
One of the guys that raised his stock the most over the weekend was 6’4 Trey Cousin (2018) through his non-stop scoring display. He made sure the defense was being held accountable every second he was on the floor. Cousin never stopped moving or touching the ball; he was a constant threat to score, and when the timing was right, he would attack. A strong, athletic build is part of the reason that he is such a special scorer, but the other part in that is the polish on his skill game. As a team leader, Cousin played a focal point on both sides of the floor, carrying a heavy burden on either end. That didn’t stop him from being a problem for opposing defenses, as he scored relentlessly in the half-court and in transition on all three levels. He’s a quick thinker too, and can get crafty if need be. Cousin put on an impressive showing, and the fact that he can play either guard position or on the wing should make him a coveted asset.
Next, 6’5 Hayden Mann (2018) is one of the sharpest players around and already has the ability to play two or three positions effectively at the next level. It’s not just the height that puts him into consideration for next level play; it’s his potent skill game that puts him over the top. Mann shot the ball extremely well from all three levels while displaying his passing chops throughout the tournament. He’s a combo guard, but can slide over and play as a forward too. Was really the glue guy on this team, brought everything together on both ends of the floor. Quicker on his feet than you’d expect, Mann has a knack for getting to the bucket in crafty ways. If the buzz hasn’t begun surrounding him yet, it should happen in the coming months.
Team Wall Grassroots (15u)
It was really hard to dial in on just one player from this team, seeing as everyone had touches and shots. However, four players stood out more than the rest: 5’10 Thomas Hendricks (2019), 5’6 Lance Anthony (2019), 5’11 Ahmod Baker (2019) and 6’0 Charles Page (2019). Starting with Hendricks, who played the lead ball handler for this team, is a very athletic, high motor kid. Plays taller and stronger than his size would imply, gives that blue-collar feel to his game, just a really tough player. He looked to attack the basket whenever possible, but showed great balance in getting his teammates strong looks also. His jumper can range back to the three, but Hendricks only took the wide-open looks from deep, as he prefers to attack. On the other end, we saw a sturdy on-ball defender who is welcoming the first dribble so he can pounce.
Next, Lance Anthony joined Weston Edwards as one of the premier three point shooters in this tournament. His size sways defenders to sag off, as they think he can’t do any damage, but as soon as he gets a split second of daylight he’s pulling a three. This wouldn’t be as plausible if he wasn’t armed with a lightning quick release, especially on those deep bombs. Anthony needs to add to his frame in order to be an off the bounce or defensive threat, but the kid can flat out shoot the ball.
Moving onto Charles Page, a long, smooth guard that bumped over to forward a lot during this tournament helped his team in countless ways. Given space, Page will damage defenses in a variety of ways, whether it’s off the bounce, in transition, or on catch and shoot opportunities. Defensively he is tough to beat, he gets a nice contest on every shot and plays the passing lanes without gambling for steals. He was another quality glue guy on a team full of them.
Finally, Ahmod Baker was a prospect that caught the eye from the opening tip. Like Page, he is another lengthy wing that can play multiple positions on this team with little worry. He’s a decent shooter, but is miles ahead as an attacker especially in transition. Baker is already a plus defender, capable of guarding both guards and forwards in a pinch. He’s likely the most athletic guy on this team, but still displayed enough skill play to warrant his glue guy title as he affected all aspects of the game.
Manzer Black (15u)
This team was home to the most intriguing player over the course of this tournament, 6’5 Stephon Greene (2019). Let me start by saying, Greene could benefit from adding some polish on offense, as most of his makes come in transition by way of filling the lane and making layups. However, Greene is a very special player and possibly the best rebounder and highest motor in the entire tournament. No player hit the glass on either end with as much intensity, or success, as Greene. There was one performance where he picked up a double-double, including over 20 rebounds, an outstanding number. He’s not just getting rebounds over smaller guys, he’s outrebounding guys bigger and stronger than him. It would be impossible to find another player that gets his hands on a higher percentage of rebounds than Greene. He’s super athletic, helping him be a terrific defender, especially in the post, where he blocked numerous shots. He drew a ton of fouls, probably enough to double his scoring total had he made a higher percentage at the line. Someone needs to make a move on this guy, he’s only beginning to tap into his potential.
Team One on One (15u)
Too often players try to attack the basket with no creativeness, 6’1 Dezmond Woods (2019) is the polar opposite of that. Woods has a remarkable feel for the game, on both ends of the floor. Combine that with top class athleticism, ball handling, and vision and you’re looking at a player that resembles the Russell Westbrook archetype very closely. For a guy that can fill it up on his own quickly, Woods is also a very sharp, willing passer. He even threw in a few no look passes that led to quick buckets for his team. Fully engaged on both ends, it would be hard to find a player with more upside, especially on offense than Dezmond Woods.
Another guy that stood out from this team was 6’2 Marques Dewberry (2019), a guy who likely hasn’t even finished growing. He played center on this team, but plays well taller than his listed height, especially given his long frame. There were multiple games where Dewberry finished with a double-double; he hit the glass hard and made his presence felt on both ends of the floor. His length made it difficult to get scored on, an occurrence that rarely happened. Look for Dewberry in the coming tournaments to continue his strong start.
Carolina Wolves (16u)
For any team that can use scoring in bunches 6’0 Greyson Collins (2018) is a smooth lefty and one of the most underrated guys around. Collins isn’t the best athlete but he makes up for it by being the smartest player on either end of the floor. His basketball IQ is through the roof. Collins is the type of player that will score three or four times in a row to catch your eye, only to realize he already has 30. Although his release is a little unorthodox, he can score from any spot on the floor. Either scores, assists or is fouled any time he drives to the paint. It’s very rare to see a possession not result in points when Collins is involved. He’s the kind of guy that never turns the ball over, and if he does, he’ll remain at one turnover for the rest of the game. Defensively, he’s as sound as any player, using his pristine footwork and feel to keep him engaged and active.
A very impressive prospect throughout the tournament was 6’5 Josh Searcy (2018), a really versatile forward. Searcy can really do it all on both ends of the floor. On offense, he can really shoot it and score on all three levels with little resistance from any type of defender thrown at him. He continually thrived in transition, running the floor beautifully with and without the ball. On defense, Searcy is able to guard any position on the floor currently, provided his great length and awareness both on and off the ball. He’s really a top tier glue guy, but can fill it up in a variety of ways. Hard to imagine Searcy’s buzz doesn’t go up in the coming months.
Carolina Preps (16u)
Versatility was displayed in many ways from 6’5 Kellen Hodge (2018) both on offense and defense. His length is really useful on both ends; it allows him to guard three to four positions if necessary. Hodge’s jumper is very nice from midrange and he even showed the ability to stretch it out to the three a few times. He needs to be more assertive getting touches on offense. Defensively, Hodge already has a nice feel for the pick and roll, guarding either the ball handler or roll man with ease. Hodge should be rising sooner rather than later, especially if he continues to grow.
U-Nique All-Stars (17u)
Of the many attacking guards displayed at David Rose MDC 6’1 Victor Chambers (2017) had scoring chops as strong as anyone. He showed a wide range of crafty moves to pile up points at the basket. Chambers is really active on both sides of the floor; he has a knack for anticipating the steal and running ahead of the pack for easy baskets. On-ball defense comes fairly easily, as he is just quicker than most other players and moves his feet exceptionally well. Offensively, he’s a handful once he gets going downhill. Chambers is great at contorting the defense to his advantage; he might be looking to score first, but he is a willing passer with nice vision.
Queen City Thunder (17u)
If one single person in this tournament defined toughness it was 6’2 Jordan Diggs (2017), a gritty, selfless, hard-nosed player. He runs the floor with grace and is a real problem if he catches below the free throw line, whether by way of score or assist. Diggs is really strong and deceivingly quick for a guy that plays so big; he’s already a terrific two-way player. Diggs isn’t much of a jump shooter, however, his ability to get to the basket paired with his decision-making in traffic is lethal. He’s the type of player that will fit within any program, especially with his high motor and selfless attitude.
NC Runnin’ Rebels (16u)
Any program searching for a combo guard with great length and polish should look no further than 6’1 Chris Barnette (2018). He is quite athletic and can score with a variety of shifty moves on the drive. Barnette can take most opposing guards off the dribble with no resistance and he produced a bunch of clean looks for his teammates. Remaining active even without the ball on offense was something that stood out, as he hit a few corner threes from the swing pass. On the other end, Barnette is a strong defender, especially given his college level length. He forced multiple steals both on and off the ball.
WCBA Elite Blue (17u)
A strong, versatile prospect that lit it up, especially in transition was 6’3 Shayne Siago (2019). Siago stood out from an athletic standpoint just from the initial tip, as he was the most active player on the floor. His combination of strength, speed, and size is really difficult to handle for any type of defender. Siago would blow right past any big man that tried to match his size, and could get his shot with ease over any guard given his length. He got out in transition to get numerous buckets for he and his teammates, very good teammate, isn’t looking to do it all himself. Understands his role very well and could handle more responsibility if the team needed. Players like Siago always end up in a good program and turn successful quickly; his attitude should attract many schools.
There were few big men that displayed a higher basketball IQ, on either end of the floor, than 6’6 Jake Van Der Heijden (2019). A true stretch big, he can get a quality look from anywhere on the floor whenever he pleases. Van Der Heijden posts up, sets great screens, rolls and pops out of the pick and roll extremely well. Can even go off the dribble from the three point line to the basket. Everything is so precise within his game, including his second to none footwork, it’s not hard to figure out his smarts as a player. Defensively, his positioning and awareness are excellent; the only knock would be he’s a little skinny and could benefit from adding some strength. However, if he doesn’t add said strength, Van Der Heijden will still prove to be a very nice piece for any place looking for more than just a shooting big.
Chapel Hill Elite (15u)
If there was one player that stood out as having a high motor it was 6’2 Cam Goins (2019), especially on defense and in transition. He was a monster in transition, both with and without the ball, finishing or drawing a foul on nearly every attempt. Goins is a strong defender, with perfect posture, both on and off ball. His three point shot was inconsistent, but inside the arc he attacked at will finishing with a variety of strong moves. Plays bigger than listed, can defend small forwards and either guard position with ease. High motor players always find their way into smart programs; this situation should be no different.
WCBA White (16u)
One of the players that caught the eyes of many overseers throughout the David Rose MDC was 6’1 Ricky Clemmons (2018). He piled up a ton of points, including a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds, and showed the same scoring abilities in all other contests. Clemmons showed his intelligence through his scoring chops, as he took only smart shots and limited difficult ones. A quality scorer on all three levels. The fact that a player of his skill set can pull down double-digit rebounds along with the 30 points should speak volumes about his positioning. There were very few players with the ability to affect as many facets of the game like Clemmons did throughout the tournament. High basketball IQ and work ethic always translate into quality prospects, luckily Clemmons can score at will without having to take over a game.
WCBA Elite White (17u)
If there was one guy that stood out at making the defense work, it was 6’1 Darius Spragley (2017). This young man is very capable of getting 20 points in the blink of an eye, as he even did so a couple of times over the course of the weekend. There are many things to like about Spragley’s offensive game, as it is so potent. He played primarily as an off guard, but has the handles to run the point if needed. So quick from the first step, it is really challenging for the defense to figure out where he’s going to end up. Scorer on all three levels; nice jumper with pretty solid mechanics. He’s a worker on defense, and it’s afraid to provide strong help, even on the big men. It was actually shocking that Spragley didn’t have any triple-double performances given his uncanny ability to affect the game in every way with such ease. There were few ways to stop his scoring outbursts and once his teammates started getting ignored he showed to be a willing passer.
His teammate, 6’1 Tavarus Peterson (2016), could also put up points in a variety of ways. Of any player on his team, he definitely had the best feel for the game, remaining so engaged on every movement, both on offense and defense. Not really a three-point shooter by choice, Peterson can still get a load of points inside the arc by way of the midrange shot or at the rim. It’s easy to tell that he is the oldest player on his team, because he has the polish of an all-around game like very few. Scoring came naturally, but wasn’t even the true strength of Peterson’s game. Defensively, he game to play throughout the tournament, keeping his back straight, hands up, and feet active the whole time on defense. His grit and hard work on both ends, doing anything to will his team to victory, are what really stand out from such a talented young man.
SC Tigers (16u)
One of the smoothest and intriguing guards at the David Rose MDC was 6’0 Jonathan Breeland (2018). He is as talented as any guard seen in this tournament and came with one of the highest motors around. It was easy to catch Breeland being the floor general for his team, on both sides of the ball, through his vocal presence and activity. On offensive, he can really light it up by attacking the basket with strength. He’s quick off the dribble, usually leaving his defender in the dust while he’s making a layup or assisting to his cutting teammate. Really fast in the open court, has the ability to get the rebound and end up as the first man down the floor, something that is a rarity outside of John Wall or Russell Westbrook. He’s got a really smooth jumper too; can score on all three levels, but really doesn’t utilize the three ball a lot. The intelligence displayed as a defender by Breeland cannot go unnoticed. He is a lock down defensive guard that really harasses the opposing ball handler and never gets driven past. There is high upside with this talented combo guard, any program could benefit from adding a player like Breeland.