Creme of the County, an annual showcase put on by San Diego-based scout Aaron Burgin to promote and highlight San Diego County's best high school basketball talent, keeps getting better and the 2024 edition was its best yet. While the range of talent varies year to year, the top showcase games are traditionally competitive and close.

Once again, Burgin did a more than solid job of separating the talent to create competitive games. At least five of the 11 games during the one-day event traditionally held over Labor Day weekend came down to the wire. In recent years, the Creme De La Creme game designed for San Diego's finest has come down to the wire. As the event approaches its tenth edition, it will be forever hard to top the ending Mikey Williams (now at Central Florida university after after a well publicized prep career) gave fans at the seventh edition in 2022 when he hit two consecutive 3-pointers, including one from the left corner in the closing seconds, to lift his team to a 118-116 victory.

The ninth edition came close, as the Creme De La Creme contest was an exciting 111-107 come-from-behind victory for the white jersey-wearing club over the black jersey-wearing club. For a while, it looked like the game would be ho-hum, as the Black jerseys jumped out to a 58-44 halftime lead and held a lead as big as 22 points. With the lead hovering around 16 points in the second half, Burgin challenged the White club to get after it and they responded with spirited play.

In particular two players responded well and they are teammates at Montgomery (San Diego), a team that will challenge Carlsbad (Calif.) for San Diego Section supremacy in 2024-25. Xair Mendez, a 6-foot-3 2025 and one of the most underrated point guards in California, and J.J. Sanchez, a 6-foot-5 do-it-all 2025 wing guard who is a matchup nightmare, got cooking and got the White team back in the game with an array of defensive plays, shot-making and timely 3-pointers.

The White team eventually took the lead at 96-95 with 5:55 remaining and the game went down to the wire from that point. With 41.6 seconds remaining, 6-foot-8 2025 Brayden Kyman of Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.)was fouled on a 3-point attempt with his team leading 107-106 and the free throw could have iced the game since it was worth three points. He missed the free throw. That gave the White club an opening and Louis Bond, a 6-foot-5 2025 small forward from Windward (Los Angeles), nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with twenty-five seconds remaining to give his team a 109-107 lead. Bond then iced the game in the closing seconds by making two free throws to account for the final margin.

Mendez, who finished with nine points and a host of heady plays, and Sanchez, who scored a game-high 20 points and did most of his damage in the second half with 16 points, were name co game MVPs. Bond finished with 10 points, including two 3-pointers.

For the White club, 6-foot-3 2026 shooting guard Caleb Newton of Mission Bay (San Diego) had 11 points, including some highlight finishes. The winning white club also received a huge lift from 6-foot-8 2025 forward Mason Hodges of San Juan Hills (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) with his hustle and motor. He finished with nine points and six rebounds.

Other game standouts included the Black's C.J. Aldrich, a 6-foot-1 2026 guard from Rancho Buena Vista (Vista, Calif.), with 11 points and Dylan Griffin, a 6-foot-4 2025 forward from University City (San Diego), who impressed with his activity level around the rim and finished with six points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.

Burgin also awards top performers from his underclass games by moving selected prospects up to participate in the Creme De La Creme game. The find of the event and the easiest "call up" for the event was 6-foot-7 2026 wing forward Tim Dorn of Mira Mesa (San Diego). Dorn has touched down in San Diego only recently (as in the past two weeks), as his family was in Hawaii as part of its obligations to the United States Navy.

Dorn is a major sleeper with some high major attributes who could excel at the mid major or mid-major plus level. He runs well, can attack the basket with strides and using his length to score and has good instincts. He finished the top contest with two blocked shots and four rebounds in the second half.

Another terrific call up was from the 2026 Creme Game was Lincoln Grogan, a 6-foot-3 guard who transferred this off-season from Mater Dei (Chula Vista, Calif.) to St. Augustine (San Diego). Grogan proved to be one of the best shooters in San Diego County with a solid all-around game to boot. Grogan nailed eight 3-pointers in the Creme Game for the 2026 class and hit three more triples in the first half of the Creme De La Creme contest for the White club, finishing with 11 points.

The 2028 class in San Diego County is off to a promising start and the 2028 Creme Game was one of the most closely watched. Leading the 2028 calvary was 5-foot-7 guard Columbus Parker of Parker (San Diego), 6-foot-2 point guard Josiah Profit of Temecula Valley (Temecula, Calif.), 6-foot-3 wing Braxton Rolf of Carlsbad (Calif.) 5-foot-10 guard Lucky Davis of Mission Bay (San Diego), 6-foot-7 Tyler Treder of Cal Lutheran (Wildomar, Calif.) and 6-foot-3 Isaiah Hill of San Marcos (Calif.).

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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RELATED: Southwest Camp Top 30 Player Rankings

It was only fitting the Top 20 All-Star Game reserved for the camp’s best performers came down to overtime to decide, because the talent level at the 2024 Southwest Basketball Camp was arguably the most balanced in the camp’s seven-year history. According to camp director Gregg Rosenberg, the Top 20 All-Star game was the best played game ever in the camp’s history in terms of talent level and intensity. The Top 20 game quickly displayed who the camp’s elite talent was, and a group of roughly 15 players out of the approximately 115 showed themselves as true D1 prospects in a time when it’s clearly not easy for a high school player to earn a D1 college scholarship.

According to Rosenberg, the camp was created to showcase players from Arizona who normally don't get an opportunity to be invited to elite summer camps; it was designed for the region’s players to be seen in front of lower level coaches who are looking for quality players for their programs. Players that are serious enough and good enough to play after high school. "Many players will be going to a junior college or to NAIA schools, and it’s important to get them seen in front of college coaches that are able to attend,” Rosenberg said.

After each camper participated in five, running-clock games, 60 were chosen to one of the camp’s three all-star games. A couple of campers who were not necessarily D1 prospects were rewarded for their outstanding play with a Top 20 selection, but once the ball was tipped, it was evident the camp’s elite prospects had separated themselves from the pack. It resulted in a well played game with defense on both sides. The on-ball defense in the closing minutes was good and the game went into overtime. That's when Deshawn Gory, a post-graduate 6-foot-7 wing from Phhoenix Prep in Phoenix, hit a deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds to seal the win for his team, 76-73. Gory finished as one of three players on the winning team to score in double-digits, scoring 15 points.

He was joined in the double-digit scoring column by Adam Hubbard, a 6-foot-4 2025 from AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) with 17 points and by leading scorer Mason Magee, a 6-foot 2026 guard from Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) with 23 points. Hubbard set the tone for the game by nailing five 3-pointers in the early going, and from that point on, both teams ratcheted up the intensity. Magee is one of the nation’s best point guard prospects in the 2026 class and is sorting offers from Arizona State, Washington State and UNLV with other high majors taking serious looks.

The leading scorer from the losing team with 27 points was Jaylon Dean-Vines, a 6-foot-3 2025 shooting guard who plays for a talented Phhoenix Prep team, including a group of players who will play on the Overtime Elite (OTE) circuit. Dean-Vines is one of the most athletic players in the 2025 national class and at this camp his outside shot was on point. He was excellent in both the half court and in transition. He currently holds offers from Oklahoma, Tulsa, UT-Arlington and Vanderbilt. Elijah Hayeems, a 6-foot-6 2025 forward, and Dean-Vines’ Phhoenix Prep teammate, also netted double figures for the losing club with 13 points.

Magee and Dean-Vines were not only the Top 20 game’s leading scorers, they were deservingly named co-MVPs of the entire camp.

Gerron Graham Jr., a 6-foot-2 2026 guard from Premier Prep (Gilbert, Ariz.) was named the MVP of the Top 40 all-star game.

RELATED: Southwest Camp Top 30 Player Rankings

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Walking around the Inspire Courts in Gilbert, Ariz., one gets the sense Dalen Terry, entering his third season with the Chicago Bulls, feels a comfort level and sense of youthful bliss you normally don't see from current NBA players at a grassroots basketball event.

Terry, 22, felt that sense of comfort while he and family members and close friends with ties to the game conducted the inaugural Dalen Terry Basketball Camp over the weekend at the Inspire Courts in Gilbert. That facility, after all, is a stone's throw from South Phoenix and Ahwatukee, the neighborhoods where the 6-foot-8 Terry grew up and cultivated a career than made him the No. 18 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. While growing up in The Valley, Terry always wanted to be play the game, learn more about the game, and most importantly, feel connected to the players who made it to the higher levels who grew up where he did.

"I wanted to do this camp because when I was a kid, I could never find out where pros from here had a camp at; I didn't know where to go," Terry said. "And if there was some camp here it was never free. I want these kids to know I'm exactly like them, same city, same places and play at the same courts. I want them to know they can do it, too."

Approximately 85 youth of both genders were in attendance learning the game, and most importantly, having fun with Terry, his coaching staff and the other campers. They worked on the basic elements of the game and also enjoyed more fun games such as knockout for prizes that were awarded at the end of each of the two days. Terry has an authentic connection to the city of Phoenix and other talented peers from the Valley of the Sun can genuinely feel it, so that influences them to follow suit. It's no wonder players from the region such as TyTy Washington, Koa Peat (the high school All-American from Perry of Gilbert) and Marcus Bagley volunteered their time towards the camp. Bagley was Terry's classmate at Aprende Middle School in Chandler.

After Aprende, Terry went on to Corona Del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) for ninth and tenth grade and finished up his high school years at Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.). On the grassroots circuit, he played for Team Phoenix and AZ Power locally and the Compton Magic on the Adidas grassroots circuit. Terry had a near fanatical obsession for playing and his mother Fenise Yancy knew that clearly in his formative years, especially when he wanted to have a basketball tournament for his 10th birthday. One with teams entered, refs and standings. A dozen years later, Terry understands every kid may not have that approach to the game, but he wants Phoenix youth to feel inspired to pursue whatever dreams they may have.

"I knew I needed to do something (for the kids)," Terry said. "When I played at camps like this, I knew I had to make my mark; I knew the importance even then. Some kids are good, others may not be, but it's important they know they can try to do it."

Terry aims to make it an annual event and no matter where he takes his Dalen Terry Basketball Camp, working with Phoenix youth will always be special to him. After his high school days, Terry played two years at the University of Arizona. The weekend of August 24-25, he will conduct his camp in Tucson.

To sign up for the Tucson version of the Dalen Terry Basketball Camp, CLICK HERE.

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The Formula Zero Elite Camp is an event level event hosted by Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star and former Oakland (Calif.) and Weber State standout Damian Lillard. The three-day event was held at the The PHHacility in Phoenix with "Dame Dollar" and NBA player development coach Phil Beckner leading the on-court skills training for 30 elite players (actually 15 high school participants and 17 college level athletes) that wanted to get some insight on the training methods of one of the NBA's hardest-working players who developed into an eight-time NBA all-star from humble beginnings.

Lillard played for the Oakland Rebels travel club in Northern California in the late 2000's and was somewhat of an overlooked high school prospect in California's famed 2008 class. He was a Cal-Hi Sports all-state selection as a senior, averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists for a 23-9 club after committing to Weber State before his senior season began. From there is where Lillard's game took off after developing a unique training method to excel while many of his peers in high school plateaued.

The slogan for Formula One is "Character, Hard Work and Accountability" and is designed for players with a relentless passion to do things differently in order to take their game to the next level. The training model around Formula One has molded one of the best players in the NBA and this elite camp is a way for him to share that passion and training method with young players who aspire to get to the level Lillard has with the Bucks and Portland Trailblazers over the years.

We take a look at six of the standouts from the three-day event in front of NBA decision-makers:

High School Standouts

Mikel Brown Jr., DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 6-2 2025
A terrific spot up shooter who should be in store for a fine senior season of high school after a transfer to a Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) program. His ability to play make and score and his craftiness with the ball takes his spot up shooting to the next level.

Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-2 2025
Followed up on his terrific play at the 2024 NPBA Top 100 camp with another standout grassroots performance. Lewis is crafty with the ball and knows when and where to attack or act as a setup man. Lewis gets it done with his live dribble passing and shot making ability from all over the court.

Darryn Peterson, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-5 2025
The top overall high school prospect at the event, Peterson is like a NFL running back whose pads don't make noise during practice because he is so fluid and his moves are smooth. Peterson can stop and explode into his move or shot as well as any high school or college player and is pushing the top players in the national class of 2025. Peterson recently announced his will spend his senior season in California at Prolific Prep and in that atmosphere should be a bonafide Mr. Basketball USA candidate for 2024-25.

College Standouts

V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor (2024), 6-5 SG
Explosive finisher in the open court was as good an athlete as any player in attendance. Edgecombe stand outs with his competitive fire and skill level as an attacking shooting guard. As he continues to develop a more reliable jumper will ultimately determine where he lands as a bonafide lottery pick for 2025. With continued improvement he could push towards the top five.

A?a Newell, Georgia (2024), 6-9 PG
Was an integral part of Montverde Academy's 2024 FAB 50 title team and could be a breakout performer in the SEC. Newell knows spacing and angles to get the ball in the interior and uses a variety of hooks and spins to be a formidable offensive threat. Newell's motor is a differnce-maker and his jump shot range will dictate his numbers as a college freshman.

Trent Perry, UCLA (2024), 6-4 PG
Will be competing for playing time in Westwood and his competitive nature and IQ will push his teammates in practice. Perry sees the game a few plays ahead, especially in transition, and was making some terrific open-court passes at Formula One. In the half court, Perry was knocking down his jumper and attacking defenders in an efficient manner.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Josh talked to Ballislife about decision to pledge to Akron over Miami Ohio and Ohio University.

“I went on an unofficial visit and I loved it there (Akron)," Henderson said. "It felt like family with my talks and interaction from the staff and I felt I can really thrive there. Coach Groce has been to every game during the live period. He has came to see me play any chance he’s had and told me I’m his number one target. That’s why a week later after my visit I committed.”

Henderson talked more in depth about the visit. He was heavily impressed with the player development aspect.

“We talked a lot about the player development process. What that looks like year to year. They had my shot charts from AAU, percentages from where I shot, what I do best and it was just a full breakdown of my game and where and how I can improve.”

The 6-foot-5 rising senior shooting guard has a full high school year left until he reports to Akron and shared the parts of his game he will be working on prior to coming.

“Definitely my body. Getting stronger," Henderson said. "That’ll be important for me. Also finding more efficient ways to score. Drawing more fouls and being able to more effectively read and attack the second line of defense. I watch a lot of film and work out a lot. I need to be better at those areas.”

Game Breakdown

Josh Henderson holds fine positional size (6-5) and arm length at the 2-guard spot: He shoots it from deep, is a quality scorer in spot up situations that needs minimal dribbles to get to his spots, create space and score. Defensively, he shows high ceiling as a switchable defender that utilizes his length and instincts to cover ground and collect steals.

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As Team USA goes for its fifth straight men's basketball Olympic Gold Medal on August 10 (3:30 pm ET, NBC) against host France, we wanted to put into perspective what the Olympics has meant to American basketball development over the years.

To give it some perspective, Team USA was 143-6 all-time entering Olympic competition at this year's games, including the 5-3 "disaster" of 2004 when America took the Bronze medal. Overall, there is no big problem. Everyone always says the world has caught up to the U.S.A., but in reality, they still have a plenty ways to go.

Serbia led 76-63 with 10 minutes remaining in this year's semifinal contest vs. the USA with arguably the best player in the world on its team (Nikola Joki?) and still fell, 95-91. When Team USA had to get it done, it defended and played team ball. It wasn't all that surprising it made that comeback. It's how it got to this point that raises questions and/or doubts about the quality and usefulness of the American Olympic process.

There is no denying that the decision to use NBA players starting with the 1992 Olympics in Spain and coaching clinics around the world featuring some of the brightest minds over the last half century is the reason the world is so much better at the game we love. The Dream Team gave the world the motivation and our coaches gave the world the know how to get better at the game. Without that 1992 Dream Team, there perhaps is no Joki? today, or maybe a player of his caliber wouldn't have developed for another 50 years or so.

Many folks feel the development across the world has come at the expense of development here in the United States, but at the highest level, that development is curtailed.

There are two things that made the Dream Team work in 1992. tThe timing of its announcement and Team USA's 82-76 loss to the Soviet Union in the 1988 semifinals. If the late John Thompson and his group of college players (alongside David Robinson, who hadn't yet played pro ball but was the No. 1 pick of the 1987 NBA Draft) had won Gold in Seoul, South Korea, who knows if we are even having this discussion now. USA and the rest of the world was ready to see what would happen with NBA players and there was no better group than the guys on that 1992 Dream Team to make it a success. Perhaps it wouldn't have worked as well in 1988 or in 1996. Timing is very important and people forget the go-to players on this year's US Olympic team, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, are significantly older than anyone on the 1992 Dream Team, which had the make and feel of a veteran national team.

Lost in the Dream Team's greatness is the lack of a tryout process. And there hasn't been one since.

Yes, USA Basketball has done a fine job at the youth level and are dominant in the 19U-16U age groups. But those players who dominate the younger levels are not necessarily the ones who dominate at the senior levels. Development happens at various stages for aspiring players and what the Olympic team is missing is a tryout process.

Having a tryout process would eliminate some of the issues that come with clashing NBA egos on a team and would help with chemistry. Now, NBA stars probably don't want to be part of the tryout process, as they don't want to give up the leverages they have worked at for years to attain as the world's best, but the positives would outweigh any backlash.

The positives of a tryout process are many. It would create an atmosphere of fairness, it would help foster a team culture (instead of a group of star players), and most importantly, would be great evaluation for NBA personnel, not to mention college and grassroots scouts for the younger players. It would also create what recent Olympic teams are missing: the ability for role players to increase their worldwide profile and young players to enjoy a marketing platform that would help the world know more about the up-and-coming and future pro stars. With the current state of college basketball and the NBA's reliance on players to enter the league who have been out of high school for less than a year, there are limited ?opportunities to market players to the point where they have built brand value and a faithful following prior to the draft. This would help in that area tremendously and be a win for everyone involved in the process.

The tryout should include non-NBA players and elite high school players, if the selection committee deems them worthy. Only a few might be worthy every four years, but after watching Cooper Flagg (last season's Mr. Basketball USA and now a Duke freshman) doing what he did against Team USA at a scrimmage, it would be meaningful to have that type of atmosphere in a formal tryout setting. Even for the players who didn't make the team, it would be a tremendous evaluation and marketing opportunity.

As NBA agent and marketing veteran Nate Jones points out, the Olympics are one of the few events left in terms of media platforms, where the masses still watch the game at one time. For an up-and-coming star to be siting on the bench or contributing in a way that is not the norm for a max contract NBA player, it would not only be a great opportunity, it would enhance the team and set a great example of what a team should be on on the world stage.

For anyone who attended an Olympic tryout prior to the formation of the Dream Team, it was more than an excellent evaluation tool. For Frank Burlison, a McDonald's All-American voters since the game's inception in 1977, the 1984 Olympic tryouts was one of the best settings and best basketball he ever evaluated. This coming from a person who has attended endless summer games since the 1970s to NBA Finals games featuring Michael Jordan. Even players who were cut from that '84 Olympic tryout, such as future NBA Hall of Famers John Stockton and Charles Barkley, got tremendous milage out of the experience.

Now, the 1984 team led by Jordan was one of the best teams of all-time that didn't feature NBA players. As the late Bobby Knight told the world before they could understand or were ready to hear from a coaching perspective, Jordan was that special of a talent and the team around him, which included Patrick Ewing and specialists such as sharp-shooter Steve Alford, was strong. It was evident when Thompson was putting his team together for 1988, it wasn't going to be as strong as the team in 1984. The tryout roster was not near the talent level of four years prior. Some felt Thompson was playing favorites when his incoming high school recruit Alonzo Mourning (the 1988 Mr. Basketball USA pick) was one of the last Olympic cuts. In reality, however, his talent level warranted a serious look despite just graduating from high school.

That brings us to our next two points. One, the talent level across the high school and grassroots landscape is not close to equal year over year. This is hardly ever never pointed out or analyzed by national scouts. Two, it wasn't the end of the world that Team USA lost an Olympic game. There is no secret the high school classes that made up the 1984 team were clearly stronger than the high school classes that created the talent poll for the 1988 team. The Class of 1985 is considered weak overall and it took a major hit when forward Ben Wilson of Siemon (Chicago, Ill.), was murdered just as his senior season was about to tip off in the fall of 1984. Perhaps as a graduated college senior, he could have helped Thompson and Team USA win gold.

We'll never know.

After the 1988 team lost in the semifinals in a competitive game to Arvydas Sabonis and the Soviet Union, the 1992 Dream Team's performance felt like a series of exhibition games. Still to this day, the Dream Team proved the point. Also, for a U.S. Olympic team, there is no shame in losing if the players are giving it their all like the 1988 team did. The novelty of the NBA players in FIBA events wore off fast. By the 1994 World Championships, in fact, they were more criticized than praised. The young team had talents such as Shawn Kemp and Derrick Coleman that were framed by the media as malcontents more often than great champions.

Heading into 1992, Team USA was 85-2, including the infamous 1972 Gold Medal loss to the Soviet Union. Since then, Team USA has only lost in the medal round once with a young team in 2004 that was void of great chemistry and leadership. Those issues were resolved by the 2008 Redeem Team led by the late Kobe Bryant, but perhaps those issues wouldn't have been there had the circumstances of making the team been different and accepted over the years.

The 2004 losses certainly wouldn't be looked at the same if the team wasn't handpicked by influential individuals and had a more open tryout process. For now, the process only favors NBA elites instead of being used as the ultimate developmental setting for our country's players.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Just as these are perilous times in America, grassroots basketball is at a perilous juncture in its current form. Judging from what we evaluated during the first July live period, independent operations (and operators) during live period events are at a critical crossroads in their very existence. It's very similar to other companies or entities offering products or services: The costs to operate keep getting higher as the quality of the product gets worse. We examine why this is happening.

1. The Scholastic Live Period Has Caused Major Change
After the NCAA corruption scandal of 2017-18, there was an attempt to make scholastic basketball a bigger part of the recruiting process by implementing two live weekends in June for high school teams. This started in 2019 and it's safe to say it has caused major change to July. After the June scholastic period, D1 colleges have a good read on their main high school recruiting targets. Since they are also targeting less high school players overall because of the NCAA Transfer Portal, July just has a different feel, especially among the independent events. With college coaches spread out at so many live events, much of the electricity and anticipation for a great game or a great evaluation setting has disappeared at independent events. College coaches don't seem to be going the extra mile to unearth a new revelation when they already know the talent levels are way down in comparison to pre-COVID levels. And armed with the knowledge they gained in June, they can follow and hone in on their main targets.

2. Players Are Wising Up
To be clear, events like Peach Jam (EYBL Finals) and adidas' 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships are still terrific July events with much of the same atmosphere we saw before the onset of the June live period. Those events, however, are geared towards elite, high major prospects. There are lower level elite prospects playing in the independent sector and the talent pool is getting worse every summer. A fallout of this is some D1 prospects are realizing they don't have to play endless July games if they feel their recruitment is where it needs to be and or they played well during spring and June. We know of at least three D1 prospects that simply chose not play with their travel team or a travel team in the first July period. The value of doing so is still there, but it's clearly not as strong as it once was. Parents sometimes still foster unrealistic expectations of their son going high major or even getting a scholarship, but the picture is getting more clear for them each passing summer. The messaging certainly is more powerful when they are paying more all-around to have their son play in front of such few college coaches.

3. Shoe Company Circuits Have The Fat
With Under Armour Association in Atlanta, Adidas 3SSB in Rock Hill, S.C., NXTPRO League in Mesa, Ariz. and Nike Peach Jam and Prelude 32 in Augusta, Ga., there is certainly less independent teams or independent grassroots coaches operating less travel teams under one umbrella. Many big businesses like to "cut the fat" so to speak, but shoe company-sponsored circuits are rounding up as many teams for their circuits as possible and with two more circuits emerging, July is definitely watered down. There is no meeting spot like Las Vegas was before the corruption scandal, there are few battles across shoe company lines and the teams are spread out. For independent programs to survive (and when we say survive we mean play in live period events in front of D1 college coaches) they are going to have to come together to some degree and be smarter on how they operate events. There simply isn't enough fat to feed everyone, especially with the rising costs of doing business (insurance, referees, scorer's tables, trainers, etc.).

4. Still Some Independent Diamonds In The Rough
Even with so many events in so many different places at once, the tireless recruiter has an even bigger advantage now. He or she will go the extra mile to uncover a sleeper. And trust me when I say there are still some quality D1 prospects on independent clubs, such as 6-foot-5 2025 shooting guard Anthony Moore of Develop 17U/(Lincoln HS, Stockton, Calif.), among others. The drawback is having to spend more precious time traveling to gyms to find prospects such as Moore and not having more of them under one roof. Smart college coaches simply can't afford to sit through multiple games without viewing a prospect close to their level. They simply won't come back, will move on to other targets or simply sit it out. Going forward, there will need to be more incentive not to play on an established shoe company team and there is no guarantee all five circuits will be around in 2025.

5. Senior Season Greatly Matters Again
The 1982-83 season marked the beginning of the basketball early signing period in November. If prospects knew where they wanted to attend college and said institution was comfortable with offering a scholarship, a player could sign and play his senior season without the pressure of trying to earn a scholarship. Prior to that season, senior season performance was still relatively important, but the early signing period put a premium on junior year and underclass performance and it became no secret many of the prestigious high school honors (such as McDonald's All-American selection) had little to do with senior season performance. Over 40 years later, however, the importance of the senior season is making a comeback for a vast majority of potential D1 prospects. Colleges are using less of their scholarship allotment on high school seniors, and they often wait until the spring as roster turnover is a season-to-season reality. Seniors can play their way into a scholarship, because colleges are waiting a bit longer to offer high school prospects and because they have to wait to see which returning players will jump into the NCAA Transfer Portal in March. On the flip side, a legitimate scholarship offer in the summer and fall shouldn't be taken lightly. This hope to get "something bigger" is a risk for a high school senior because that offer (or roster spot) may not be available in the spring.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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The 168-team Boys Cali Live '24 June Scholastic Live Period event in Roseville, Calif. concluded on Sunday with first place pool finishers playing another first place finisher in a de-facto championship game. There were 42 pools in all and many standouts across the board. There were tons of players to evaluate, and Cali Live '24 helped many in their recruitment during a scholastic setting. Most of all, it gave every player a chance, a fairly equal opportunity to be seen, and that's what the two June live period weekends designed for high school teams are all about. In this report, we'll talk a look at the overall themes of the event.

1. Being A Keen Evaluator Has Never Been More Important
While it's true college coaches don't concentrate on high school underclassmen as much as they once did and juniors don't commit at a high rate, it's also true the evaluations of them are more important than ever. Even if coaches at a certain level know they are not going to successfully recruit a particular player, they have the knowledge a healthy percentage of recruits will eventually end up in the NCAA Transfer Portal. The portal has quickly become its own cottage industry. The key is projecting those transfers portaling up to a higher level or portaling down to the level they should have been recruited at in the first place. The recruiter that knows this will position himself accordingly and foster relationships with players he already knows he won't have on his roster as a freshman. Evaluating a player for what level he'll be recruited is many respects is not as important as what level he'll eventually play at down the line.

2. Being Realistic Has Never Been More Important
We've stressed on this website over the years how important it is for players and parents to have realistic recruiting goals. In a nutshell, players need to get advice from an experienced person who won't benefit if they make it to the NBA or a big-time college and from another veteran observer who won't be hurt emotionally or financially if they don't. (Read that again.). There are many players who play at a level that would have earned them a cinch D1 scholarship 10 years ago that are no longer getting those looks. Those same level of players have to put their ego aside and realize a D2 scholarship is their realistic level and not shun non-D1 colleges. It's all about getting in the system with some legitimate stats and game film (i.e. Synergy). That is the name of the game and a huge part of the recruiting process. Many recruits used to go to the highest level possible, but since the advent of NIL three years ago this July and officially paying college players on the horizon, that is not a financially sound move. It's much more financially advantageous to put up numbers at a lower level and portal up to a school that realizes you can play at a high level. An all-conference level player can potentially earn life-changing money in the current NIL climate.

3. Arizona Hasn't Cooled Down Since COVID-19
It's no secret because of various COVID-19 restrictions along political lines, the state of Arizona has been a hotbed for talent since the outbreak of the pandemic over four years ago. Based on what we saw at Cali Live '24 and Section 7 the week prior, there is no signs of that slowing down. There is no question the Arizona teams part of its state association (AIA) helped make Cali Live '24 a better recruiting atmosphere for college coaches. And with players such as 2027 center Darrius Wabbington of Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.) and 2028 guard Aiden Diggs of Williams Field (Gilbert, Ariz.) in the fold for the next few years, having Arizona teams as part of the June Scholastic Live Period will be beneficial for any live period event. This doesn't even include all the talent and high major size found at various academy-type programs across the Valley of the Sun. This talent surge has been part of a process that started because of its warm weather and the price of housing in other areas of the region such as Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. There is simply more talent to choose from and college coaches spend more than in the Phoenix metro than ever before.

4. Nothing Beats One-Stop Shopping
Part of the reason for the advent of the June scholastic Live Period was to get high school coaches involved in the recruiting and evaluation process. That is happening and almost all scouts and college coaches are in agreement the scholastic-based evaluation is a key part of the recruiting process. Some felt an actual high school setting with be beneficial to the process, but June evaluation is not a high school playoff game atmosphere. There are no cheerleaders and in some respects the score doesn't matter. It's about getting a good evaluation and venues such as the 12-court Roebbelen Center used for Cali Live '24 is the way to go in the future. College Coaches want to evaluate as many good teams and players as possible without having to get in their car to drive to another gym. Having the best teams' starting times staggered over the course of the day also helps.

5. Nobody Knows The Future
We know Cali Live '25 will be back down in Southern California and it will reportedly be at the Ladera Sports Center in Orange County. Beyond that, however, no one knows what the long-future holds in terms of the NCAA recruiting calendar. We know the NCAA is due to pay out 2.7 billion to former collegiate athletes (which most of the money going to Power 5 football players) if a federal judge approves the terms of the House vs. NCAA antitrust case. If that settlement is not agreed to, the NCAA will have a long road in terms of legal bills and potentially paying out more than 2.7 billion should the case go to trial. The back damages are related to name, image and likeness (NIL) restrictions and we figured the settlement would catch the eyes of older players who feel their basic rights have been violated, too. Sure enough, on June 10, 10 members of the 1983 N.C. State men's basketball NCAA championship team sued the NCAA and the Collegiate Licensing Company for unauthorized NIL use over many years and more recently, members of the 2008 Kansas title team and 16 athletes total joined in a lawsuit on similar grounds. Where does this leave the NCAA? Well, if it has to pay out damages to the N.C. State and Kansas team and other older former NCAA athletes, who knows if the organization will exist its current form five years from now. The whole recruiting industry could look different, but rest assured the recruiting services and major recruiting networks will still function. How the scholastic period and NCAA recruiting calendar looks in five years is difficult to prepare for based on these lawsuits.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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The purpose of the NBPA Top 100 Camp is to help in the development of the world's elite high school-aged basketball players and give them a taste of what it is like to play in the NBA. The NBA is an exclusive group (there has been less than 5,000 NBA players all-time since the league's inception) and this exclusive camp, held annual at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., has featured some of the biggest names in basketball over the past 30 years, from the likes of Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brunson, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, plus a plethora of other future pros.

There is no doubt plenty from the 2024 crop of 110 campers will one day play in the NBA, but for now it was all about competing, learning and getting better, not to mention performing well in front of scouting representatives of every NBA team and hundreds of college coaches.

There was roughly 11 players on each of the camp's 10 teams coached by current or just retired NBA players going through a coaching mentorship program put on by the NBPA. The four-day camp was also one of attrition, as the participants play NBA regulation length games with NBA rules and on the last two days of the camp, each team played three games in a seven-hour period.

When the dust settled, the Houston Rockets team used balance and teamwork to post a 9-0 record, the last one a 120-119 championship game victory over a New York Knicks team that came into the contest 6-2. It was actually the Rockets' second victory over the Knicks, as they beat that team to start off the camp's final day, 106-101, in a competitive game. Even though the Rockets were no stranger to the attrition themselves, they did a good job of taking quality shots, hitting their free throws in seven of nine games, and making timely 3-pointers, particularly by 6-foot-5 2025 (rising senior) point guard Brayden Burries of Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) and 6-foot-8 2025 wing Shon Abaev of Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).

The Rockets played the first contest versus the Knicks without Burries, who was arguably the top guard in attendance with his strong frame, powerful drives, timely passing, clutch shot-making and presence. Rockets coach Terrance Mann of the L.A. Clippers had others step up in his absence, as five players scored in double figures with two more on the 10-man roster going for nine points. Mike Williams, a 6-foot-1 2025 guard from Jackson Academy (Miss.) and the son of former NBA guard and Jackson State coach Mo Williams, particularly stepped up with 16 points, including 2-of-5 3-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws, to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Williams' rebounding from the guard position, his instincts on defense and change of pace on offense was a huge lift for Mann all week at camp.

Seven-foot-1 2025 center Malachi Moreno of Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) matched up with all-star selection, 7-foot 2025 Eric Reibe of Bullis School (Washington, D.C.), and came up with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. The left-handed Reibe was the most effective player on the court with 25 points, including 3-of-6 3-pointers, and added six rebounds and two assists. Reibe has a terrific feel and plays a style similar to former Kansas great Raef LaFrentz but with more shooting range and more ground covering. Six-foot-8, 250-pound 2025 Zymicah Wilkins of Christ School (Arden, N.C.) had a great impact in both games versus the Rockets with his power game, motor and relentlessness in crunch time. Wilkins finished the first contest with 17 points.

Burries returned for the eighth game, one in which Houston jumped out to a 29-10 lead over the Indian Pacers and never looked back in a 106-96 victory. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Moreno led seven in double figures with 19 points and eight rebounds. The center made all five of his free throws, but the rest of the Rockets were 8-of-18 in that second to last game.

After shooting so well from the charity stripe in its first seven games, that performance was an omen for the final game, as weary free throw legs and the never-say-die attitude of the Knicks kept them in the championship contest in the second half after trialing by as many as 19 points early. The Rockets were without Elijah Williams, a 6-foot-6 2026 (rising junior) wing out of Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and the son of Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams, for the final two games and without Mike Williams in the championship rematch, but gutted out the one-point victory after building a 64-50 halftime lead by coming up with a defensive stop after Burries missed a free throw (worth two points) with under five seconds remaining in the game.

Reibe hurt the Rockets, in the first contest, but was neutralized more in the rematch, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds while not attempting a shot from 3-point range. Moreno matched him with 11 points and 10 rebounds, as he finished the camp with three triple doubles while missing another by just one rebound. Moreno is a team-oriented player with a great pace and understanding of the game and once he gets into his offensive move and makes his decisions on the block quicker, he's going to be an excellent college player. While Reibe was kept in check, the Rockets simply had no answer for Wilkins in the rematch, as he kept his team in it with relentless offensive rebounding, tough shot making on the move and even hit a key 3-pointer while the Knicks were making their second half run. He finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds and impressed college coaches and the NBPA Top 100 selection committee with his inspired play.

Burries finished the title game with 24 points, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, despite missing six of 10 free throws. As a team, the fatigued Rockets made 14-of-32 free throws, but dug deep to make 10-of-20 3-pointers. The leading scorer for the victors was 6-foot-1 2025 point guard Acaden Lewis of Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.), who made 4-of-7 3-pointers and finished the title game with 25 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Lewis impressed college coaches with his crafty offensive package, ability to finish in either direction and dominate in the half court, particularly in pick-n-roll sets. The Rockets don't go unbeaten without Lewis' efforts, particularly his 26-point effort in a 117-112 win over a L.A. Lakers team that might have been the camp's second most talented one. He made 4-of-9 3-pointers in that contest and was dominant enough to over the final two days to be selected to the camp's 10-man all-star team.

It's hard to envision the Rockets going unbeaten without the contributions of 6-foot-9 power 2025 forward Sebastian Williams-Adams of St. John's (Houston, Texas) as well. In the win over the L.A. Lakers, he had an incredible 11 offensive rebounds in a 18-point, 12-rebound performance and sealed the win a pass interception and close-out dunk. Twice he came up with a defensive play, steal and dunk to seal a win for his team and joined Burries and Lewis as Rockets players on the camp all-star team. Williams-Adams literally didn't take a bad shot all week and had 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the championship game win. Williams-Adams is also a complete defender and for the week shot 61-of-94 (.648) from the field in nine camp games.

Jerry Easter II, a 6-foot-4 2025 shooting guard from La Lumiere who was our top rated performer at the recent Pangos All-American Camp, had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Rockets in the title game. Easter also contributed key defense and steady ball-handling and didn't force it much when the shots weren't dropping. Six-foot-8 2026 forward Sebastian Wilkins also provided quality defense and good finishing around the rim for Mann's team, 6-foot-10 2025 power forward Trent Steinour of Lake Norman (N.C.) showed potential as a rim-runner and flashes of pop around the rim, while 6-foot-9 2026 center Moustapha Diop of the Walker School (Powder Springs, Ga.) is oozing with potential as a shot blocker and long term impact college player with a bit more seasoning.

"It was a great opportunity to be able to coach these guys that are eventually going to be playing against me in a couple years," said Mann. "It was dope to see the high level of competition, and I was amazed by their skill and intelligence. These kids are special and the game is getting better and better."

The camp had talent at all positions, but was dominated by its interior play, as teams made it a point to get its pivots involved in its offensive sets. There was some terrific individual battles, as 46 campers were listed as being 6-foot-8 and taller. When it was completed, 6-foot-10 2025 Chris Cenac of Newman (New Orleans, La.) was named NBPA Top 100 Camp Most Valuable Player. Cenac's combination of fluidity, versatility, size and length made him stand out from a group of highly-regarded campers.

Cenac led the camp in rebounds (11.4) and finished third in blocks (1.6). All-star selection Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.), the recent Pangos All-American Camp MOP, was third in scoring (22.6) and first in assists (7.3). After winning two state title in Pennsylvania, Thomas recently accounted he'll be spending his senior campaign with Overtime Elite.

The scoring leaders in front of Thomas were 6-foot-5 wing Tounde Yessoufou of St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) at 23.1 and 6-foot-4 2025 wing Kiyan Anthony of Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) at 28.5. Anthony is the son of future NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.

NBPA Top 100 Camp Top 5 Stock Risers
(selected by editor Ronnie Flores)
Phillip Davis Fogle, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-8 SF 2025
Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-1 PG 2025
Deron Rippey Jr., Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) 6-1 PG 2026
Zymicah Wilkins, Christ School (Arden, N.C.) 6-8 PF 2025
Mike Williams, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.) 6-1 CG 2025

NBPA Top 100 Top 5 Rising Juniors
(selected by editor Ronnie Flores)
Tajh Ariza, Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) 6-8 SF 2026
Aliou Dioum, Accelerated Schools (Denver, Col.) 6-10 C 2026
Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) 6-4 PG 2026
Jordan Smith, Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-3 SG 2026
Qayden Samuels, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) 6-6 SF 2026

2024 NBPA Top 100 Camp All-Star Team
(selected by camp selection committee)
MVP: Chris Cenac, Newman (New Orleans, La.) 6-10 PF 2025
Darius Adams, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-4 SG 2025
Kiyan Anthony, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-4 SG 2025
Brayden Burries, Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 6-5 PG 2025
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.) 6-10 C 2025
Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-1 PG 2025
Eric Reibe, Bullis School (Washington, D.C.) 7-0 C 2025
Qayden Samuels, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) 6-6 SF 2026
Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.) 6-4 SG 2025*
Sebastian Williams-Adams, St. John's (Houston, Texas) 6-9 PF 2025
Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5 SG 2025

*Meleek Thomas recently announced he will play at Overtime Elite in Atlanta for his senior season.

Editor's Note: Ronnie Flores is a member of the NBPA Top 100 Player Selection Committee.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Many times in an individual showcase camp for elite talent, the play can be less than inspiring or sloppier than talent scouts or NBA personnel would hope to see. But the 2024 edition of the Pangos All-American Camp certainly didn't have that problem. The games were well-played, and most importantly, were ultra competitive from the first ones on Sunday through the final top all-star game on Tuesday afternoon.

For the first time in the event's history, there was a team championship game prior to the Cream of the Crop All-Star Games to reward winning basketball. Illinois representing the Big 10 Conference and took on Notre Dame representing the Atlantic Coast Conference both went 3-0 during regular camp games to qualify for the championship. ?The Illini then came up with a 86-73 come-from-behind-victory to finish 4-0.

Leading the way for the camp's best team with his steady play was 6-foot-3 2025 guard Jerry Easter of La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Also netting 15 points for his team was 6-foot-5 2025 Jermaine O'Neal Jr. of Dynamic Prep (Dallas, Texas). Turning heads with his play on the interior was 6-foot-10 2025 Badara Diakite of South Kent Prep (Conn.). He finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Notre Dame held a 43-41 lead at halftime but couldn't sustain it, as Illinois out-rebounded the Irish (39-37)and were credited with more assists (20-15). Joshua Lewis, a 6-foot-7 2025 forward from Blake (Tampa, Fla.) chosen for the Cream of the Crop Top 60 Game, led Notre Dame with 20 points. It should also be noted that when Brayden Burries, the 6-foot-5 2025 from Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) and Notre Dame's top overall player, was out of the game, his team consistently gave up leads. Burries was the unifying force with his unselfish passing and overpowering finishes and rebounding. Burries' plus/minus likely was off the charts throughout the camp and he showed why he could successfully play on or off the ball at the next level.

Burries was arguably the best all-around player at the camp, with the only difference between he and Easter was the latter's efficiency from the field. Easter was credited as shooting 7-of-8 from the field in the championship game (plus his team got the win), while Burries was 4-of-10. In the Cream of the Crop Top 30 All-Star Game designed for the camp's top performers among 110 participants from 31 different states, Easter was 6-of-7 from the field (good for 15 points), while Burries was 2-of-7 (good for 10 points). Easter was just super efficient all weekend long with his controlled game, change of pace and high percentage shot attempts. He let the game come to him and has that knack for keeping defenders just a bit left or right when he attacks or on his release point. Easter has been a well known commodity on the circuit since middle school, but feels playing in a balanced attack at La Lumiere in the scholastic setting durning his junior season helped him coming into Pangos Camp.

"I came in with the mindset to go out, play and compete," Love said. "It definitely helped me get better to play with guys like Chuck Love and Jalen Haralson and in six months (playing EYBL Scholastic) I got alot better. I just love the game and I just want to have fun and at the same time be a leader."

Love and Burries actually played on the same team in the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game and their Red-clad team came out on top over the Blue jersey-wearing unit, 114-106, in a competitive game. The Blue team actually led by 12 points in the first half and at halftime, 56-50. The game was tied 90-90 with six minutes remaining before the Red team took control behind some nifty passes from Burries, some steady play-making from Easter and a big 3-pointer down the stretch from the team's leading scorer, 6-foot-5 2025 wing Tounde Yessoufou of St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.). Yessoufou was pulling the trigger on his open looks all camp long and finished the final game with 20 points. Yessoufou made 3-of-7 three-pointers and all of his five free throws, including two clutch ones in the game's waning moments.

Seven-foot center Xavion Staton of Sierra Vista (Las Vegas, Nev.) continued his defensive dominance and helped the Red team to victory with five blocked shots. Also playing well was Kayden Edwards, a 6-foot-2 2025 southpaw guard from Duncanville (Texas) who made 4-of-7 three-pointers and had 12 points, and Dylan Mingo, a 6-foot-5 2026 point guard from Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), who finished with 10 points. Also making positive final impression were O'Neal Jr. and steady Devin Brown, a 6-foot-7 2025 from Milwaukee Academy of Science (Wis.).

The Blue team built its first half lead behind the hot shooting of 6-foot-6 2026 shooting guard Jacob Lanier of Maumelle (Ark.). Lanier played within himself throughout the event and didn't force much, and in the all-star game when he was open on the outside, he let it fly. Lanier made all six of his 3-point attempts and finished with 20 points. He definitely showed why he should be near the top of any credible 2026 national rankings.

Meleek Thomas, a 6-foot-5 2025 guard from Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.), was the Blue Team's leading scorer with 22 points. After arriving from Western Pennsylvania on Monday, Thomas put his stamp on each game he played and evaluated the level of competition and competitiveness in the camp with his energy and presence. Thomas came into the event with the mindset to dominate, and outside of a few rushed shots, did just that. He was rewarded for his efforts by being named 2024 Pangos Camp Most Outstanding Player.

"I came in wanting to be vocal and be a leader," said Thomas, who has already been an All-American Elite team selection twice in his Lincoln Park career with a season to go. "Coming from a winning high school program plays a part, but it's also about me individually wanting to win at every event I play in and be the best."

The one player we were most vocal about deserving a Top 30 roster spot was 6-foot-7 2025 Chuck Love III, Easter's teammate at La Lumiere. He went out and proved his worth as the top performer in the Top 60 game. Love made a variety of mid-range pull-ups and deep shots to finish with a game-high 25 points in his Blue Team's 103-99 victory

Point guard Jalen Reese, a 6-foot 2025 from Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) also played well for the winning Blue team. Another standout was 6-foot-6 2026 Herly Brutus of Umatilla (Fla.).

For the Red Team, both Kelvin Odih, a 6-foot-5 2025 from South Kent Prep (Conn.), and Amari Allen, a 6-foot-7 2025 from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), stood out. Both finished with 12 points.

We always like to point out a few top performers who were not chosen for either all-star game. The best of a deep lot this year were arguably one big and one wing. The big was 6-foot-10 2025 Jayden Everett of Chapin (El Paso, Texas) and the wing was 6-foot-6 2025 Jaden Vance of Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

Pangos Camp All-Time MOPs

2024: Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.) 6-4 SG
2023: (co): Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.) 6-9 PF
2023: (co): Cameron Scott, Lexington (S.C.) 6-6 SF
2022: Xavier Booker, Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6-11 PF
2021: Jalen Duren, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-10 C
2020: Jabari Smith, Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) 6-10 PF (Festival)
2019 (co): Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 G
2019 (co): Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) 7-0 C
2018: Charles Bassey, Aspire Academy (Louisville, Ky.) 6-10 C
2017 (co): Cole Anthony, Archbishop Malloy (Queens, N.Y.) 6-2 PG
2017 (co): Charles Bassey, St. Anthony (San Antonio, Texas) 6-10 C
2016 (co): Trevon Duval, API (Dallas) 6-2 PG
2016 (co): Michael Porter Jr., Father Tolten (Columbia, Mo.) 6-9 SF
2015 (co): Rawle Alkins, Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 6-5 SG
2015 (co): Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 6-5 SG
2014 (tri): Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-3 PG
2014 (tri): Tyler Dorsey, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6-5 SG
2014 (tri): Stephen Zimmerman, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 7-0 PF
2013: Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-7 SF
2012: Cliff Alexander, Currie (Chicago) 6-9 PF
2011: Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 6-6 WF
2010: Myck Kabongo, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 6-2 PG
2009: Harrison Barnes, Ames (Ames, Iowa) 6-7 WF
2008: John Wall, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-3 PG
2007: Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-1 PG
2006: James Harden, Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) 6-5 SG
2005: Davon Jefferson, Lynwood (Calif.) 6-8 WF
2004: CJ Miles, Skyline (Dallas) 6-6 WF
2003: Robert Swift, Bakersfield (Calif.) 7-0 C

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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With the grassroots event calendar getting tighter each summer because of the voluminous number of event across the country and abroad, it would be easy to focus on the elite national level talent who were unable to participate at the 2024 Pangos All-American Camp do to event conflicts or other issues, but what that accomplished from the "half full" perspective was create opportunities for other hungry college-bound players.

The Pangos All-American Camp is designed for national Top 150 prospects, but with the way college recruiting is set up nowadays with the robust NCAA transfer portal, colleges are not focused on high school players outside the Top 50 in credible national rankings, give or take 25 players. Not many of the rising seniors (2025) have committed to college yet where in year's past a handful would already by the time the event that traditionally tips-off summer commences.

Camp Director Dinos Trigonis invited some without the national fanfare but with the talent to take a legitimate shot at being considered a national Top 150 recruit.?

Incredibly, two players, one guard and one big man, came into the camp with zero offers but will leave with plenty of national buzz. And expect the offers to come, too. The guard was 6-foot-2 Darrell Brown Jr., a 2025 prospect out of West Nottingham Academy (Colora, Md.). In the first camp game, Brown's athleticism and explosive drives to the basket turned heads. However, as the game went, it wasn't hard to evaluate that his other skills were up to par too, as Brown is a deft ball-handler and can knock down the perimeter shot enough to keep defenses honest against playing him for the drive. He plays in the mold of former USC and NBA guard Robert Pack?by packing alot of punch around the rim in a small guard's body.

National scouts were a bit shocked to see Brown didn't have an official offer on the table. Which may be a first for a standout Pangos Camp player.

The post player who fell into the same offer category as Darrell Brown was 7-foot rising senior (2025) Tammar Brown of Rocktop Acadey (King of Prussia, Pa.). Now, there can be a variety of reasons why a player doesn't have an offer, especially with big men who develop in the later stages of their high school career. For the soft-spoken Brown, however, it isn't difficult to see he'll be a much improved player two years from now and has a chance to develop into a legit NBA prospect.

Tammar Brown's skill level is quickly catching up to his confidence and in the camp games he showed he can effectively compete with a deep group of camp bigs. He hit some nice turnaround shots and even a fall-away jumper with touch. Tammar Brown also does a good job of asking for the ball in prime post position, runs well and has good length and a frame that gets NBA scouts to take notice.

Expect the offers for both Browns to roll in sooner rather than later.

There were other standouts who did come into the camp with some offers, but should see there list grow. That would include, first and foremost, 6-foot-10 Cody Peck, a rising junior (2026) out of Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.). Peck has tremendous versatility in his offensive game, from 3-point shot making capabilities to a nifty package of finger rolls and layups. Peck is light on his feet and is one of the best upside prospects in attendance at a camp with plenty of them.

Some of the other top upside prospects among big men who should see their recruiting grow include 6-foot-10 2025 Jayden Leverett of Chapin (El Paso, Texas), 6-foot-10 Collins Onyejiaka of Newman School (Boston, Mass.) and 7-foot 2026 Keiner Asprilla of Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

The wings and guards who fall into this category, among others, include 6-foot 2025 Miles Sadler of Canyon International Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.), 6-foot-5 2026 Dylan Mingo of Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), 6-foot-5 2026 Elias Obenyah of Salesian (Richmond, Calif.), 6-foot-7 2025 Robert Moore of AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), 6-foot-6 2025 Jayden Vance of Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and 6-foot-8 2026 Christian Collins of Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Trigonis focused on size to fill out the depth of his camp in order to give the 26 NBA teams who had their scouts in attendance something to log in their memory bank down the line. Many of them were no doubt impressed by the activity level and upside of 6-foot-9 2025 Oswin Erhunmwunse of Putnam Science Academy (Conn.) and 7-foot-1 2025 Xavion Staton of Sierra Vista (Las Vegas, Nev.). Erhunmwunse motor is non-stop and he has the most explosive vertical pop of any big man in attendance. Staton is a relentless shot blocker who isn't afraid to challenge shots outside his area and has a bit of a nasty streak to him, to go along with being a valedictorian level student. Staton was getting challenged plenty at the rim and won a majority of the battles.

There is already some anticipation for Erhunmwunse and Staton to square off in Tuesday's Cream of the Crop Top 30 All-Star Game reserved for the camp's top performers.

That game should also include a matchup of arguably the camp's top guards: 2024 All-American Elite Team member Maleek Thomas, a 6-foot-4 dynamo out of Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.), and 6-foot-5 2025 Brayden Burries of Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.). All of the desired matchups for the top all-star game have yet to be determined after two days of camp games, but it's a safe bet those two will be squaring up at some point on the camp's third and final day.

Some of the other "locks" include 6-foot-3 2025 Jerry Easter of La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), 6-foot-3 2026 Ikenna Alozie of Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), 6-foot-6 2025 Tounde Yessoufou of St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-foot-10 post-graduate Matt Gilhool of Penn Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) and his high school teammate, 6-foot-1 2025 Jake West.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

The post Breakout Performers At Pangos Camp! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Today, we take a look at five selections over the years we’d love to have back and five we are proud of.

The high school industry has changed plenty over the years. In the 1970s and 1980s, getting your name in the local paper was the IT thing. In the 1980s, USA Today helped mainstream national team rankings and All-American teams, but the national daily newspaper cut its high school editorial department in Dec. 2019. In the 1990s and 2000s, national magazines were all the rage. Getting on a national cover was hot and something many athletes aspired for such as the cover story of Student Sports Magazine. LeBron James and De La Salle (Calif.) football helped high school sports become something worthy of regular national telecasts, but All-American teams have been constant throughout going back to the 1950s.

Most of the ones produced in recent decades have been recruiting-oriented and many we’ve seen even had players on them that barely played half of their team’s game that season. We’re proud of the fact we take some time to research the players and what they actually accomplished and take some local consensus into consideration. We’re not perfect by any means, and today we decided to take a look back at the five best choices we made with our All-American Elite teams we’ve produced over the years, starting in Student Sports Magazine for the 1994-95 season. Those teams have also been published under the title sponsor of EA SPORTS and under the umbrella of ESPN and Ballislife as well.

Here’s a look at 10 defining moments of choosing our annual All-American Elite Teams.

5 All-American Choices We’d Love To Take Back

1. Mike Bibby Over Kobe Bryant For ’96 Mr. Basketball USA
There is no doubt Mike Bibby is the best high school player from Arizona (in terms of his career) and is probably still the state’s only "rock star" player, but he wasn’t a better talent that Kobe Bryant. Mike Bibby was a Student Sports Magazine cover subject and we had a compelling story to go along with the selection. Still, Bryant had a monster senior season after a terrific summer in 1995, when a plan was hatched to send him straight to the NBA. Sometimes, you have to just pick the best player. It should be noted that the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker began for the 2007-08 season and the voting results may have been different had a 10-man panel voted on it, instead of a group of journalists choosing.

2. Kawhi Leonard On ’09 Third Five
Now we’re cheating a bit here because having Kawhi Leonard on any All-American team in 2009 was a good call. It’s a somewhat famous snub that he didn’t play in the 2009 McDonald’s All-American Game. However, taking a deeper look at that team, Leonard should have been somewhere on the second five. The fact he was behind sophomore Michael Gilchrist of St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) or seniors John Henson of Sickles (Tampa, Fla.) is not awful, but is certainly not great, either. The 2009 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball out of King (Riverside, Calif.) averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game and led King to its second consecutive CIF Div. I SoCal regional final.

3. Blake Griffin On '07 Third Five
The class of 2007 was star-studded and one of the best of all-time. It certainly wasn’t easy to make All-American that season, but looking back Griffin should have been on second five. He was excellent in the McDonald’s All-American practices and game and it was easy to see he was more explosive and a better player than a few guys with more national notoriety or higher in national player rankings. Was Griffin a better high school player than either second five pick Corey Stokes of St. Benedict's (Newark, N. J.) or Gani Lawal of Norcross (Ga.)? Probably so.

4. Kemba Walker On ’08 Second Five
Willie Warren of North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) was a clutch player and state champion in Texas, but it was a close call to put him on first five. Now, we wish we would have went with the two point guard offense on first five with Walker and player of the year Brandon Jennings. At the McDonald's All-American game, Walker didn't take a backseat to any guard, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. He didn’t begin playing basketball until 12, but Walker developed into one of the many decorated floor generals to attend now defunct Rice (New York) and went on to an excellent college and NBA career.

5. Jalen Suggs On ’20 Second Five
He moved up from second team All-American (30 players) to the second of four fives (our first team has had a 20-player format since 2004-05). After a career that rivaled any Minnesota player ever, Suggs probably would have been the better first five choice than sophomore Emoni Bates, who had tons of hype that season and was even named Gatorade National Player of the Year. We didn’t think that highly of Bates, but he did have a terrific season, but Suggs was probably better and we should have employed a three guard offense with Mr. Basketball USA Cade Cunningham of Montverde Academy (Fla.) and Jalen Green of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.). At the time, Suggs was the highest-rated recruit ever to commit to Gonzaga and was also the nation’s top Grid-Hoop Player who was named the 2019 Minnesota Mr. Football as a signal-caller on the gridiron.

5 All-American Choices We’re Most Proud Of

1. Onyeka Okongwu On Fourth Five As A Junior In ‘18
The Chino Hills (Calif.) big man was terrific as a junior and we’re glad to honor him as a two-time All-American. He really deserved it and it’s still incredible to think he was a major omission from the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game. He showed how good he was in high school when one year later the two-time California Mr. Basketball was the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

2. Jalen Brunson On Second Five As A Senior In ’15
There is this narrative the Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) was overlooked in the NBA Draft or that he’s been “slept on” until joining the New York Knicks, but that narrative is from from the truth. This pick actually can fall in both categories, as we wish we placed him on first five. Brunson was that good for his high school team and on the grassroots circuit. Some just don’t know what they are looking at when evaluating if players don’t have the typical quickness or athleticism that stands out.

3. Draymond Green On Fourth Five As A Senior In ’08
This Saginaw (Mich.) big man wasn’t rated anywhere near the Top 20 on the 2008 class. In fact, he was rated No. 122 in the country by Rivals.com, but we could see he was a talented player and more importantly, a winner. Green led the Trojans to a second straight state Class A championship while posting a 27-1 record. He was named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball for his all-around play.

4. Anthony Davis On First Five As A Senior In ‘11
Well, it wasn’t a big evaluation coupe to have A.D. on first five. After all, he was probably the most talented player in the country after being a virtual unknown as a junior. He completely blew up on the travel ball circuit, but the problem was he didn’t have any momentum from previous seasons, Perspectives Charter (Chicago) was a small school playing against relatively meager competition and the team finished 6-18. The Mr. Basketball USA Tracker knew his talent was too much to ignore, as he appeared on eight of 10 ballots, including three second-place votes. His future Kentucky teammate Michael Gilchrist was the Mr. Basketball USA that season.

5. Jalen Duren On First Five As A Junior In ‘21
Montverde Academy (Fla.) lost four starters off its terrific 2020 team, but was still able to repeat as FAB 50 champs mainly behind the play of the nation’s most physically dominant interior player. He opened up the season as the eighth highest vote-getter in the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, but ended up third behind Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith in the final analysis. After being named national junior of the year, he re-classed up a year and left to Memphis.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

The post All-American Elite Team Retrospective appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

In Atlanta for session II, we focused much of our time on the younger age groups (16U and 15U), but since the younger groups were playing at a different location in Indy, we focused on the 17U division. We take a look at 10 players (primarily 17U) who are making strides on the court, which should pay off on the recruiting front in the weeks and months to come.

Heading into session IV next weekend (May 24-27) in Kansas City, Florida-based Nightrydas Elite is first place in the Merritt Conference while DMV-based Team Takeover and NorCal-based Oakland Soldiers are tied for first place in the Raveling Conference. All three teams sport 9-1 records.

Let's take a look at 10 players making strides in their game and helping their recruitment based on their play at Nike EYBL Session III in?Indianapolis:

2025

Silas Barksdale, Boo Williams 17U/Woodside (Newport News, Va.) 6-9 PF
This no non-sense performer does his job and doesn't worry a lot about the fanfare of the cameras and it's paying great dividends. Barksdale moves well without the ball in pick and roll situations and has a solid face up game.

C.J. Ingram II, Florida Rebels 17U/Hawthorne (Fla.) 6-5 SF
Grid-Hoop stud was his usual active self and played with an extra pop for the Steve Reece-coached team that is currently tied for second place behind the Nightrydas in the Merritt Division. Ingram attacks the rim with a vengeance and his skill is underrated considering the fact he quarterbacks Hawthorne's football team and spends time away from the game. He led both programs to FHSAA Class 1A state titles and is a key cog for a top-flight travel club program.

Jasper Johnson, Team Thad 17U/Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-4 SG
He's a top 10 national recruit, but Johnson just adds something to his game each time we evaluate him. The smooth lefty was attacking the paint and finishing with soft touch around the basket. There is just plenty to like about his overall ability.?

Brandon Lee, NY Rens 17U/The Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) 6-5 SG
He was terrific in Indianapolis and draws high praise from his travel ball coaches for his character and approach to the game. Lee has a nice pull up mid-range shot, drives hard to the rack and makes energy plays that helps his team win, as well. Lee is also a quality free throw shooter and defender. His offer count will go way up as the EYBL rolls along.?

Nyk Lewis, Team Takeover 17U/Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-1 PG
He was recently named an Underclass All-American, so it's not like Lewis isn't productive. He's physically prepared for the rigors of high level ball, steady and unflappable and one of the main reasons why Team Takeover is in position to challenge for its fourth Peach Jam title since the EYBL was formed in 2010. Lewis gets into the lane and makes the correct reads and is the type of guard colleges utilizes to make a deep NCAA Tourney run.

Ahziel "JoJo" McIver, Drive Nation 17U/Ellison (Killeen, Texas) 6-2 PG
Terrific mid-major prospect who could push to the next level if he keeps showing like he did in Indy. McIver has a nice perimeter game and does well beating defenders to the inside from either wing. McIver also has quick hands on defense and gets out in front of plays. Simply put, he's a winner.

Antonio Munoz, Meanstreets 17U/Whitney Young (Chicago) 6-6 SF
This athletic small forward can change the dynamics of a game with a spectacular finish around the rim. He cuts well and is a line-drive attacker who is a load to stop once he gets downhill. Munoz plays hard on both ends and is tracking to improve the level of his scholarship offers based on what we saw in Indianapolis.?

Tae Simmons, Why Not 17U/Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) 6-6 PF
This rugged forward may be a bit undersized for the high major level, but boy does he do things that help college coaches win and keep their job. He's relentless attacking the glass or going after an offensive rebound put back and doesn't need the ball of offense to make an impact. Many D1 colleges in Simmons' SoCal backyard should be all over him with an offer. ?

Dallas Washington, AZ Unity 17U/Santa Margarita (Calif.) 6-9 PF
He's found a nice niche on a team loaded with individual talent and is tracking upward. Washington also played on a talented high school team that was up and down in 2023-24, and his level of consistency wasn't where it needed to be. This spring, however, he's starting to put together a string of performances that have turned the heads of colleges coaches at the mid-major and high-major level. Washington is rebounding hard and finding his comfort zone on offense. ? ?

2026

Imahri Wooten, City Rocks NY 17U/Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Ct.) 6-5 SG
His explosiveness jumps out right away and Wooten has a versatile offensive package. Wooten's game is maturing and he can keep defenders honest with his outside shooting. In fact, he reportedly went 6-of-7 from 3-point range in one contest and in another game we evaluated, he dominated with an array of offensive moves. The way he's tracking, Wooten should be a serious McDonald's All-American candidate in 18 months.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

The post Indy NIKE EYBL: Making Strides! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Related: 2023-24 All-American Elite Team | 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg ?| 2023-24 Underclass Players of the Year | Ballislife Podcast Network?|

Ten juniors named to the 30th Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 75 elite players selected to the 2023-24 Underclass All-American team powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Power forward Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and dynamic junior wing A.J. Dybansta lead the way among underclass players who stood out among the nation’s best players. In fact, Boozer and Dybansta were two of the four leading voter getters in the final 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker with both appearing on all 10 ballots. Boozer finished in third place with 78 points, including two second place votes and six third place votes. Dybansta finished with 55 points (out of 100 possible), including one second place vote and two fourth place votes.

Boozer’s and Dybansta’s production and notoriety shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the son of former 1999 All-American Elite Team member and NBA player Carlos Boozer was the first tenth-grader ever to earn Mr. Basketball USA honors in 2022-23. Boozer has a chance to earn class Player of the Year honors in each of his four high school seasons. Dybansta was the top honoree on a team with three McDonald’s All-American choices after re-classifying up in the off-season. Dybansta was on the freshman All-American honor roll in 2022-23 and is considered one of the best prospects in the world outside the NBA.

While Boozer was the nation’s best player in 2022-23 as a sophomore, there were three other highly-regarded tenth-graders that are repeat honorees on this year’s All-American Elite Team. Cooper Flagg of FAB 50 champ Montverde Academy of Florida re-classed up to the 2024 class and was named this year’s Mr. Basketball USA. Repeat third five selection Koa Peat of Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) and repeat fourth five selection Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.) have won five state titles between them with one season to go.

Five more juniors were selected to the 30-man second team. No sophomore made this year’s All-American Elite team, but the 2026 class is developing into a special one. There were 30 standout tenth-graders selected as Underclass All-Americans, led by player of the year Jalen Montonati of Owasso (Okla.), and at least a dozen other worthy players who were deserving to make this year’s underclass honor roll.

Each season, players classifying up in order to speed up the recruiting process or transfer in hopes the move will be more advantageous to their development and this off-season is no different. There will also be some who seek a transfer to put themselves in better position to secure Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals. In most states, it is not illegal or against state association rules to sign an endorsement deal, provided that endorsement is not facilitated with the athlete wearing or promoting garments or items trademarked by the state association or the NCAA.

Already it’s been announced that junior wing Hudson Greer will transfer to defending FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy and sophomore guard Kaden House (along with his highly-regarded brother Kalek House) will transfer from their public high school in Arizona to join AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), which is part of the same EYBL Scholastic League that Montverde Academy competes in.

Expect more player movement as the travel ball season and summer rolls on.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based squad with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the Underclass All-American Team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.

Our national coach of the year is Jim Baker of Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.).

Juniors to Watch (2025)

G — Darius Acuff, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-2
F — Kenyon Aguino, Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 6-7
F — Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9
C — DeWayne Brown, Hoover (Ala.) 6-10
G — Brayden Burries, Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 6-5
F — A.J. Dybantsa, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-7
G — Jerry Easter, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-5
G — Jeremiah Fears, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-3
G — Kingston Flemmings, Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 6-4
F — Hudson Greer, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) 6-6
F — D.J. Hall, Plano East (Plano, Texas) 6-7
F — Davion Hannah, Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.) 6-5
G — Jalen Haralson, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-7
F — Bryce Heard, Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Fla.) 6-5
F — Jamier Jones, Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 6-6
G — Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-2
G — Nyk Lewis, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-0
G — Chance Mallory, St. Anne’s-Bellfield (Charlottesville, Va.) 5-9
G — Trey McKenney, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 6-3
G — Kayden Mingo, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-1
C — Malachi Moreno, Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) 7-0
F — Koa Peat, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 6-7
G — Darryn Peterson, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 6-5
C — Xavion Staton, Sierra Vista (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-11
C — Moustapha Thiam, DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 7-1
G — Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) 6-3
F — Cameron Ward, Largo (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 6-7
F — Jacob Wilkins, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 6-7
F — Caleb Wilson, Holy Innocents (Atlanta, Ga.) 6-9
F — Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5

2024 National Junior of the Year: Cameron Boozer

Sophomores to Watch (2026)
F — Latrell Almond, John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) 6-8
G — Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 6-3
F — J.J. Andrews, Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, Ark.) 6-5
G — Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth (Calif.) 6-6
F — Cole Cloer, Orange (Hillsborough, N.C.) 6-6
G — Korie Corbett, Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) 6-4
F — Alexander Costanza, Westminster Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-8
G — Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood (Calif.) 6-2
C — Moustapha Diop, Walker (Marietta, Ga.) 6-10
C — Sam Funches, Germantown (Madison, Miss.) 6-10
F — Kendre Harrison, Reidsville (N.C.) 6-8
G — Jayden Hodge, St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) 6-6
G — Cam Holmes, Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.) 6-5
G — Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) 6-5
G — Kaden House, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-3
G — Jacob Lanier, Maumelle (Ark.) 6-5
G — Taylen Kinney, Newport (Ky.) 6-0
F — Brannon Martinsen, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-8
G — Brandon McCoy Jr., St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6-4
G — Mason Magee, Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-0
F — Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Okla.) 6-7
G — Jayden Moore, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 6-0
G— Dionte Neal, Reidsville (N.C.) 5-9
G — Trent Perry, Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) 6-3
G — Nas Price, Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas) 6-3
F — Dean Rueckert, Timpview (Provo, Utah) 6-6
G — Jordan Smith Jr., Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-4
F — Tyran Stokes, Prolific Prep (Napa. Calif.) 6-7
F — Abdou Toure, Notre Dame (West Haven, Conn.) 6-6
F — Sebastian Wilkins, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 6-8

2024 National Sophomore of the Year: Jalen Montonati

Freshmen to Watch (2027)
G — Javon Bardwell, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-4
G — Jacob Canton, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) 6-2
G — Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.) 6-1
G — Cayden Daughtry, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 5-11
G — Silas Graham, Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.) 6-4
F — Ahmad Hudson, Ruston (La.) 6-6
F — Dooney Johnson, Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-5
G — Tre Keith, Tri-Cities (East Point, Ga.) 6-3
F — Josh Leonard, Wilson (Florence, S.C.) 6-6
F — Jaylan Mitchell, Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 6-7
G — Jordan Page, Broughton Magnet (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-5
F — Jeremiah Profit Jr., Temecula Valley (Temecula, Calif.) 6-5
F — Gene Roebuck, La Mirada (Calif.) 6-5
F — Taj Saragba, Woodstock (Ga.) 6-7
G — Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook (Ill.) 6-2

2024 National Freshman of the Year: Jaylan Mitchell

2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.

National Coach of the Year: Jim Baker, Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.).

Note: ESPN selections 2010-2012; EA SPORTS selections 2003-2009; Student Sports selections prior to 2003; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships. The editors of www.ebooksnet.com do not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, Mr. Basketball USA or to its various All-American teams.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

The post 2023-24 Underclass All-American Elite Team appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Related: 2023-24 Underclass All-American Elite Team | 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg ?| 2023-24 Underclass Players of the Year | Ballislife Podcast Network?|

The 2023-24 All-American Elite Team, now published for the 30th consecutive season and on the www.ebooksnet.com platform for the tenth year, includes 41 of the nation’s best seniors, led by 2024 Mr. Basketball USA Cooper Flagg of FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy and 10 talented juniors.

Flagg and five juniors, including class player of the year Cameron Boozer of FAB 50 No. 2 Columbus (Miami), headline the 20-player overall first team. ??There are eight repeaters off the 2022-23 All-American Elite Team, including six who made first team. Boozer is a repeat first five choice and was the 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA as a sophomore, the first ever tenth-grade honoree. Flagg, who was classified as a sophomore last season, moved up from the second five to earn Mr. Basketball USA honors as a senior in his third year of playing high school basketball. Two other 2022-23 sophomores earning repeat All-American honors as juniors are third five selection Koa Peat of FAB 50 No. 22 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) and fourth five selection Maleek Thomas of Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.). Both Peat and Thomas led their teams to state titles in 2023-24.

Kansas-bound big man Flory Bidunga of Kokomo (Ind.) moves up from third five to second five and Texas-bound Tre Johnson of FAB 50 No. 6 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) repeats as second five honoree. Johnson was last season’s national junior of the year at Lake Highlands (Garland, Texas).

There are three players off last season’s 30-player second team who earned All-American status, including Rutgers-bound first five choice Dylan Harper of FAB 50 No. 19 Don Bosco Tech (Ramsey, N.J.), a scoring guard that challenged Flagg for Mr. Basketball USA honors. Two second team repeaters helped Montverde Academy make history with four All-Americans choices off this year’s roster, the first time ever one program has had more than three players honored not only in the last 30 years, but including our retroactive picks dating back to the 1954-55 season.

UCONN-bound Liam McNeeley averaged 12.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg and 1.1 spg while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line for the FAB 50 champions. Meanwhile, Baylor-bound point guard Rob Wright averaged 12.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.0 apg and 1.2 spg while shooting 42.8 percent from 3-point range on a team that not only included the eventual Mr. Basketball USA choice, but another first five performer in Maryland-bound Derik Queen.

All underclassmen are eligible for All-American Elite Team selection. No sophomore was selected and in 30 seasons of publishing annual All-American teams (plus the retroactive teams), no freshman has ever made the first team.

Our national coach of the year is Jim Baker of Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.). The Vikings finished No. 12 in the FAB 50 and own the nation's longest winning streak at 65 games.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based All-American team with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the All-American Elite team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.
This honors squad has been chosen in its current format since the 1994-95 season and is powered by www.ebooksnet.com for the tenth consecutive season. This team is chosen regardless of class and is not exclusive or preferential to seniors chosen for national all-star games.

2023-24 All-American First Team

First Five

G — Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Tech (Ramsey, N.J.) 6-4 Sr.
One of four juniors to make the second team in 2022-23, one left for college early, two repeated and Harper catapulted to serious national player of the year candidate as a result of a monster season that included individual and team success. The powerful guard averaged 22.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 2.7 apg for a team that captured the New Jersey Non-Public A state title with a 29-3 record. Harper went for 38 points and eight rebounds in the North Jersey Non-Public A title game for a team that finished No. 19 in the FAB 50. With his size, change of pace and explosiveness, Harper was the most dominant guard in the country and displayed his talent in the post-seasons all-star games. He was named co-MVP of the McDonald's All American Game with 22 points and five assists. He also made the game-winning shot in the Jordan Brand Classic and finished with a game-high 30 points. His production led him to two first-place votes in the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker and 86 points, second only to eventual honoree Cooper Flagg. He will join fellow first five selection Ace Bailey at Rutgers.

F — Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.
Even though he only put up modest numbers last season (9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.2 bpg) it was readily apparent he was one of the nation’s best players as a sophomore for the nation’s No. 2 team. Flagg re-classed up to the 2024 class and took his game one step further as a senior, leading an unbeaten club that was expected to be the nation’s best to the FAB 50 title with a 33-0 record. Flagg led a team that recorded 24 wins over ranked teams by dominating with his defensive prowess and shot-making ability. After becoming only the third sophomore to earn first or second five All-American honors in the last ten years, Flagg received eight of 10 first place votes to become Montverde Academy’s fifth Mr. Basketball in 10 seasons. For the season, Flagg averaged 16.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.7 bpg and 1.6 spg while being named EYBL Scholastic League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. ??*

F — Airious Bailey, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 6-9 Sr.
Put it all together in a memorable senior season that saw him lead the Indians to a 26-6 mark and No. 24 FAB 50 ranking. Some recruiting experts feel “Ace” has the best long-term potential of any senior, and his production wasn’t too shabby, either. Against rugged competition, Bailey averaged 32.5 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.4 bpg. He not only finished as a top five vote-getter in the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, he was named Georgia Mr. Basketball by sandysspiel.com. Headed to Rutgers along with good friend and fellow first five selection Dylan Harper, Bailey was named a McDonald’s All-American and also participated in the Nike Hoop Summit, where he recorded 14 points and six rebounds for Team USA.

F — Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9 Jr.
Already named National Junior Player of the Year, Boozer didn’t repeat as Mr. Basketball USA, but he was one of four players to appear on all ten final ballots of the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker. It’s nearly impossible to meet expectations after becoming the first sophomore ever to earn national player of the year honors, but Boozer was just as dominant as a junior. He led the Explorers to their third consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state title and No. 2 final FAB 50 ranking. Columbus couldn’t get over the hump vs. Montverde Academy in two attempts, but did beat No. 3 Paul VI (Va.). Boozer had 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals vs. Paul IV, 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in the first game vs. MVA and 29 points and seven rebounds in the second contest. For the season, Boozer averaged 22.2 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, and 2.1 bpg while shooting 62 percent from the field (234-378), 41 percent from the 3-point line (43-105) and 82 percent from the free throw line (155-188). He has a chance next season to become the first three-time first five choice since LeBron James in 2001-2003.

C — Derik Queen, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.
This year’s MVA team will ultimately be compared to the program’s 2019-20 juggernaut, and for the second time in five seasons, the Eagles place two players on the first five. That season, Mr. Basketball USA Cade Cunningham was complimented by Scottie Barnes, who did a bit of everything for one of the best teams of all-time. Before that duo, you have to go all the way back to 1974-75 with future NBA players David Greenwood and Roy Hamilton at Verbum Dei (Los Angeles) to find a pair of teammates selected first five Elite All-Americans. Queen was this team’s Swiss-Army-Knife in that he could contribute in a variety of ways, but was also the Eagles’ leading scorer (16.4 ppg). With his unselfishness and dominance around the basket, the Maryland bound big man added 7.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg and just under a block per game for a 33-0 club. In displaying how important his role was, Queen shot 68.3 percent from the field (while only attempting three 3-pointers all season) and 79 percent from the free throw line. Many felt Queen was the most dominant player at the City of Palms and he also put forth a MVP performance at the McDonald's All-American Game with 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Second Five

G — Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 6-3 Sr.
?Highly regarded coming into high school, Fland produced each season and saved his best for last. With his speed and body control, Fland’s play-making ability from the lead guard was a sight to behold, as he was basically unstoppable in stretches and still unselfish. He led Stepinac to the New York Catholic League title, posting norms of 19.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.6 apg and 2.4 spg for the No. 18 team in the FAB 50. He had a 43-point, 11-rebound playoff game vs. rival Christ the King (Middle Village) and was named New York Mr. Basketball for his outstanding play. Fland was also named all-CHSAA for the third straight season and the Class AAA Player of the Year. He went for 17 points, five rebounds and three assists in his team’s comeback victory at the McDonald’s All-American Game.

G — V.J. Edgecombe, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-5 Sr.
On a talented team that competed for the FAB 50 national title, Edgecombe was the leader on both ends of the floor and arguably the most talented two-guard in the country. With his shot making ability and spectacular defensive plays that often included clutch steals or a highlight block, Edgecombe led LuHi to a second place finish in the EYBL Scholastic League with a 10-2 mark and No. 4 finish in the FAB 50. He was named first team all-league for the second consecutive season and finished with norms of 17.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 2.3 spg. Bound for Baylor, Edgecomb scored 17 points for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit.

G — Tre Johnson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-5 Sr.
If V.J. Edgecombe is not the top off-guard in the country, then Johnson surely is. His sweet-shooting touch was on full display at the McDonald’s All-American Game, where he knocked down 5-of-7 3-pointers and had 17 points. One of the toughest checks in the country and a repeat second five choice, both Johnson and Edgecombe appeared on five of 10 ballots in the final Mr. Basketball USA voting. After earning National Junior Player of the Year honors at Lake Highlands (Garland, Texas) last season, Johnson led Link Academy to a berth in Chipotle Nationals, where it defeated Prolific Prep in the first round of the event and finished 26-7. Johnson, bound for Texas, averaged a team-high 15.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 3.6 apg for the No. 6 team in the FAB 50. He finished the season shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and 89.1 percent from the free throw line.

F — A.J. Dybantsa, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-7 Jr.
On a talent-laden team with three McDonald’s All-American choices, it was the highly-regarded junior that was the team’s leading player. He was listed as a freshman in 2022-23, but re-classified into the 2025 class in the off-season and some feel he’s the best overall prospect not only in the class, but regardless of class. Prolific Prep battled injuries to many of its best players, but Dybansta was the most consistent, and dynamic player, capable of carrying the team or turning around a big game with his vast offensive arsenal. Originally from Brockton, Mass., Dybansta led a 33-6 team that finished No. 7 in the FAB 50 and only lost two games at full strength. He joined Cameron Boozer as the only two juniors to appear on every ballot of the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker after finishing with a team-high 21.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg (also team-high) and 3.5 apg.

C — Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.) 6-10 Sr.
After being the second leading vote-getter on the Indiana A.P. All-State team as a junior, he was named Mr. Basketball of the state as a senior, out-distancing Purdue-bound guard Jack Better of Brownstown Central in points, 198-122. Bidunga also tied for No. 8 on the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker with fellow second teamer Tre Johnson and moves up from the third five as a junior when he led the Wildkats to their first state title game appearance since 1989. This season, the McDonald’s All-American selection averaged 19.0 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 3.2 apg and 4.4 bpg in leading Kokomo to the Class 4A regional finals. Bidunga is not only a terrific defender and shot blocker, he’s one of the most efficient offensive players in high school basketball history. After making 81 percent (207-263) of his shots from the field as a junior, he converted 236-of-290 shots (81.4 percent) as a senior and shot 80.3 percent from the field in his three-year career. The Congo native was a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year and finished his career with 1,609 points, 1,132 rebounds and 402 blocked shots. Bidunga posted six triple doubles, including three as a senior, and 49 double-doubles the past two seasons.

Third Five

G — Travis Perry, Lyon County (Eddyville, Ky.) 6-2 Sr.
Not only is Perry one of the most accomplished players on this year’s Elite team, he’s now a Bluegrass Folk Hero after leading Lyon County to a Sweet 16 title and No. 47 FAB 50 ranking. He led a program where 277 students attend the school to a 36-3 mark and scored 27 points in the state title game to earn Sweet 16 MVP honors. For the season, the future Kentucky Wildcat averaged 29.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.0 apg, and 3.9 spg while earning state Mr. Basketball honors while receiving 91 of 124 first-place votes. His career numbers are mind boggling, as Perry began playing with his Lyon County teammates in second grade and joined the varsity in seventh grade. Perry scored 5,481 points in 201 career games, while scoring in double figures in 196 of those games with four of those five single-digit games coming before ninth grade. He also made career 712 3-pointers.

G — Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) 6-4 Sr.
Emotional leader and clutch play-maker for a team that won CIF section and state crowns and finished No. 8 in the FAB 50. Perry actually led Harvard-Westlake to back-to-back CIF open crowns and averaged 18 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.8 apg and 1.2 spg as a senior for a 33-3 club. Even more than his averages, Perry was clutch for the Wolverines in their biggest games, as he had a open division record 10 assists in the 2023 CIF state final vs. Santa Maria St. Joseph to go along with 16 points and eight rebounds, while scoring his team’s last six points after trialing 45-44, in this season’s state final. Perry was named California Mr. Basketball for his efforts and was this season’s CIFSS Open Division Player of the Year. He’s a two-time all-state choice and two-time Mission League Player of the Year. The UCLA recruit led led Harvard-Westlake to a 108-15 mark against rugged competition and is headed for UCLA.

F — Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) 6-7 Sr.
?In a strong year for teams and individual talent in North Carolina, Evans stood out among the best players, earning state player of the year honors from the N.C. Basketball Coaches Association. He’s one of the country’s most dynamic talents and offensive players, capable of carrying his team when necessary. He led North Meck to a 30-3 mark and the NCHSAA Class 4A title and along the way scored a season-high 48 points, including 21 consecutive in the third period, in a state quarterfinal victory over FAB 50 ranked Myers Park (Charlotte). For the season, the Duke recruit averaged 27.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.2 apg and 2.3 spg and was selected top play in the McDonald’s, Jordan Brand and Nike Hoop Summit all-star games.

F — Darren Harris, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-5 Sr.
His resume is much like his PVI teammate last year, Deshawn Smith-Harris, who was also a third five selection. Harris was MVP of the prestigious Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and led his team to the VISAA D1 state title (its third straight) as well as the WCAC regular season (15-0) and tourney title. This team was expected to compete for a FAB 50 title and did, advancing to the Chipotle Nationals title game with Harris leading the way by averaging 24.0 ppg, including 36 in the first round win over IMG Academy. For the season, Harris averaged 17.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.1 apg and 2.0 spg for one of the most balanced and talent-laden teams in the country. He’ll join Mr. Basketball USA Cooper Flagg and fellow first team All-Americans Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel at Duke.

F — Koa Peat, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 6-8 Jr.
A repeat third five selection, Peat has a terrific chance to supplant 1996 Mr. Basketball USA Mike Bibby as the most accomplished player the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) has ever produced. The AIA open division started in Peat’s sophomore season and he scored 35 points in the title game win over Sunnyslope of Phoenix. In this season’s open title game, he went for 21 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to help his team overcome a 17-point deficit to defeat Millennium (Goodyear). Perry won the Class 6A crown in 2021-22 and is 14-0 in the playoffs the past three seasons with this powerful forward in the lineup. He’s already been a two-time Gatorade State POY and enters his senior season with 1,649 points. Peat, also an accomplished player for USA Basketball who will look to earn a third gold medal later this summer at the FIBA 17U World Cup, posted season averages of 20.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 2.2 bpg as Perry finished 24-6 and No. 22 in the FAB 50.

Fourth Five

G — Mercy Miller, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 6-3 Sr.
This sweet shooting guard received plenty of attention during the season for his lack of respect in national player rankings, even though he’s the son of a celebrity (rap mogul Master P). He’s been on our radar for years as a talented prospect and put it all together in a monster senior season in which he became the first Notre Dame player to score 1,000 points or more in a season. Miller was one of the nation’s best two-guard scorers (28.8 ppg), an instinctual rebounder (9.3 rpg) and unselfish in knowing when to get teammates involved or take over a game. Despite facing defenses that sold out to stop him, Miller was at his best in big games, and in any five-game sample from Notre Dame’s 31-4 season Miller's averages would be nearly identical to his season averages, including the eight state ranked teams the Knights faced. Miller had 29 points in the win over state No. 1 Harvard-Westlake and 33 in the loss in the Mission League final to the same team and was considered the runner-up for state Mr. Basketball to third five pick Trent Perry. After leading Notre Dame to the CIF Southern Section D1 crown, he was named his section’s D1 Player of the Year and chosen to the L.A. Times All-Star Team. He’s headed to Houston.

G — Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) 6-3 Jr.
A repeat fourth five selection, Thomas’ season was on par with what he accomplished as a sophomore: fantastic outings for a 27-3 team that finished No. 19 in the East Region Top 20. A top five recruit in his class, many in West Pennsylvania are hoping he joins his good friend and teammate Brandin Cummings at Pitt. As a sophomore, Thomas was named Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player of the Year and this season he and Cummings (22.8 ppg) shared the honor after leading Lincoln Park to back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A titles. Known for his competitive nature and clutch play, Thomas averaged 22.7 points and 10.4 rebounds for a team that won its last 20 games. Cummings (who averaged 29.8 ppg in the PIAA playoffs) finished with 2,224 career points, while Thomas enters his senior season with 1,750.

F — Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-6 Sr.
Led his team to a perfect 30-0 mark and No. 10 FAB 50 ranking by getting teammates involved or taking over when he had to. Knueppel saved this best for last, posing 11 points and 11 assists in the WIAA D2 state title game win over three-time defending state champ Pewaukee. For the season, Knueppel averaged 25.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 5.3 apg and was named WBCA state Mr. Basketball in the process. For his career, Knueppel racked up 1,978 points, 808 rebounds and 398 assists, while Wisconsin Lutheran posted a 99-11 four-year mark. Knueppel is part of a Duke recruiting class that includes four first team selections, including Mr. Basketball USA Cooper Flagg.

F — Morez Johnson, Thorton (Harvey, Ill.) 6-9 Sr.
One of the nation’s most dominant interior players, Johnson made the most of his only season in a Wildcats’ uniform, leading Thorton to a 29-5 mark and the Class 3A Super-Sectionals. Johnson produced each night despite defenses geared to stop him, posting 29 double-doubles. He finished the seasons with norms of 17.2 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.4 bpg and 2.6 spg. For his efforts, Johnson was named Gatorade State POY and voted state Mr. Basketball by coaches and the media. This season was the third time he was named a first team IBCA all-state selection, with the first two all-state nods coming at St. Rita of Chicago. He had eight points, four rebounds and blocked a shot off the bench for Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit.

C — Caleb Wilson, Holy Innocents (Atlanta, Ga.) 6-9 Jr.
One of the top 2025 prospects in the country, Wilson is a versatile talent who had a breakout junior campaign. Wilson can dominate the game in various fashions and is capable of triple-doubles with assists or blocked shots in any game he plays. For the season, Wilson averaged 20.8 ppg, 14.6 rpg, 4.7 apg and 4.4 bpg for a Holy Innocents team that finished 26-7 as the Class AAAA runner-ups. For his efforts, Wilson was named first five all-Georgia and the Class AAAA Player of the Year.

2023-24 All-American Second Team

G — Darius Acuff, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-2 Jr.
G — Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) 6-4 Sr.
G — Brayden Burries, Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 6-5 Jr.
F — K. Annor Boateng, Central (Little Rock, Ark.) 6-5 Sr.
F — Jacob Cofie, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) 6-9 Sr.
G — Brandin Cummings, Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) 6-3 Sr.
F — Donnie Freeman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-8 Sr.
G — Gicarri Harris, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 6-4 Sr.
F — Matthew Hodge, St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) 6-8 Sr.
F — Jaxon Johnson, Alta (Sandy, Utah) 6-9 Sr.
F — Jamier Jones, Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 6-6 Jr.
F — Ryan Jones Jr., The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 6-8 Sr.
G — Cooper Lewis, Lehi (Utah) 6-2 Sr.
F — Jackson McAndrew, Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) 6-9 Sr.
G — Trey McKenney, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 6-3 Jr.
F — Liam McNeeley, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 Sr.
G — Paul McNeil, Richmond Senior (Rockingham, N.C.) 6-5
G — Juni Mobley, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 6-0 Sr.
F — Josiah Moseley, Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) 6-8 Sr.
F — Trent Noah, Harlan County (Baxter, Ky.) 6-6 Sr.
G — Ahmad Nowell, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-0 Sr.
G — Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) 5-11 Sr.
G — Labaron Philon, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-4 Sr.
F — Billy Richmond, Camden (N.J.) 6-6 Sr.
F — Cameron Scott, Lexington (S.C.) 6-6 Sr.
C — Thomas Sorber, Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-9 Sr.
F — Bryson Tucker, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) 6-6 Sr.
F — Dylan Warlick, Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 6-6 Sr.
G —Robert Wright II, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-1 Sr.
F — Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5 Jr.

Related: 2023-24 Underclass All-American Elite Team | 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg ?| 2023-24 Underclass Players of the Year | Ballislife Podcast Network?|

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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As far as the travel ball clubs on the 17U circuit go, there is only one 6-0 team in the Merritt Division and that's California-based Why Not 17U. Coached by Reggie Morris Jr., Why Not upped its record heading into the EYBL's Live Period Session III in Indianapolis (May 17-19) with a 71-66 comeback victory over Strive For Greatness 17U in an all-California Sunday showdown. The star of the game was 6-foot-5 2025 wing Tounde Yessoufou, who had the most energy of all 10 players on both ends of the floor, hit a variety of shots and made some big defensive plays en route to a 26-point performance. He made 9-of-10 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws vs. Strive and is unofficially tied for first in 17U scoring with 6-foot-6 2025 wing Xzavion Mitchell of Wisconsin-based Team Herro at 25.5 ppg.

Team Herro is one of three 6-0 teams in the Raveling Division, along with New England-based Expressions Elite and DMV-based Team Takeover.

For now, let's take a look at the top underclass performers and eye-catchers at Nike EYBL Session II:

2026

Austin Brown, JL3 Elite/Lufkin (Texas) 6-8 SF
This hard-nosed forward moves well without the ball and excels even though sometimes JL3 plays at a fast-pacedthat doesn't always suit Brown's best attributes. In the half court game, or a tight spot, this team knows who to get the ball to because Brown knows how to move without the ball and is such a terrific shooter. Brown was knocking down the 3-ball with regularity and is especially excellent off the catch.

Josiah Cannady, Team Durant 16U/St. Francis Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-3 PG
We loved his speed with the basketball and play-making ability.

Christian Collins, Why Not 16U/Westchester (Los Angeles) 6-8 SF
This wiry athlete played second fiddle on his previous high school team at St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, Calif.) to a talented graduating senior and Why Not 17s friend Tajh Ariza, who will join him at Westchester. From a national perspective, however, was his breakout event. We've known he was a high-major prospect for over a year and a half now, but he's added more coordination and maturity to his game, and is now hitting deep perimeter shots with ease. The son of 2002 McDonald's All-American DeAngelo Collins, Christian one game where he canned three consecutive 3-pointers and caught the attention of national scouts and even a few NBA brass.

Kendre Harrison, Team CP3 16U/Reidsville (N.C.) 6-7 PF
Former NBA player Austin Rivers made headlines earlier this week when he talked about NBA players' abilities to play in the NFL. We've been closely following the nation's top Grid-Hoopers for close to 40 years and even though his assessment was a bit off, there are still plenty of two-sport athletes that play high level basketball that could make a NFL roster. Harrison helped Reidsville to a 29-0 record and North Carolina Class 2A state crown and No. 39 Final FAB 50 ranking a few months after leading the football team to a state title in the same division. Harrison is the nation's top tight end prospect in his class, but boy, he's awfully fun to watch on the hardwood. Not only does he tear down the rim, he does everything with good timing and has great hands as one could imagine.

Andrew Hilman, Oakland Soldiers 16U/Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) 6-4 SG
The game is starting to slow down for this slashing wing player who was often the best player on a talent-laden Riordan team where multiple bench players have legit D1 offers. Hilman is a strider who can get in the lane with ease and loves to spin off defenders. He has good instincts and loves to jump lanes for easy run-out buckets. There may be some more naturally talented, but few played every possession as hard as this humble kid.

Jordan Hunter, Team Takeover 16U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-3 SG
An under control shooter with range and discipline. Hunter knows what a good shot is and where he wants to get in the half court setting.

Dylan Mingo, PSA Cardinals 16U/Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-4 PG
Repeatedly came up with strong drives to the basket and his talent level stands out. A well known player who is in store for a big summer.

Jordan Smith, Team Takeover 17U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-4 SG
Playing up, Smith was one of the standouts of the weekend, as Team Takeover remains unbeaten in EYBL play. He is the team's catalyst with his motor, physicality and skill. In fact, his combination of those three attributes might have been the best we saw in Atlanta. Smith is a ferocious on-ball defender and did a terrific job on The Family's Darius Acuff Jr. in a key win. Smith also has solid play-making skills to create and loves to take it down the middle for strong finishes or a monster flush.

Jahda Swann, New Heights Lightning 16U/Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-4
A sleeper who has plenty of long-term potential. Swann is just coming into his own and we liked what we saw with his outside shooting and sleek frame. Swann can knock down the corner shot, moves his feet well on defense, and is creative off the dribble. He's under the radar, but his teammate Oesoemana Sacko (6-8, 2026) might be the best 2026 prospect in NYC at St. Francis Prep (Queens, N.Y.).

Cameron Williams, Vegas Elite 16U/St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-10 PF
He may not dominate today, but boy, the potential is off the charts. Williams can face up and score and when the skill level and strength meet on the frame he possesses, he's going to be a legit NBA prospect. After last weekend, keen NBA scouts know who Williams is.

Clyde Walters, Nightrydas Elite 16U/Pinson Valley (Ala.) 6-7 SF
His team had an abundance of talent, but we wanted to point out his good feel on the basketball court. Walters has alot in his offensive bag with the ball.

2027

Brock Bass-Browner, Georgia Stars 15U/North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.) 6-7 PF
Athletic forward who knows what he is. Excels at finishing off off pick and rolls and has solid touch as a lefty big.

Anderson Diaz, NY Rens 15U/St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-1 PG
Of all the 15U games we evaluated, Diaz might have had the best burst with the ball from a stop-start position. His first step is great, but Diaz also seemed under control when we watched. Likes to get in the key with the ability to do it, then make a quick dish to either side for a quality shot.

Amir Dockery, New Heights Lightning 15U/Eagle Academy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PG
A throwback NYC point guard with all the trimmings and fixings on his plate: keeps the dribble alive with a crafty handle, gets through tight spaces, can split double teams and fishing with a strong lay-up package. Freshman starter for his high school team that captured the PSAL, title while he was named the Public League's freshman of the year.

Cole Holden, Why Not 15U/Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) 6-2 CG
This club was unbeaten until its last game on Sunday and it's easy to see why when you look of the makeup of the roster. The team uses teamwork and good ball-movement to punish foes and Holden is one of the ring-leaders. He and Why Not teammate Pierce Thompson (6-2, 2027) played JayVee for the CIF Open Division champions and it's easy to see how practicing against those experienced players is helping him on the 15U level. Holden is a confident ball-handler and once the game slows down for him, he's going to be a terrific contributor for one of the best high school programs on the West Coast. On this team, he has plenty of weapons around him and is learning when to attack and when to get them involved.

Jeremy Jenkins, FL Rebels 15U/Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 6-7 PF
His strength and skill at his age (turned 15 last month) stand out right away. He's physical and can handle the rigors of big-time ball. Already considered one of the nation's best prospects in the 2027 class. Jenkins' front court mate Jonathan Watts (6-8, 2027) also moves well and challenges shots at the rim.

Dooney Johnson, Team Herro 15U/Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-4 PG
We love the name and the game even more, as Johnson is one of the best 2027 prospects in the Midwest Region. He gets downhill in a hurry and can change direction well with the handle.

Gabriel Nesmith, Nightrydas Elite 15U/Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-6 SG
You will be hard-pressed to find a better performance by a 15U player than the one we saw from Nesmith on Saturday afternoon. It was only one game and we can't wait to evaluate Nesmith more, but within the first 10 seconds of watching him we knew what kind of talent he was and what level he'll eventually be recruited it. He hit a mid-court crossover and covered tons of ground to get in attack position in that time frame and his fluid body movements, approach and confidence stood out right away. Nesmith has the length you look for in a high-major wing and can shoot the deep ball out to 25 feet with ease. The mechanics and rhythm look great, too. Don't be surprised if he challenges for a top 3 spot in the 2027 class in the final rankings that matter at the end four years from now.

Marquis Newson, Team Final 15U/Sanford School (Hockessin, Del.) 6-3 SG
A team with an ubundance of individual talent that we liked, Newson is a high-level athlete who can get downhill with plenty of horizontal pop. He's a prototypical wing prospect with a high skill level that high majors will track down the line.

Babatunde Oladotun, Team Durant 15U/ Blake (Silver Spring, Md.) 6-8 SF
Oozing with potential and talent, some well-known evaluators peg this lanky wing as the top prospect in the 2027 class. He wasn't our production-based National Freshman of the Year, but we understand the sentiments of placing him at the top. There is still a long ways to go, but Oladotun obviously has the size and measurables to be a terrific and dominant high school player. At this level, he can dominate with array of shot-making skills, step backs and length. He needs to work on getting in a stance and taking the positive space in front of him, instead of relying on the negative space that he can have at any time against lesser talents.

Zaiyir Phillips, Team United 15U/Hunter Huss (Gastonia, N.C.) 5-10 PG
This lefty just keeps attacking until he gets to his spot on the floor. It's refreshing to see his skill level combined with his desire to make winning plays. Phillips is deft at the straight away jumper and shoots a high percentage off the catch. Phillips has the qualities coaches love in their young guards.

Delton Prescott, AZ Unity 15U/Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-0 PG
This quarterback helped a terrific high school team in the winter as a ninth-grader and is a leader on one of the best 15U teams in the country. Prescott is beyond his years when it comes to understanding and seeing a play ahead. He's also a terrific passer in various situations.

Clarence Rosser Jr., Team United 15U/Northern Nash (Rocky Mount, N.C.) 6-9 PF
He is the type of player that stands out right away with his length and size, but Rosser has already developed a nice array of skill. Rosser makes nice high post passes and has some patience in his attack. He can shoot the deep ball with confidence and his potential is off the charts. Once he learns how to take space and cover ground with the dribble, watch out as he'll be a Top 20 type prospect when it's all said and done. His front court teammate Charles Pur (6-9, 2027) is one to watch as well.

Jymin Veney, Tea Melo 15U/Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-3 SG
We love it when young players can get their feet under them on offense and stay in control off the dribble and Veney can do just that. He can play the lead or off the ball and is a terrific shooter, with a nice array of pull-ups. Keep an eye on him down the line.

2028

Adan Diggs, AZ Unity 15U/Arizona 6-4 SG
The state of Arizona is has an abundance of quality young players and Diggs is right up there as the best of the lot. He has terrific size and frame for his position, and moves well with our without the basketball. Diggs' athleticism is also high-major and he's a shot-maker with plenty of confidence. With natural progression, he'll be on the recruiting list of Blue Bloods in the future.

Jakyi Miles, Oakland Soldiers 15U/Arizona 6-3 CG
When one talks about scoring, some just had that innate feel and instinct for it and “KyiKyi” is one of the best. In fact, as a rising ninth-grader he's one of the best we've seen come down the pike in a long time. Last season he played on AZ Compass Prep's high school team and was probably good enough to play on the EYBL Scholastic team. He dropped 35 points in a game vs. Babatunde Oladotun and Team Durant and was terrific in the game prior that we also had a chance to evaluate. Miles had great ability to get by defenders while covering ground, can shake them with meaningful dribbles and already possesses a smooth pull-up game from mid-range that most elite high school players would kill to have in their arsenal. Sprinting into a pull-up is not easy and Miles already has that in his tool box. Watch out for Miles on the elite high school level.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Montve?rde, Fla.) 6-8 F
Flagg was the Gatorade State Player of the Year as a freshman at Nokomis Regional (Newport, Maine) before spending the last two seasons at Montverde Academy. He was one of the best players in the country last season as a sophomore when he came in No. 10 in the final 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker and earned second five Elite Team All-American honors. Flagg is one of the best shot-blocking small forwards to come down the pike in many years and his shooting is better than advertised. He shot 54.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range as a senior and has a vast array of shots from the elbow in.

Flagg is the third consecutive Mr. Basketball USA honoree from Florida and the second in three years from Montverde Academy that is headed to Duke, joining 2022 honoree Dariq Whitehead, who has played two games in the NBA so far. To view the full Mr. Basketball USA release, the Mr. Basketball Tracker voting results, and comments from Flagg's coach, CLICK HERE.

For all-time Mr. Basketball USA honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

2024 National Junior of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9 F
When it comes to this year's choice among juniors, it goes to show how expectations work and how each season is slightly different from the previous ones. Boozer, the son of 1999 second five Elite Team All-American Carlos Boozer of Juneau-Douglas (Juneau, Alaska), was only the fourth non-senior national player of the year last season and the first sophomore, but this season did not receive a first place vote in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker despite putting up similar numbers to his sophomore campaign. He was one of only four players to appear on all ten ballots after leading Columbus to its third consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state by posting averages of 22.2 ppg while shooting 62 percent from the field (234-378), 41 percent from the 3-point line (43-105) and 82 percent from the free throw line (155-188), 11.4 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2.1 bpg for the No. 2 team in the FAB 50. He also averaged 24.5 ppg in two losses against FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy of Florida. Boozer has been the class player of the year in each of his three seasons of high school and has a chance to be the first three time first five All-American since LeBron James in 2001. He's the first honoree in the junior class from Florida since Jalen Duren of Montverde Academy in 2021. Duren subsequently re-classified after that season to enroll at Memphis.

For all-time Junior Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

2024 National Sophomore of the Year: Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Okla.) 6-7 F

Last season it was easy to peg in Cameron Boozer as the chose among tenth-graders after earning national player of the year honors, but this year the race was closer among a strong group of candidates. Guards Brandon McCoy of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and Caleb Holt of Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) both did enough to deserve this honor, but the choice is Montonati, one of the most honor-laden talents so far in what is shaping out to be a terrific class. McCoy and Holt helped their team win state titles below the top division, but it was Montonati who helped his team win an Oklahoma state crown in the top division (Class 6A) by scoring 34 points in a 57-53 overtime victory over Edmond North.

For the season, the talented forward averaged 23.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.0 apg for a 26-4 team that finished No. 7 in the Southwest Regional Top 20 rankings. His all-around skill level is terrific at his size and despite being the focus of defenses, Montonati shot 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line. Montonati was also honored on the prestigious Oklahoman's Super 5 and was named Gatorade State Player of the Year, the first ever sophomore choice from Oklahoma. He also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2023 FIBA 16U AmeriCup and hopes to be part of another gold-medal wining team this summer at the 2024 FIBA World Cup in Turkey. Montonati is the first ever player from Oklahoma chosen in this class.

For all-time Sophomore Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

2024 National Freshman of the Year: Jaylan Mitchell, Reitz (Evansville, Ind.) 6-8 SF
The ninth-grade national class is showing great promise and its pecking order is still being established, but there are already a handful who've made a big impact on quality teams. In terms of combining best all-around talent with production, Reitz is our choice. The 15-year old helped make Reitz a competitive team in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC) by averaging 15.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg. 3.9 apg, 2.2 spg. He earned All-SIAC first team honors and is already considered one of the best players nationally in the class. The 15-year old stood out at the recent USA Basketball Mini-Camp, as he displayed a nice shooting touch with the ability to score in a variety of ways. In addition to his obvious physical talents, Mitchell makes the right reads and excels on the defensive end. He's the third ever freshman choice from the Hoosier State, joining North Central's Eron Gordon in 2013 and Indiana legend Damon Bailey from North Lawrence, who was already nationally known as a ninth-grader in 1987.

For all-time Freshman Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

2024 National Coach of the Year: Jim Baker, Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.).
The Vikings own the nation's longest winning streak at 65 games and the architect of the program is its veteran coach with 36 years of college coaching experience. Baker was a D1 assistant for 12 years and the head coach at Catawba College for 20 years. For the last seven seasons, he's been the head coach at Central Cabarrus and the program has qualified for the state playoffs the past five seasons. For the past three seasons the Vikings have been dynamite, winning three consecutive South Piedmont Conference Tournament titles and losing only one game.

With its 90-62 victory over 71st of Fayetteville, the Vikings captured their second consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Class 3A title, as D.J. Kent was named the game’s most valuable player with 20 points, nine rebounds, five steals, two assists and two blocks. With the victory, Central Cabarrus finished 33-0 and No. 12 in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings. The Vikings went 32-0 in 2022-23, finished No. 7 in the FAB 50 and have now won 95 of their last 96 games heading into the 2024-25 season under Baker's leadership.

Baker's teams are known for their terrific defensive concepts and fast-paced offense. In this year's state title game victory over 71st, Central Cabarrus scored 24 points off 24 turnovers and were credited with 15 steals. In his first season at the high school level in 2017-18, Central Cabarrus went 4-21, but the program got better each season to the point it reached a national level of success the past two years.

Baker is the first honoree from a NCHSAA program and the second ever from North Carolina, joining legendary Greensboro Day mentor Freddy Johnson, who was honored in 2016-17 and has nearly 1,200 coaching victories at the high school level.

For all-time National Coach of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores???

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RELATED:? 2023-24 Underclass POYs | Preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | All-Time Honorees?| Ballislife Podcast Network?|

For Cooper Flagg of Montverde Academy (Fla.), his unique talents coincide with his unique situation on the nation's best team. He starred with a group of players who were All-Americans in their own right, the Eagles started off No. 1 in the FAB 50 and were expected to dominate the 2023-24 high school scene. The team didn't skip a beat, finishing 33-0 and their individual talents were recognized by the 10-man Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel.

It could be easy to overlook individual brilliance on a team as talented as Montverde Academy, or to dismiss the success as simply stock-piling talent, but no less than four MVA players received recognition as national player of the year candidates. On a team with plenty of stars and in a year with plenty of viable candidates, Flagg stood out, topping the voting in the final tracker, and today is honored with the title of 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA.

"Cooper is not just a great player, he's an infectious leader with a work ethic and an approach that separates him from all players in his class," said Montverde Academy coach Kevin Boyle. "Cooper doesn't play basketball to score points or be popular; this kid plays the game to win and be a champion. There's no one like Cooper Flagg."

Flagg did have an abundance of talent around him and that is reflected in the final voting. Maryland-bound teammate Derik Queen finished sixth in the voting while appearing on eight of 10 ballots. UConn-bound wing Liam McNeeley and point guard Curtis Givens also were among 31 candidates who received recognition for the production-based national player of the year honor selected by Ballislife's 10-man panel of national scouts. Flagg was one of four candidates to appear on all ten ballots, an unusually high number at the end of the season.

Montverde Academy only had three games decided by single-digits, yet defeated 24 teams that were FAB 50 ranked at some point during the season, as individually Flagg met every challenge and performed well on the big stage. For the season, the Duke commit averaged 16.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.7 bpg and 1.6 spg, while shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range. At Chipotle Nationals, Flagg averaged 20.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg in three victories and blocked six shots in the title game win over No. 3 Paul VI (Va.).

"Flagg is the best 'player/prospect' out of the U.S. high school ranks in many years, perhaps since Anthony Davis," said panel member and U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Famer Frank Burlison. "He has the ability to be a dominant college player in every aspect of the game in what will be his only college season."

Flagg is the fourth Duke-bound Mr. Basketball USA, joining 1985 honoree Danny Ferry, 2018 choice RJ Barrett and Dariq Whitehead for the 2021-22 season. He is the fifth honoree from Montverde Academy in the past 10 seasons, joining Ben Simmons in 2015, Barrett, Cade Cunningham in 2020 and Whitehead. Boyle has now coached six national players of the year, as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the choice in Boyle's final season at St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) in 2010-11.

"Cooper understands the expectations that have been built around him and in his two years at Montverde, his skillset has developed to an advanced level," Boyle said. "Most of all the kid's success stems from his ability to compartmentalize and mentally prepare for the biggest moments, better than anyone."

Not only was Cooper able to separate himself from a crowded pack, what made this year's Mr. Basketball USA race so unique is that Flagg re-classified up during the off-season and last season's honoree, Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami, Fla.) was returning for his junior campaign after becoming the first tenth-grader ever to earn Mr. Basketball USA honors.

Flagg was a second five All-American Elite team selection as a tenth-grader, while Boozer earned top honors. Despite Boozer having another terrific campaign, Flagg's combination of talent and team success was the difference. Boozer was one of the four players to appear on all ten ballots, tallying 78 total points, but zero first place votes. He did receive two second-place and six third-place votes after averaging 22.2 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 bpg while shooting 62 percent from the field (234-378), 41 percent from the 3-point line (43-105) and 82 percent from the free throw line (155-188) for a team that won its third consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state title and finished No. 2 in the FAB 50.

"The gap between Boozer and Flagg as a 'prospect/player' is much slimmer than that between he and anyone below Boozer on my list, with each of 3-thru-10 almost interchangeable, depending on the time of day," Burlison said. "Almost “underrated” now – as crazy as that sounds – because of the elevation of the national perspective over the past year or so of Flagg and A.J. Dybansta."

Flagg tallied eight first place votes (10 points each), one second and one fourth place vote for his 96 total points. Only one other candidate received a first place vote, as Rutgers-bound point guard Dylan Harper received the other two that Flagg didn't receive after leading Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) to the New Jersey Non-Public A state title and No. 19 FAB 50 ranking with a 29-3 record. Harper closed strong, as he was named co-MVP of the McDonald's All American Game with 22 points and five assists and made the game-winning shot at the Jordan Brand Classic, finishing with a game-high 30 points.

The other prospect to appear in all 10 final ballots was another elite player who re-classed up in the off-season. A.J. Dybansta of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) is another super junior who could challenge Boozer for the most prestigious production-based honor in high school basketball in 2024-25. As this year clearly proved, each season is its own entity and the process will start all over again with a clean slate for each player once the 2024-25 season commences.

As far as 2023-24 goes, it's impossible to deny Flagg's talent and the impact it had on his team not tasting defeat from start to finish.

Editor's Note: Click on the "+" sign next to each player's number to view how many first, second, third or fourth place votes he got and his overall point total. Previous tracker results are also listed ("Prev.").

2022-24 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel

Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director of Basketball Recruiting
Frank Burlison, BurlisonOnBasketball.com Publisher
Van Coleman, Nothing But Net Magazine
Jordan Divens, Maxpreps.com National Basketball Editor
Ronnie Flores, www.ebooksnet.com National Grassroots Editor
Chris Lawlor, Blue Star Media National Analyst
Horace Neysmith, AllMetroHoops.com
Patrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood Basketball
Dinos Trigonis, Fullcourt Press Editor & Publisher
Ani Umana, 5StateHoopReport.com

About Basketball USA Tracker Panel
www.ebooksnet.com's panel of 10 experts, which includes six McDonald’s All-American selection committee members, casts its vote for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists his top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in the previous tracker.

For the all-time list of Mr. Basketball USA honorees, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Hudson Greer Trending Towards Being a Burger Kid
We are still months away, but every time I see Hudson Greer play he is one of, if not the top, standout. Every time one of the national rankings gets updated, he’s moving up. Greer has been one of the most consistent players in the country and as he continues to rise, we’ll eventually see his name on the back of a McDonald’s All American Jersey..

Is This The Year A Texas Program Wins Peach Jam?
Looking at the Nike EYBL rosters, specifically Drive Nation’s and JL3, I think we will see one, if not both, make a serious run at the 2024 Peach Jam Title. JL3 boasts a big-time roster with the core of Hudson Greer, Shelton Henderson, Sebastian Williams-Adams and Nigel Walls. Demorae Pritchett plays a major role, too, and is on the radar of D1 schools.

Henderson is a big guard that utilizes power and skill to score and play-make. Williams-Adams is a swiss army knife that accumulates near triple-doubles due to his effort, athleticism, feel for the game and just always being in the right position. Either that's to secure a rebound, score the ball by attacking closeouts or in transition, and Williams-Adams just doesn’t overthink his decision making. He and Henderson will rise in the national rankings as well. This JL3 squad can make a special run this season.

For Drive, this 2025 group has been in the mix for a title since they were playing 15U. Jaden Toombs, Jermaine O’Neal Jr., Leroy Kelly, JoJo McIver and Reggie Webster have been playing together for a while and the additions of point guard Jacobe Coleman and Des Jones gives the backcourt more depth and an offensive jolt needed to win in the EYBL. Toombs was good at USA Basketball, orchestrated sound performances in the EYBL Memphis Session as he’s a load in the paint with his footwork and touch with either hand around the rim. Can stretch from 12-15 feet and knock down jumpers. O'Neal is a wing that’s a good two-foot athlete that can defend multiple positions and, offensively, knocks down shots from deep. Kelly is as steady as they come at the guard spot. Makes shots from three, adequate ball mover and relocates to spots on the floor to create spacing and scoring opportunities for himself. Coleman is an athletic guard that can get to the paint and just provides a formidable scoring punch. Third time a charm this year for Drive Nation?

UAA: King Grace Wants To Re-Introduce Himself/Texas Impact Makes Splash
2025 King Grace is nationally known from the evaluators and the high major coaches, but saw a dip in the number beside him. Rankings are like stocks, however, they can bear (downward) or bull (upward), but it’s never permanent. Grace made a statement this past weekend in South Carolina. 30-point games, transition dunk after transition dunk, scoring in spot up situations plus off the dribble and more importantly going 4-0. I like stats and production, but I love winning and credit to Texas Impact and coach T.J. Thomas on the roster construction and the way he’s utilizing his players. More weekends like this for King Grace, he’ll see his name in higher tiers.

Texas Impact is playing fast, guys are moving the ball and players are helping themselves such as Steven Ramirez and David Iweze. Ramirez has developed a dependable 3-point shot and he’s knocking them down. Plus he hustles on the glass and overall knows how to play. Iweze is a post that has a lot of upside. Reliable hook shot and counters in the post, can rebound and attack and more physical on the glass.

Bryceson Melvin Keeps Rising/Max Levels Is In The Convo
I predicted the pop with Nic Codie last year before the circuit ball and I have another one for you this year. His name is Bryceson Melvin. 2025 class is deep in Texas, but Melvin will have himself in the top 10 convo soon and could go higher. 6’5 with a strong body, Melvin is a high-level midrange scorer and shooter from deep. The athleticism has grown, the handle is getting tighter (still has some work to do) but the way he scores it and plays translates. A high major prospect that will see himself in the national polls by the end of the summer. I won’t miss on this one!

This may be Max Level’s best overall I’ve seen with the program. They have size, depth, shooting and most importantly talent. Jayden Ramnanan is a strong built scoring point guard that when he gets hot, he’s scoring in bunches. Mixes speed and strength to get to spots when the defense is trying to apply pressure on him. A D1 prospect that has had a great start to the spring. Dorian Johnson of Eastern Hills is helping himself. Athletic four-man that’s a mismatch with his blend of inside/out scoring. Mbayde Babacar has improved a lot over the past year. Alters shots but a more reliable dump-off, dunker spot candidate when guards drive. Plus he’s 6’10 and knows how to use his height to his advantage now.

Cooz Elite Always Reload
It’s fun watching Cooz Elite play. Jason Tocabens is a state champion coach and has won with less. They play fast, physical and the players play with freedom, but don’t abuse it.

Tyran Rathan-Mayes has seen his recruitment pick up. A sturdy built 6’6 wing that shoots it from deep and is an adequate passer. Uses size advantages and will post-up smaller defenders. Ian Inman calling card is his shooting. Good elevation and quick getting off his hands. Very solid creating his own jumper and attacks closeouts to get to the mid-range pull. Jason Scott has come back from injury and is looking like his normal self. Attacking guard that’s persistent on getting to the teeth of the defense. Also like stretch big Evan Cochran and shooting 4-man Yohan Gutierrez.

YGC Big Addition Gave A Major Boost
YGC has a loaded roster. The duo of four-star Kayden Edwards and early season addition Chris Cenac provide a formidable presence. Edwards can score 30 points in any game. Lefty that’s a confident shot taker and fast with the ball. Cenac is a skilled big at 6’10 with face-up skills and plays above the rim inside. ‘24 Kole Williams deserves a shoutout. One of the best available prospects in 2024 as the 6’5 guard is a physical finisher at the rim, capable of making shots from deep and has a body ready for college basketball. Someone will eventually take the chance on him.

Front Court Duo To Keep Tabs Of
Jaylan Jackson (6’10) and Landon Brooks (6’8) - Triumph

Notable Prospects Not Listed Above That May Breakout During The May Live Period
Aiden Disu, 6’6 SF - ASAK ELITE
DJ Hall, 6’7 PF - Southern Assault
Caleb Steger, 6’4 SG - Southern Assault
Michael Grant, 6’5 Wing - Triumph
Dorian Hayes, 6’4 Guard - Houston Hoops
Jaylan Lawal, 6’2 PG - Trae Young Elite
Mike Williams 5’10 PG - Gulf Coast Blue Chips
Christian Thomas, 6’7 SF - Gulf Coast Blue Chips
Kobi Pearson, 6’8 PF/SF - Family Ties
Cam Cowgill, 6’2 SG - SA Future
Jayden Leverett, 6’10 C - IFN
Luke Laczkowski, 6’6 SF - Texas Impact
Happy To See Them Healthy And Playing Well
Bryson Jackson, 6’3 CG - Houston Hoops
Jed Nansha, 6’7 C/PF - YGC

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Southern Assault

The 17U didn’t have an ideal showing, going 1-3 last weekend but the silver lining was the play from 2025 D.J. Hall. A player that I have received numerous calls from, from various collegiate levels. Hall averaged 14.7 ppg and 7.2 rpg a game and Hall just showed his versatility offensively. A burly built forward standing at about 6'6-6'7, Hall is a skilled 4-man that can dribble, pass and shoot. Most of his damage is in the post, using advanced footwork, a large frame and plus length to generate space to score. An adequate mid-range shooter, high level passer from 15 feet in and as the games went on, he rebounded and started igniting breaks.

Players like him can be a challenge to evaluate. What is the right level for Hall? He doesn’t play above the rim and I do wish he was a little bit taller, but his feel and skill allows him to be very productive and players like him have been successful at the D1 level. I’ve said it in the past about other guys and I’ll say it again...He’s someone that, regardless if it's low, mid or high major D1, the program that values what he is and utilizes him right will get a stud.

16U

The 2026 group went 2-2 and two players stood out to me. Big man Davion Adkins and guard/wing Alex Barther. Adkins has freakish athleticism. Skies for blocks and dunks and one play, he snatched a shot with two hands and hit his head on the backboard. His effort, athleticism and touch with his hook shots, Adkins has emerged as a top 30-40 player in the country and can jump to 5-Star status at some point in his high school career. I think there’s a lot more to unlock from a face-up and overall skill facet as well.

Barther led the team in scoring as he shot it well in spot-ups from three, rebounded well due to 95 percent of his basketball career, he's played the post. Also liked when games got tight, he posted up smaller defenders and used height advantage. Another player that’s on the national scenes in the 2026 class.

Team Trae Young

The 17U group probably want to forget Omaha, but most importantly learn from what didn’t work. They went 0-4. I did think Jaylen Lawal showed he’s a no brainer D1 player and will garner a couple offers throughout the spring/summer. Four-star guard Carlsheon Young can score it in bunches. A very talented player that just didn’t get in a rhythm offensively that I'm accustomed to him being in. Damario Adams is a 6’7 wing-forward that holds an assortment of skills. An intriguing prospect that during the live periods, if Adams can string together a couple high level games, can see his stock skyrocket. Tough weekend for them but they’ll clean up the main areas of concern especially with lack of ball movement and questionable shot selection and I expect them to be better going forward.

16U

The 2026 squad ended with an even record of 2-2. Bryce Dixon is a wing prospect that exudes toughness. Gets to the rim on drives, rebounds in traffic, fights for the loose ball and improving his perimeter game. Defensively, Dixon takes charges, does a good job keeping the ball-handler in front and uses strength to push out taller guys that try to post him up. I think he has a good IQ for the game, and once his skill matches that and the motor, he’ll see himself in a different tier than he’s at currently.

The other prospect that stood out to me was Brandon Malone. A 6’6-6’7 forward that ran the floor hard, made trail threes and finished at the rim. His ability to stretch the floor allows him to mix it up and attack the rim from the top of the key because the defender is closing out harder on him. One to keep tabs of.

ASAK Elite

The 2025 group went 2-2 on the weekend. 2026 Bo Ogden played up and was very good. Shot it well from deep and I like that he can get his feet set quickly on the move and launch. His motor and effort to secure offensive rebounds or just keep the play alive stood out to me. A no-brainer top 75 level prospect nationally in my opinion and you can argue higher. 2025 Aiden Disu has a lot of potential. The first game in ASAK’s win vs MASS Rivals, he collected 16 points and 11 rebounds. A sturdy built wing that can score inside and out and guard multiple positions when locked in on that end. Rising senior Uzziyah Bunton was very solid as well. Managed the games well and scored when the opportunities were present. Sometimes his production goes beyond what the box-score stats say.

16U

This team also probably wants to forget Omaha as well. They were winless in the first session. Second half scoring droughts hurt them in close battles.

2026 Billy White is about 6’7 and shoots the cover off the ball. His size and confidence as a shooter allows him to make tough shots. A very dependable perimeter threat that doesn’t need much time to get his shot off. Will rise in the national top 150 before his high school career is over.

Silas Rodriguez was productive. Shot it well from three, can make shots off the dribble and uses angles very well when finishing vs traffic. Silas' feel for the game is a plus and as an off ball mover, he puts himself in advantageous opportunities to score the ball. One trait I do think about Silas that can go unnoticed is he has an edge about him that allows him to make his presence known in games.

One Time Legends

I didn’t get to evaluate their 16U club but I will at the next stop I’m at. The 2025 group went 2-2 and I liked how the team played together. Unsigned senior Jakeel Registe was good. Averaged 16 ppg and his blend of athleticism and shot creation stood out. He utilized jab steps to keep defenders honest before he launched and when he was near the rim, Registe finished with dunks but also showed off his hang-time and finished well around translatable length and size. The talent is there, he’s a D1 level prospect and the next 30-35 days will be big for him.

2025 Dasean Brodie has always intrigued me. A lefty with a good basketball frame, makes shots from deep and has a solid feel for rebounding the basketball. One to keep tabs throughout the summer and see where his recruitment goes.

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With teams ranging from 15U through 17U, there were standouts at every division, but here are six players who caught our eye as top performers at the event:

Meleek Thomas, 6’5, SG, New Heights Lightning 17U, 2025
As far as the top player in The Fantastic 40 was concerned, the conversation starts and ends with Meleek Thomas. The Pittsburgh product was absolutely electric, scoring the rock without forcing the issue, showing what he could do with limited bounces en route to an undefeated weekend for the EYBL program. Meleek was an absurd shot creator off of a live dribble, was creative finishing at the rack, and did his best KD/Dirk impression with countless one legged fadeaway jumpers. Already signed to an NIL deal with Roc Nation, Thomas left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s a top five player in the class of 2025 nationally.

Cayden Daughtry, 6’0, PG, Florida Rebels 15U, 2027
In the 2027 class, there wasn’t a player at the Pangos Fantastic 40 who was a more confident scorer than Cayden Daughtry. Having put up monstrous stats on the varsity level dating back to his middle school years, Daughtry exudes supreme scoring ability when playing his age group against his peers. He is an electric 3-point shooter, is patient weaving in and out of the lane, and isn’t afraid of contact despite his slender frame. Daughtry holds a number of D1 offers and brings that killer mentality every time he steps on the hardwood.

Jaion Pitt, 6’8, PF, Arizona Unity 17U, 2025
Blending potential with a massive amount of production, Jaion Pitt was the most productive front court player in the 17U division of the Fantastic 40. The Canadian is a beast rebounding on both ends, is an outstanding cutter, and showed surprising vision passing out of double teams or finding teammates in the dunker. Pitt is extending his range beyond the 3-point line and as he continues to gain consistency stretching the defense, his ranking should trend upwards.

Felipe Quinones, 6’5, SG, Jet Academy 16U, 2026
Next in line out of Puerto Rico, Felipe Quinones lived up to his billing at The Fantastic 40. Owning a prototypical build for a two guard, the sophomore showed off a reliable 3-point shot, impacted the game defensively with his length, and has a massive amount of confidence when he has the ball in his hands. Felipe showed everyone in attendance at Gibson Park that he has the makings of a high major guard and will be learning from a good one in Kenny Smith at Jet Academy.

Gustavo Guimaraes, 6’11, C, All Ball 17U, 2025
One of the bigger surprises of the event, both literally and figuratively, was near 7-footer Gustavo Guimaraes of All Ball. The Riviera Prep (FL) big is fresh off a state title, is quite agile running the floor, and looks to finish above the rim at every available opportunity. There is still plenty of room for growth for Gustavo, but between his play with All Ball and with the Brazil 17U team, expect to hear plenty more from him sooner rather than later.

Darius Wabbington, 6’10, C, Arizona Unity 15U, 2027
There wasn’t a single big in the 15U bracket who could come close to stopping Sunnyslope (AZ) product Darrius Wabbington on the block throughout the Fantastic 40. The Arizona big looks for contact, showed off intriguing footwork on the block, and was incredibly confident scoring the ball. Patterning his game after Nikola Jokic, Darius also stepped out to hit a few threes on the weekend, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind why he’s right there at the top of a very special Arizona 2027 class.

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RELATED: Staton An Eye-Catcher At USA Basketball

At the recent USA Basketball Junior National Team Mini-Camp in Arizona, we had a chance to interview Koa Peat of FAB 50 No. 22 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.). The 6-foot-8 rising senior (2025) is one of the well-established players in the nation. He's also a Team USA veteran who should be one of the leading players on this summer's team at the FIBA 17U World Cup, June 29-July 7 in Istanbul, Turkey.

If Team USA captures the Gold Medal in Turkey, it was be a third gold medal for the 17-year old who could go down as the most accomplished Arizona high school basketball player, ever. Peat, already a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, averaged a team-high 17.2 ppg during the 2023 FIBA 16U Americas Championship in Merida, Mexico and also contributed 8.3 rpg, 3.2 apg and 1.5 spg in six contests. He was also part of the gold-medal winning team at the 2022 FIBA 17U World Cup in Malaga, Spain and for his accomplishments was named 2023 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

We talk with Peat about his camp experience, his vast experience with USA Basketball and what he hopes to accomplish this summer, and to give us some insight about not losing a high school playoff game yet with his senior season to come.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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At the USA Basketball Junior National Team Mini-Camp, we had a chance to interview fast-rising big man Xavion Staton of Sierra Vista (Las Vegas). The 6-foot-11 rising senior (2025) is one of the fast-rising prospects in the country and a name to know for the future.

RELATED: Staton An Eye-Catcher At USA Basketball

Staton is an excellent student who has picked up offers from all over the country in the past six months, from the likes of Stanford to Blue Bloods like Kansas. He arguably has as much upside as any of the 65 players who were in attendance at the Mini-Camp over final our weekend, but it wasn't always this way. In fact, it wasn't long ago when Staton thought his future was in another sport.

We talk with Staton about his camp experience, his background, his introduction into organized basketball that was fueled by a COVID-19 growth spurt and whom he emulates.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

The post USA Basketball: Xavion Staton Interview! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Approximately 65 of some of the finest home grown high school talent was in display in Phoenix for the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp. For some camp veterans such as Koa Peat, a 2025 forward out of FAB 50 ranked Perry (Chandler, Ariz.), the experience is nothing new and it's the start of the process of competing at the FIBA 17U World Cup taking place June 29 through July 7 in Istanbul, Turkey. Expect Peat, a three time high school state champion, to be one of the team's leaders.

Today we wanted to highlight the players who made a favorable impression over the first two days by approaching the mini-camp playing the right way, under control and with pace. This is not about passing the look test, as some players look like they belong but have a long way to go in terms of their I.Q. and approach. The theme here is making a favorable impression by being coachable and not pressing or forcing the action.

Here's five participants who caught our eye in those departments and five more who impressed.

Davion Adkins, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas), 6-8 2026 PF
We we first evaluated this well put together 16-year old forward at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camps, his motor and rim-running stood out, but he's added plenty to his game since then. Adkins had added solid post moves over both shoulders to compliment his vertical pop. He converted a couple of terrific left-handed half hooks and displayed nice touch around the basket. Adkins' pace and patience made a big difference and national scouts and some NBA personnel definitely came away impressed. Adkins plays for a winning high school program and is using the experience to learn how to adjust his offensive game playing against forwards of similar size and skill.

Devin Cleveland, Kenwood Academy (Chicago), 6-1 2027 PG
We counted 10 2027s in attendance and Cleveland was among the few that really turned heads in a class that has a long ways to go (and plenty of time) to develop. As a 15-year old, many of the older players and upperclassmen in attendance could learn a thing or two about place from Cleveland, who has a cool-under-fire disposition on and off the court. While many of the young guards were forcing the action and getting into trouble with the dribble, Cleveland has a good grasp of the stop-and-pop game and not taking it too deep into the paint to get caught in no man's land. Cleveland can cover ground with the dribble and displays a nice-pull up jumper. He can also finish under control around the rim with both hands and has a competitive drive that will pay off down the line. If he keeps developing at a normal pace, Cleveland has a bright future in the game.

Hudson Greer, Lake Travis (Texas), 6-6 2025 WF
This 17-year old is a well-known commodity on the high school and grassroots circuit and is making a splash at USA Basketball this weekend. Greer had some nagging injuries this past season for Lake Travis, and gutted them out well enough to earn district MVP honors. Already a two-time district MVP, Greer displayed a terrific all-around skill level and when his legs are bouncy and he's at 100 percent like he was here, it takes his game to a whole other level. Greer was knocking down shots at a high clip and finishing in traffic with authority. He also got behind the defense and used his stride to get out and finish before the defense could get set. Greer reminds us some of former Florida St. standout Bob Sura and his confidence and eagerness to get better really shined through on Saturday.

Jacob Lanier, Maumelle (Ark.), 6-5 2026 WF
This 17-year old prospect is just scratching the surface of his potential and coming out of his shell at this level. On the first day, Lanier turned heads and caught the attention of national scouts with his shot making ability off the dribble and his movement off-the-ball. On the second day, he was lauded for not losing his composure during stretches of out-of-control play by the lead guards on his team. Lanier moves without the ball well and can score in a variety of ways, with a better than average float game. He's also an instinctual defender who is learning how to become more vocal on the court and take more of an alpha role. His progression is noticeable and will pay off plenty this spring and summer.

Xavion Staton, Sierra Vista (Las Vegas) 6-11 2025 C
With a dearth of traditional big men in attendance, Staton stands out for many reasons, and even if there were more in attendance, he'd still stand out. That's because he's a quick learner, smart both on and off the court (excellent student) and has tremendous upside. In fact, scouts and NBA personnel were surprised to learn he's been playing the game for only a short period of time (less than four years). Staton grew up playing football until a 6-7 inch growth spirt during the COVID-19 Pandemic made him and his family realize the gridiron was likely not in his long-term future. With his defensive instinct and vertical pop and second jump ability, Staton has a bright future on the hardwood. The 17-year old was blocking shots at a high clip and there might not be a player in the country that alters more shots with his presence than Staton. Another plus is he doesn't do too much he's not capable of right now and quickly moves the ball when he doesn't have an advantage. Few players are getting more out of the USA Basketball experience than this Las Vegas big man who quickly has the interest of P5 schools around the country.

5 More That Impressed:

Mikel Brown Jr., Overtime Elite (Atlanta), 6-2 2025 PG
Not many guards here can rip a crossover into a pull-up, but Brown has a nice offensive arsenal with the ball.
Junior County, Utah Prep (Manti, Utah) 6-5 2026 SG
One of the best shooting strokes of any player in attendance.
Jaylen Mitchell, Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 6-7 2027 WF
This 15-year old was making the right passes and displayed a nice shooting touch.
Chris Nwuli, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 6-8 SF
Las Vegas native has been up and down on the circuit the past two years, but deserves credit because his outside shot was on point on Saturday and he brought his usual energy and toughness to make winning plays.
Babatunde Oladotun, Blake (Silver Spring, Md.) 6-7 2027 SF
There is plenty to like about this 15-year old who knows how to play with the ball and sets grown man screens. He has a good offensive base, to boot.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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We take a trip back down memory lane 40 years to 1985, when the tournament was expanded to 64 teams and Villanova upset Georgetown and prevented a repeat title. Villanova shot nearly 79 percent from the field, something that would never happen in future title games since that was the final NCAA tourney played without a shot clock.

Here are the 10 most shocking moments of the big dance over the last 40 years.

UNLV Fails To Repeat

After the defending champs from Nevada-Las Vegas defeated Arkansas down in Fayetteville in a regular season showdown, the 1990-91 UNLV team looked unbeatable. It ran into a confident Duke team in the national semifinals, however, that it walloped the year before in the 1990 title game. Duke pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament in the modern era of seeding teams, and reinforced the notion anything can happen in a one-game setting. Duke was plenty better than it was the year before and perhaps UNLV was not as good as we thought in real time. The Rebels didn’t have a real back-up point guard to Greg Anthony (who fouled out vs. Duke) and didn’t have great depth without the services of Ed O’Bannon, who didn’t sign a Letter-of-Intent locking him into UNLV and instead went to UCLA, where he didn’t play his freshman season anyway because of an ACL injury.

Anti-Duke Sentiment Reaches A Ferver Pitch

After beating UNLV in 1991 and repeating as champions in 1992 over Michigan’s FAB 5, Duke's Christian Laettner, the first player to appear in four Final Fours, became the most hated player in NCAA history and progressively that hatred for Duke built up after Laettner moved on to the NBA following the 1991-92 season. Basically, many fans didn’t like Duke because of their success and the perceived notion it got the benefit of referee calls. Never was that ani-Duke sentiment stronger than it was in 2000-2001, when Duke defeated Maryland in the semifinals and Arizona in the championship at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. All the neutral crowd there heavily booed calls that went against Maryland. It was very noticeable and almost an embarrassing moment for the NCAA Tournament. Maryland coach Gary Williams was visibly upset, and there was a few non-calls vs. point guard Jason Gardner that really hurt Arizona in the title game. That fever pitch died down after that even though it occasionally flared up, but if it would have got any worse than 2001 it could have been a major turn off for fans of March Madness.

Chris Webber’s Timeout

Michigan’s FAB 5 didn’t play great against Duke as freshmen in the 1992 NCAA title game, but the Wolverines were a much better team in 1992-93. Michigan took on North Carolina in the title game and it came down to the wire at the Louisiana Superdome. Webber, Michigan’s best player, scored on an offensive rebound put back as Michigan trialed by one with under 40 seconds to go. North Carolina’s Pat Sullivan shot free throws with 20 seconds remaining, and missed the second. Michigan didn’t have any timeouts and Webber tried to outlet the rebound, but traveled right in front of the Carolina bench and it wasn't called. Already panicking, he started dribbling towards the Michigan bench and trialing by two, called a timeout his team didn’t have. It was a crushing moment for him, FAB 5 fans and youth basketball players who looked up to the trend-setting team. That Michigan team had ton of influence, even though its back-to-back championship appearances were later vacated by the NCAA. The timeout is also a painful reminder that the FAB 5 failed to win a national title or a Big Ten title.

Tyus Edney’s Mad Dash

Remember when Ed O’Bannon, the nation’s top recruit in 1990, missed his freshman year at UCLA? That meant he was eligible for the 1994-95 season as a redshirt senior and he made the most of it. UCLA was upset by Tulsa in the 1994 tournament and O’Bannon already knew he was coming back to school and on a senior season mission. UCLA was on the ropes in the second round vs. Missouri, trailing by one point when senior point guard Tyus Edney went the length of the court in 4.8 seconds and coverted a running lay-up to give UCLA a 75-74 win over Missouri. It was one of those tourney moments where fans will always remember where they were or what they were doing when it happened. After that game, it seemed UCLA was a team of destiny and one got the feeling the Bruins were likely to win it all. They did over defending champion Arkansas with O’Bannon leading the way, 89-78. Ironically, Edney did not play in the title game because of a wrist injury and it remains UCLA only NCAA title of the past 50 years.

Bill Self Beats The Odds

Kansas winning the 2022 NCAA title over North Carolina, 72-69, was a big moment for Blue Blood basketball and also for Kansas’ head coach. If you recall, Kansas’ program was at the center of the 2017–18 basketball corruption scandal that involved many schools associated with sportswear giant Adidas, plus some other schools. The FBI was involved and announced the arrest of 10 individuals associated with the sport, including four well-known assistant coaches. Self escaped with his job in-tact, as did Arizona’s Sean Miller, and Kansas’ title in 2022 highlighted how no one person is bigger than the sport, how the train continues to roll down the track and how mundane many NCAA regulations are. Much of the public sentiment surrounding these 10 individuals was the group did not deserve federal charges, even though a majority felt there was some punishment due to breaking of NCAA regulations (although not so much law breaking). Kansas’ title highlighted two main things that came out of the curruption scandal. One, the FBI and the media never had the smoking gun that would have made the general public be concerned about what was going on behind closed doors and two, he public really doesn’t care if basketball players get compensated for their abilities or for potential Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) value.

Bo Ryan Knocks Off Big Blue Nation

In the 2014-15, Kentucky entered the Final Four riding a 38-0 record with a star-studded team filled with McDonald’s All-Americans and five-star recruits, including freshman Karl-Anthony-Townes. Wisconsin had a terrific team led by Sam Dekker, but not one expected it to beat the Wildcats. Bo Ryan’s boys pulled off the upset, 71-64, to end the Wildcats’ season at 38-1. The 38 wins is tied with the 2012 Kentucky team for the most wins in men’s DI history. Duke went on to win the fifth and final title of the Mike Krzyzewski era over Wisconsin, but the upset highlighted how having star-studded teams or the best recruiting classes in the one-and-done era didn’t always mean success in the NCAA Tournament. The 2012 title is the only one for Kentucky coach John Calipari despite having recruiting classes over the past 15 years that are unparellel in the history of the sport.

Kris Jenkins’ 3-Pointer Beats Carolina

In a terrific-played title game, Villanova defeated North Carolina, 77-74, in the 2016 final on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by forward Kris Jenkins. Jenkins took the ball out of bounds and trailed the play and made a terrific clutch shot to give coach Jay Wright his first of two NCAA titles as coach of the Wildcats. Jenkins’ shot and the game highlighted two things. One, in the era of social media, coaches decisions are overly-criticized and over analyzed as fans and pundits pondered how the Tar Heels should have defended the play. (They didn’t pressure the inbounder Jenkins). Two, it highlighted that there was terrific basketball still being played despite the lack of star power caused by so many players with college eligibility no longer part of the playing field following Kevin Garnett opening up the prep-to-pro floodgates in 1995. The talent level has never been the same since KG's decision, but the college game remains strong, nonetheless.

Derek Anderson’s Free Throws

During the 1997 Final Four, Kentucky’s Derek Anderson shot two foul shots in the Wildcats’ semifinal victory over Minnesota. Anderson had tore his ACL in January and would be unable to play, unless there was a technical foul shot situation. Kentucky went on to lose the title game to Arizona, 84-79, in overtime. Kentucky’s 1996 team is the best one we’ve seen in the past 40 years, and perhaps if Anderson wasn’t injured Kentucky would have won three straight NCAA titles. Most of the reserves on the 1996 team made up the core of the 1998 title-winning team. The 1996 team was that deep and good, and Anderson’s free throws are a reminder Arizona is the last team in the West Region to win the NCAA title.

Danny and The Miracles

Sometimes a star can carry a team, but it wasn’t probable Kansas would win the 1988 NCAA title. The Jayhawks has the best player in the country in senior forward Danny Manning, but they were playing a juggernaut in Oklahoma, which was heavily favored to win over its Big Eight Conference rival in the title game. After all, the Sooners averaged over 102 points per game and beat Kansas by eight points twice during the regular season. All that didn’t matter in the title game, as Manning capped off a memorable six-game run with 31 points and 18 rebounds. Most fans don’t know Kansas’ other four starters, but it was a reminder that sometimes the best high school recruits eventually make all the difference in the world and recruiting is the bloodline of the sport. Manning was a three-time all-American and led Kansas to the Final Four as a sophomore in 1986. Head coach Larry Brown shrewdly hired his father, Ed Manning, to the Kansas staff while his son was a rising high school senior and it paid off. Manning’s performance is a reminder of what it takes to win at the highest level.

UConn Dominance

It’s not easy to win six games in a row. Many great coaches have never been to a NCAA Final Four, much less win the whole thing. UConn won three NCAA titles under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. The Huskies won their fourth title under first year coach Kevin Ollie in 2014 and are now dominant under coach Danny Hurley. UConn won the 2023 title in dominant fashion, winning every game by double-digits and covering the point spread in each game. Entering this year’s Elite 8 game versus Illinois, the top seeded Huskies are 9-0 vs. the spread in the last two tournaments. How great is this UConn team? It doesn’t matter. It only has to be better than who is in front of them and so far Hurley’s bunch has been much better. Some pundits have been trying to compare this team to some of the all-time great teams or even how it may do against a NBA team. The NBA thing is laughable, as we’re not sure this year’s UConn team or last year’s would last the first weekend of an all-time seeded NCAA Tournament involving any eligible team. Teams from yesteryear just had more older, NBA-bound talent than teams of the past 20 years. As we said, that doesn’t matter as March Madness is as popular as ever. Bottom line is, UConn is that program many NCAA basketball fans think their program is.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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The two wins in Chicago put The Crew's record at 33-5, but their season isn’t over just yet.

Sitting at No. 6 in the latest FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com, the Prolific Prep Crew is Indianapolis bound for the Chipotle High School Nationals (April 4-6), where they’ll be matched up against FAB 50 No. 11 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) in the opening round. While many are already looking forward to that, let’s focus on the outstanding performances that many of the Prolific players and others had to wrap up the Grind Session season.

Here are the top performers from the Grind Session World Championship Final Four:

A.J. Dybantsa, 6’8, SF/PF, Prolific Prep (CA), 2025
The top junior in the nation showed that he is just beginning to scratch the surface with his immense bag of talents, pacing Prolific Prep to the Grind Session World Championship with 24 points and eight boards in the title game. While his outside shot wasn’t falling at his typical rate, Dybantsa impacted the game in different ways, utilizing his size on both ends of the court. The USA Basketball gold medalist exploited mismatches by posting smaller defenders, was a beast on the offensive glass, and showed immense potential on the defensive end. A.J. will be running with Vegas Elite for his final season on the AAU circuit and will undoubtedly have all eyes on him for the remainder of his high school career.

Tyran Stokes, 6’7, SF/PF, Prolific Prep (CA), 2026
Considered by many to be the top player in the class of 2026, Tyran Stokes proved that he could be a remarkably effective player with limited touches at the Grind Session World Championship. The Louisville product was great on the offensive glass keeping plays alive, scoring within the flow of the offense, and facilitating for others. The 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and three blocks that Stokes finished with in the championship game don't even begin to show the overall impact that he had on the game.

Ikenna Alozie, 6’2, PG, Dream City Christian, (AZ), 2026
While Dream City Christian came up short to Prolific in the title game, it certainly has nothing to do with the play of Ikenna Alozie. The sophomore dropped 29 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals, leaving everyone on notice that he is one of the better guards in the class of 2026. Ike used his strong frame and length to play unreal on ball defense, was a freakish shot blocker as a guard, and was elite finishing at the rim through contact. As Alozie’s 3-point shot continues to gain consistency, we will see him push his way up to five star status.

Emmanuel Stephen, 7’0, C, Dream City Christian (AZ), 2024
An absolutely massive individual, Emmanuel Stephen was the physical enforcer on both ends of the court for Dream City Christian. He used his ridiculous frame to carve out position deep in the paint, was great using his size to wall up as a rim protector, and dunked virtually everything that he got in the three second area. Heading to Arizona next year, “E-Man” is everything you look for out of a big as a rim protector and lob threat.

Sean Blake, 6’2, PG, Royal Crown Institute (CAN), 2024
A player I hadn't seen before, Sean Blake left it all on the floor and showed that he belonged against Grind Session champion Prolific Prep. The Canadian lead guard got into the paint at will, was excellent converting with creativity at the rack with both hands, and was the overall catalyst for Royal Crown with his 21- point, 5-assist showing versus Prolific Prep. Heading to Vermont next year, Blake is another key addition to the America East champs who took on Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Winters Grady, 6’6, SF, Prolific Prep (CA), 2025
The best junior prospect in the state of Oregon made local headlines when he was going to initially transfer from Lake Oswego to Tualtin before ultimately ending up at Prolific Prep. The move paid off for Grady, as he walked away with a Grind Session World Championship and firmly established himself as a top-100 player in the process. Winters is a versatile wing with deep 3-point range, provides a presence as a rebounder, and finds a way to make an impact on the game with minimal plays being ran for him. Since Grady emerged at the 2023 Crossroads Elite Invitational, he has quickly become a priority for numerous high major programs throughout the country.

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Held in Phoenix at The Phhacility, the EIBC Finals brought no shortage of talent, media, and college coaches to the Cactus State. Ultimately, Red Rock Academy (Las Vegas) was crowned the inaugural EIBC Champions, finishing the 2023-24 campaign with a 24-2 record, including a 14-0 record in EIBC play that saw them matched up against teams with D1 talent each outing.

Throughout the 16 teams, talent was abundant, but here are six players who separated themselves from the pack with their play at the EIBC Finals:

Jevon Yapi, 6’1, PG, Red Rock Academy (NV), 2025
Simply put, Jevon Yapi is a winner. After already having won a Nevada state title with Durango High School, he was the catalyst for Red Rock Academy’s undefeated title run in the inaugural EIBC season. The Vegas Elite guard is a serious shooter with deep range, has legit court savvy, and showed the ability to be both a playmaker as well as a scorer. Not coincidentally, Yapi received a D1 offer from High Point shortly after his EIBC campaign and will be a lead guard to watch this spring in the EYBL.

Arafan Diane, 7’0, C, Dynastie Prep (CAN), 2026
As far as helping themselves nationally, there wasn’t anyone who placed themselves more on the map nationally in the EIBC than Arafan Diane. The native of Guinea is a bit of an old school big man, but that doesn’t change the sheer dominance that he has on the game. He is unbelievable finishing through contact with both hands, showed great touch on his jumper out to mid-range, and was a game changing defender with his ability to wall up. Diane will be running with Iowa United on the Adidas circuit and has recently been ranked in the top-50 of the national 2026 rankings by various scouting services.

Jovan Milicevic, 6’9, PF/C, Canyon International Academy (AZ), 2024
Perhaps the most talented offensive player in the EIBC, Jovan Milicevic showed the full bag for CIA in the EIBC Finals. The Canadian big man is a lights out shooter who creates separation with his crafty play, awkward change of pace, and ability to use his frame to dislodge defenders once making contact. Jovan will step in as the best offensive threat for Richard Pitino in New Mexico’s 2024 recruiting class.

Josiah Sanders, 6’4, PG/SG, Colorado Prep (CO), 2025
A name that has been well known in Colorado for a while now, Josiah Sanders put himself on the national radar with his play this past season in the EIBC. The 6-foot-4 combo guard was virtually unstoppable with his change of speed and ability to finish through contact, culminating with his 37 point, 9 rebound, 7 assist showing against ABC Prep (NM). Sanders has picked up offers from Arizona State, Seattle, and San Diego with his play over the past few weeks in the EIBC and is carrying no shortage of momentum into the AAU season.

Katrelle “KT” Harmon, 6’5, SG, BFL Prep (WA), 2026
The best player in the state of Washington put on a show as a sophomore for BFL Prep, and the experience that he gained playing varsity from his middle school days was evident in the EIBC. Katrelle was much more confident as a facilitator, showing the ability to impact the game as a playmaker, while also maintaining his presence as a deadly scoring threat. Harmon finished up the year for BFL Prep with ridiculous averages of 27.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while playing both backcourt spots.

Diggy Griffin, 6’5, SG/SF, Rosemary Anderson (OR), 2025
It was my first time seeing Diggy Griffin, and I walked away undoubtedly knowing that he has a home at the D1 level. The lanky wing had a downright automatic pullup off the bounce, possessed no shortage of confidence as a scorer, and brought positional versatility on the defensive end.

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This was less of a recruiting interview but one on the adjustment and growth of his game this season. This past month Green released his top 10 schools, so he did give Ballislife a brief on what to expect when decision time comes.

Green, who is a DFW native, transferred to Sunrise from Guyer (Denton, Texas) High School. He did do a small stint at AZ Compass during the fall of 2022, but 2023-24 is his first full season playing in the EYBL Scholastic league against some of the other top academy-type programs.

“I feel this season is getting me ready for college," Green said. "It’s a great learning season. I’m learning how to be a point guard, get teammates involved, my pace, understanding how to change gears. This level of basketball is so much different than what I’ve experienced in the past.”

Green continued to talk about why changing speeds is important when playing in a league such as the EYBL Scholastic.

"The bigs are so much bigger at this level. Last two seasons, I could just go as fast as I can, get to the rim and score. Here, I can’t do that. I have to survey the defense more, give them a different look because if I’m predictable, they’ll read me and block my shot.”

We've been able to watch a decent amount of Sunrise Christian Academy games and I did notice in the beginning, Jeremiah was more of a facilitator but the scoring came later in the game. In the second half of the season, I’m seeing more of a blend and an assertiveness early. He talked about why that’s the case.

"It just took a while to adjust to this level. Before Christmas break, I was just trying to get a feel for each game and later on, I would look to score. It clicked and I realize the earlier I’m aggressive, the quicker I can get to the flow of the game,” Green said.

Here are the 10 college programs Green will choose from: Auburn, Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado, Virginia, Texas, Texas A&M, Houston, TCU & Oklahoma. He has completed official visits to Auburn and Texas A&M. Additionally, he has been to Houston, Kansas State, and TCU for unofficial visits.

“I’m still just trying to figure out what the top half looks like," Green said. "Mindset is more on finishing the season the right way, but I’m looking at narrowing down what my top schools within this school list are. I probably will just announce where I’m committing when I’m comfortable doing that. I don’t know yet if I’ll drop a top 5, 3 or whatever, but if I’m comfortable to commit to a school, I’ll just post and commit.”

A point guard with a strong frame who excels getting downhill, Jeremiah Green holds the ability to impact games on both ends. Offensively, he puts pressure on the defense and scores with floaters, mid-range pulls or lay-ins. He's improved as a passer and understands how to get his teammates involved. Defensively, due to solid lateral mobility and overall strength, he’s shown he can disrupt the point of attack.

Ballislife will be in Augusta, Ga. for the next session of the EYBL Scholastic league, so stay tuned for event recaps, recruiting news and more.

The post Player Profile: Jeremiah Green appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

On Episode 180 of the Ballislife hosts Ronnie Flores, Ani Umana and Chelsea Hopkins go hard on the one-year plan that was hatched for the late, great Kobe Bryant to turn pro out of high school with special guest Gary Charles, who was part of the small circle that knew of the plans for the 17-year wunderkind from Lower Merion High School (Ardmore, Pa.).

Charles spends 40 minutes detailing the plan to get Kobe from Lower Merion to the NBA, even though he was a wing guard and academically eligible for any college in the country. That was unheard of at the time. Charles goes "In The Paint" on meeting Kobe through his father Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, what Kobe was like as a rising junior at ABCD Camp, the keys to hatching the plan for him to turn pro, and the occurrences that could have foiled Team Bryant's plan to keep him from Nike and keep other NBA teams drafting higher than Charlotte from realizing he should be their pick.

What would have happened in Lower Merion would have traveled to Los Angeles in January '96 for a MLK Showcase game vs. Schea Cotton and St John Bosco? Was taking R & B singer Brandy to the prom potentially worrisome? What if Tim Thomas would have went straight pro out of high school instead of going to Villanova? What if the New Jersey Nets would have went for Kobe at No. 8 instead of Kerry Kittles?

Charles, a longtime grassroots basketball coach and event director, also gives some insight on a Plan B if the Charlotte move didn't happen and what transpired leading up to draft day.

The ITP crew then close this special episode with their reactions to the interview and some media references helpful to learn more background information on Kobe's unique path. Kobe's prep-to-pro journey hasn't been told in this manner, so make sure to tune in to Episode 180 from start to finish! (The episode is time-stamped below for easy listening)


(0:00) - Intro

(1:24) - Mahomes Chasing Brady: NFL's Future

(2:01) - Super Bowl Halftime Show Reaction!

(3:54) - Intro To Kobe Bryant's Plan To Go Pro

(5:32) - Sheryl Swoopes on Caitlin Clark: Chelsea's Dish!

(10:28) - Ani & Ron's Dish on Swoopes' Caitlin Comments

(18:56) - Announcers Cheering On Greats?

(23:28) - Kobe Bryant's Statue: Instant Reaction

(25:48) - Gary Charles (Grassroots Czar) Interview

(30:51) - Charles: Kobe As Rising Junior

(32:36) - Charles: Realizing Kobe's The One

(37:59) - Charles: Keys To Hatching HS-To-Pro Plan

(43:57) - Charles: Close Calls That Could Foil The Plan!

(49:41) - Charles: Plan B If Charlotte Deal Changes!

(53:07) - L.A. Kobe Game That Never Happens

(59:06) - Charles: Shielding Kobe From Nike

(1:00:47) - Charles: Leading Up Draft Day!

(1:08:24) - Chelsea & Ani's Reaction To Kobe Plan

(1:13:52) - Ron's Experience With Kobe's Timeline

(1:17:54) - Ani & Chelsea's Dish on Finding The One

(1:22:54) - More Media References To Kobe's Journey

The post In the Paint | Kobe Bryant's Pre-Draft Journey! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Mixing a middle school AAU tournament with a prep school showcase, there was no shortage of talent in Phoenix. Prep schools from California, Canada, Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, and a host of others descended upon the Phhacility to get some quality games in. Leo Sotomayor and his staff were incredibly accommodating, keeping me up to date with schedule changes and letting me know some sleepers, making it a super smooth event to cover.

Here are a few of the players who certainly saw their stock rise from the 2024 Hoopers On1y Phhacility Classic 3:

Houran Dan, 6’11, C, Canyon International Academy (AZ), 2024
There wasn’t a single player who helped themselves more at Hoopers On1y than Houran Dan, a near 7-foot Chinese import who has been in the States for a mere few weeks. The athletic big man ran the floor well, ripped the rim off at every available opportunity, and showed nice touch facing the basket. Having played with the 19U Chinese National Team, Houran is known across the pond, but will certainly establish himself as a high major prospect here in the states.

Jayden Williams, 6’9, C, Bella Vista Prep (AZ), 2024
A player that some have seemingly forgotten about, Jayden Williams is certainly one of the best big men left on the board for the class of 2024. Having signed with Overtime Elite last year, Williams made the move to Bella Vista and is reminding people why he’s a high major prospect. The long armed Georgia native is an imposing shot blocker, is great playing as a rim-runner, and can finish in traffic with either hand. Still super open in terms of his recruitment, Williams is definitely a name worth checking out before the season comes to its end.

Mason Abittan, 6’6, Red Rock Academy (NV), 2025
One of the better wings with size in the event, Mason Abittan exhibited why he has been turning heads at both the EIBC and at Hoopers On1y. He’s an automatic shooter with his feet set, looks to dunk absolutely everything in transition, and has a solid first step for straight line drives. Mason already holds offers from Radford, Weber State, and Cal State Bakersfield with many more to follow.

Tammar Brown, 6’10, C, Rocktop Academy (PA), 2025
Someone who I was admittedly not familiar with entering the event, Tammar Brown certainly left his mark as one of the highest ceiling players the event had to offer. Owning a massive frame, Brown utilized his wingspan on both ends of the court, showed surprising coordination, and converted with both hands around the rim. Still far from an unfinished product, Tammar Brown is a name to monitor closely over the next year and a half.

Jaxon Olvera, 6’4, SG/PG, Golden State Prep (CA), 2024
One of the most productive overall players in the event, Jaxon Olvera was getting it done from both guard spots for both Golden State Prep teams at the Hoopers On1y Phhacility Classic. Olvera has no shortage of confidence attacking the rack, is a legit 3-point shooter, and has also shown the ability to facilitate an offense. Having an outstanding prep year, Jaxon Olvera is certainly someone who has produced at a high level and will be interesting during the late signing period.

Nishayne Sharpe, 6’0, PG, Canyon International (AZ), 2026
The younger brother of Blazers rising star Shaedon Sharpe, Nishayne Sharpe is quietly building his own legacy in Phoenix. Sharpe is a super quick guard who can get into the paint at will, utilizes his speed to play serious on ball defense, and is playing with much more confidence than when I saw him earlier in the season. Given his older brother’s size (6-foot-6) and freakish athleticism, I’d say you may want to buy stock in the next player to come from the Sharpe family.

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Here are some of the top performers from the 2024 Cactus Classic:

Jason Asemota, 6’9, SF/PF, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2024
The most highly regarded player at the Cactus Classic certainly lived up to his billing, as Jason Asemota put on a show in Hillcrest Prep’s two victories. The future Baylor new age forward hit at least 12 threes over the two games, showed the ability to defend multiple spots, and is learning how to utilize his size more on the interior. Asemota averaged 30 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists over Hillcrest's two victories throughout the weekend, doing everything in his power to lock up his spot in the McDonald’s All American Game.

Jinup Doboul, 6’8, SF, PHH Prep National (AZ), 2024
A player whom I was quite familiar with from his days at Minnesota Prep, Jinup Diboul definitely made some serious strides in his game over the past eight months. The lanky swingman truly looks the part of an ideal face-up forward, blending serious athleticism with a vastly improved game off the bounce. Given the continual improvement of Doboul, it should come as no surprise that high majors are tracking him closely for the late signing period.

Jalik Dunkley, 6’6, SF, Canyon International Academy (AZ), 2024
Having seen Jalik Dunkley before in the EIBC, I was already familiar with the Canadian swingman, but it did me well to get another look. The freak athlete was the best above the rim finisher of the event, has unbelievable potential on the defensive end, and even reminds one of Andrew Wiggins at times with the way that he is able to contort his body. Dunkley is still wide open, although many high major programs have been inquiring about him.

Marsai Mason, 6’6, SG, PHH Prep National (AZ), 2024
One of the absolute standouts of the event, Marsai Mason may have helped himself as much as anyone at the Cactus Classic. The powerfully build wing has a perfect frame, can really defend, and has range out to the NBA 3-point line. The Northern Arizona coaching staff was in the building watching Mason on the opening night and it should come as no surprise that they put an offer on the table for him within the week.

Aeramiah Binford, 6’5, SG/SF, Ascending Life (AZ), 2024
A player who I hadn’t seen before, Aeramiah Binford definitely had the physical tools that you’d love to see out of a potential D-1 wing. He utilized his length on both ends of the court, converted at a high rate at the rack, and constantly threw defenders off with his ability to jump off his right leg. Binford averaged 20 points per game on the weekend, while showing serious potential for Ascending life.

Christian Jones, 5’11, PG, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2025
Playing in his opening weekend with Hillcrest Prep, Christian Jones certainly showed that he belonged. Jones capped off the weekend with a 20 point, 12 assist, 7 steal show in the final game along with two victories.

The post Cactus Classic Top Performers! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

RIP GEORGE MCGINNIS
The Pacers & ABA legend was known for his combination of strength and quickness along with his signature 1-hand jumpshot.

Dr. J: "Until LeBron came along, I never saw a guy with George's physical abilities on the basketball court." pic.twitter.com/KdemV86qvp

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) December 14, 2023

NBA Hall of Famer George McGinnis is one of the best athletes of all-time. He rates as one of the very best Grid-Hoop athletes in U.S. high school history.?

Editor's Note: George McGinnis passed away on Dec. 14, 2023.?

Earlier this week there was some Internet chatter and reports that all-time ABA great, former All-NBA performer, Indiana University All-America and 1969 Mr. Basketball USA George McGinnis had passed. The former six-time all-star and Naismith Hall of Famer is reportedly gravely ill, but is still alive. With his name in the news, we'd thought it would be a great time to share some of the unique high school exploits of the "Baby Bull" since he is truly an under appreciated all-time great athlete.

By the time the Indiana state tournament rolled around McGinnis' senior year at Washington (Indianapolis) in 1968-69, he was already well-known throughout the state. What transpired at Hinkle Fieldhouse, however, turned him into a Hoosier legend. Over 50 years later, it's still considered the IHSAA's best Final Four by a long shot and still talked about.

Washington, led by the powerful McGinnis, center Steve Downing and guard Wayne Pack (the latter two who later had cups of coffee in the NBA) came in at 29-0. There was two other teams who came in unbeaten at 27-0, Marion (Ind.) and Vincennes (Ind.), with Tolleston (Gary, Ind.) at 27-1, its lone loss coming against Farragut (Chicago) when three starters were nursing a flu.

McGinnis set a state tourney record by scoring 148 points, as the Continentals survived Marion in the semis, 61-60, with its star big man going for 27 points and grabbing the key rebound to seal the win after Downing got a piece of the potential game-winning field goal. In the title game, Washington downed Tolleston, 79-76, with McGinnis going for 35 points.

The Continentals finished 31-0 and are regarded as one of the nation's best teams ever, while the Baby Bull became the first IHSSA player ever to score 1,000 points in a season. Before going on to IU, his legend went into another sphere because of his 53-point, 31-rebounds performance in the annual Kentucky vs. Indiana All-Star Game. McGinnis was considered the nation's best player and it wasn't difficult to retroactively name him Mr. Basketball USA.

What many don't know is McGinnis was also a terrific football talent; all-state in both sports. McGinnis was highly sought out of Washington as a 6-foot-7, 230-pound defensive end. His high school football coach, Bob Springer, called him the best player he'd ever seen and colleges all over the country courted him. Michigan State pitched him as the "next Bubba Smith". Springer eventually had to tell over 250 colleges that McGinnis was going to focus on basketball.

That didn't stop the Dallas Cowboys from calling.

Indiana football coach John Pont and the school's athletic director wanted Big George on the football team. He didn't budge, but that didn't stop legendary Cowboys GM Gil Brandt from checking in and pithing McGinnis one last time. Brandt turned Olympic champion sprinter Bob Hayes into a NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver and turned high school All-America guard Cornell Green of El Cerrito (Calif.) into a fine defensive back even though he never played college football at Utah State.

McGinnis, however, was destined for hardwood immortality.

Big George was good enough at both sports to be our football-basketball combo Grid-Hoop National Player of the Year for both his junior and senior year. It wasn't until 50 years later that another athlete was good enough to be selected twice. Joe Girard III (now at Clemson) averaged 50.0 ppg as a junior and passed for 1,911 yards and 24 touchdowns. As a senior, he came back to pass for 3,078 yards and 36 touchdowns and post a 48.6 ppg average while finishing with 4,763 career points.

Perhaps Allen Iverson was good enough to be the nation's best Grid-Hooper two straight years, but unfortunately he missed his senior year at Bethel (Hampton, Va.) after a now-infamous 1993 bowling alley brawl where his felony conviction was eventually overturned by the Virginia Court of Appeals and granted clemency by Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder.

Looking at the all-time national Grid-Hoop Player of the Year list, only McGinnis and three years later guard Quinn Buckner, who also played on an all-time high school hoops team at Thornridge (Dolton, Ill.), were Mr. Basketball USA choices good enough at football to be named Grid-Hoop Player of the Year. Interestingly enough, Buckner did play football at Indiana before going on to the NBA.

Some of the names on the all-time list are instantly recognizable and many are all-time greats in football. John Havlicek, McGinnis and The Answer are the NBA Hall of Famers on the list. Some years the pool of Grid-Hoopers are undoubtedly better than others, but all are legendary athletes.

Who came closest to being national player of the year in both sports? Ron Curry of Hampton (Va.) was actually the national player of the year in football for a Crabbers team ranked No. 1 in the nation two straight years, and named the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year in conjunction with the McDonald's All-American Game, but our 1997-98 Mr. Basketball USA choice was forward Rashard Lewis of Elsik (Houston). He went on to the NBA, while Curry, a high school quarterback, played wide receiver in the NFL after playing QB in college at North Carolina.

McGinnis would be on the short list with Curry as the best Grid-Hoopers of all-time, along with names such as Stan Rome, Terry Kirby, Tony Gonzalez, Greg Paulus, Terrelle Pryor and Jalen Suggs. All were first team All-American types in football and legitimate Top 50 type prospects in basketball.

So who was the best of them all?

It's hard to say or name just one but there is little doubt McGinnis is right up there.

McGinnis was that great of an athlete.

Ballislife National
Grid-Hoop Players of the Year

(Selections retroactive from 1979 back based on research by editor Ronnie Flores with input from Mark Tennis of Cal-Hi Sports, Kevin Askeland of Maxpreps.com and retired National High School Hall of Fame journalist Doug Huff; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships in both football and basketball.)

2022-23 -- Lincoln Kienholz, Riggs (Pierre, S.D.) 6-2 QB/G
2021-22 -- Sonny Styles, Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) 6-4 DB/F
2020-21 -- Travis Hunter, Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) 6-1 DB/WR/G
2019-20 -- Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) 6-4 QB/G
2018-19 -- Joe Girard III, Glens Falls (N.Y.) 6-2 QB/G
2017-18 -- Joe Girard III, Glens Falls (N.Y.) 6-2 QB/G (Jr.)
2016-17 -- Sage Surratt, Lincolnton (N.C.), 6-3, WR/G
2015-16 -- Chazz Surratt, East Lincoln (Denver, N.C.) 6-4 QB/G
2014-15 -- Joe Burrow, Athens (Ohio) 6-4 QB/F
2013-14 -- Patrick Mahomes, Whitehouse (Texas) 6-3 QB/F
2012-13 -- Cornelius Elder, Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.) 5-10 RB/G
2011-12 -- Dorial Green-Beckham, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.) 6-6 WR/F
2010-11 -- Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) 6-2 QB/G
2009-10 -- Jackson Jeffcoat, Plano West (Plano, Texas) 6-3 DE/F
2008-09 -- Marlon Brown, Harding Academy (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-5 WR/F
2007-08 -- Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette (Pa.) 6-6 QB/F
2006-07 -- Tray Allen, South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas) 6-4 OL/F
2005-06 -- Percy Harvin, Landstown (Virginia Beach, Va.) 6-1 WR/G
2004-05 -- Greg Paulus, Christian Brother’s Academy (Syracuse, N.Y.) 6-2 QB/G
2003-04 -- Dwayne Jarrett, New Brunswick (N.J.) 6-5 WR/F
2002-03 -- Matt Bush, Male (Louisville, Ky.) 6-3 QB/G
2001-02 -- Matt Trannon, Northern (Flint, Mich.) 6-7 WR/F
2000-01 -- Marcus Spears, Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) 6-5 TE/F
1999-00 -- Dominique Sims, De La Salle (Minneapolis) 6-2 QB/G
1998-99 -- Derek Smith, Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.) 6-4 TE/F
1997-98 -- Ronald Curry, Hampton (Va.) 6-2 QB/G
1996-97 -- LaVarr Arrington, North Hills (Pittsburgh) 6-4 LB/F
1995-96 -- Tim Couch, Leslie County (Hyden, Ky.) 6-5 QB/F
1994-95 -- Randy Moss, DuPont (Belle, W.Va.) 6-4 WR/F
1993-94 -- Tony Gonzalez, Huntington Beach (Calif.) 6-4 TE/F
1992-93 -- Allen Iverson, Bethel (Hampton, Va.) 6-0 QB/G (Jr.)
1991-92 -- Steve Taneyhill, Altoona (Pa.) 6-3 QB/G
1990-91 -- Marvin Harrison, Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) 6-0 WR/G
1989-90 -- Lawrence Moten, Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) 6-4 TE/G
1988-89 -- Terry Kirby, Tabb (Va.) 6-2 RB/G
1987-88 -- Carl Pickens, Murphy (N.C.) 6-3 WR/F
1986-87 -- Greg Skrepenak, G.A.R. (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) 6-8 OL/C
1985-86 -- Ed McCaffrey, Central Catholic (Allentown, Pa.) 6-5 TE/F
1984-85 -- Andre Rison, Northwestern (Flint, Mich.) 6-0 DB/G
1983-84 -- Chris Carter, Middletown (Ohio) 6-2 WR/G
1982-83 -- John Paye, Menlo (Atherton, Calif.) 6-3 QB/G
1981-82 -- Paul Jokisch, Brother Rice (Birmingham, Mich.) 6-7 WR/F
1980-81 -- Mark Rypien, Shadle Park (Spokane, Wash) 6-4 QB/G
1979-80 -- Reginald White, Howard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 6-6 DL/C
1978-79 -- Tony Hunter, Moeller (Cincinnati) 6-5 TE/F
1977-78 -- Ken McAlister, Oakland (Calif.) 6-5 LB/F
1976-77 -- Danny Ainge, North Eugene (Eugene, Ore.) 6-4 WR/G
1975-76 -- Butch Carter, Middletown (Ohio) 6-5 WR/G
1974-75 -- Tony Nathan, Woodlawn (Birmingham, Ala.) 6-2 ATH/G
1973-74 -- Stan Rome, Valdosta (Ga.) 6-5 WR/F
1972-73 -- Lester Hayes, Wheatley (Houston) 6-1 LB/G
1971-72 -- Quinn Buckner, Thornridge (Dolton, Ill.) 6-2 DB/G
1970-71 -- Charles Cleveland, Bibb County (Centerville, Ala.) 6-5 WR/F
1969-70 -- Joel Parker, Clearwater (Fla.), 6-5 WR/F
1968-69 -- George McGinnis, Washington (Indianapolis) 6-7 TE/F
1967-68 -- George McGinnis, Washington (Indianapolis) 6-7 TE/F (Jr.)
1966-67 -- Dan Fife, Clarkston (Mich.) 6-2 ATH/G
1965-66 -- Jim Mandich, Solon (Ohio) 6-2 TE/F
1964-65 -- Norm Van Lier, Lincoln (Midland, Pa.) 6-0 QB/G
1963-64 -- Ken Stabler, Foley (Ala.) 6-3 QB/F
1962-63 -- Randy Mahaffey, LaGrane (Ga.) 6-6 DE/F
1961-62 -- Myron Erickson, Orland (Calif.) 6-5 WR/C
1960-61 -- Lance Rentzel, Casady (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 6-2 RB/G
1959-60 -- Archie Roberts, Holyoke (Mass.) 6-0 QB/G
1958-59 -- Terry Baker, Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) 6-2 QB/G
1957-58 -- John Havlicek, Bridgeport (Ohio) 6-5 QB/F
1956-57 -- Glynn Gregory, Abilene (Texas) 6-2 RB/G
1955-56 -- George Greathouse, Phoenix Union (Phoenix, Ariz.) 5-9 RB/G
1954-55 -- Randy Duncan, Roosevelt (Des Moines, Iowa) 6-0 QB/G

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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RELATED: 5 Things We Learned At Hoophall West

Boogie Fland, 2024 6’3 PG - Archbishop Stepinac (NY)
Dynamic pg going to Kentucky put on a show and led Stepinac to a win vs Perry (AZ) in a matchup of FAB 50 ranked teams. He compiled 27 points and showed high level shot creation. Good first step, creates separation off the bounce and is an adequate passer. Making a strong case as a Burger Boy and a top 15 player in his class.

Danny Carbuccia, 2025 6’0 PG - Archbishop Stepinac (NY)
Speedy guard that gets downhill. His ability to get plenty of paint touches generates a lot of attention of the defense, which allows him to find the open shooters on kickouts. As a shooter, he seems capable and he made the game winning three-pointer for Stepinac, but I wouldn’t say three point shooting is a strength of his. Regardless, tough, fast guard that’s a regular visitor in the paint.

Koa Peat, 2025 6’8 PF - Perry (AZ)
Koa makes plays that translate. A big physical wing-forward that’s a strong playmaker. Quality mid-range scorer with a college ready frame that sees the floor well. Can resort to more of a bully-ball type of offense in spurts, but I thought he did an adequate job balancing his approach. His playmaking upside to go with his size and perimeter skills makes him a matchup nightmare and he's also a good passer off the double teams.

D’Andre Harrison, 2025 6’5 SF - Perry HS (AZ)
Was very productive. Harrison is a lefty, utility wing that impacts winning. Rebounds and plays bigger than listed height, was a recipient of Koa Peat’s outlet passes that led to transition dunks and he connected on perimeter and mid-range shots off the catch.

Isiah Harwell, 2025 6’5 SG - Wasatch (UT)
Isiah had a fairly slow first half on Friday vs. AZ Compass Prep but in second half he showed why he’s a 5-Star guard in 2025. Made open shots, got to the rim when attacking closeouts and scored from the post when he had the size advantage. Energy and effort went up and he impacted the game on both ends. One aspect of Harwell I locked in on was his strong base. It allowed him to switch and hold own vs skinnier post players. There's alot to like about his game.

John Mobley Jr., 2024 6’0 PG - Wasatch (UT)
The Ohio State Signee was hot on the offensive end. Needs little space to connect on shots from three. He’s a versatile shooter that quickly launches off the catch, move and dribble effectively. Was player of the game in Wasatch key win vs AZ Compass.

Augustine Ekwe, 2025 6’10 C - Wasatch (UT)
Augustine from a physical profile draws similarities to TCU signee Malick Diallo who also plays at Wasatch. Augustine from what I was told has only played basketball for approximately 24 months, but I like what I saw. Engine stayed on, ran the floor, altered and blocks shots at the rim and showed promising touch with right handed hooks going over the left shoulder. Consistency will be key for him going forward especially as he’ll consume the starting role with Diallo out with an ACL injury for the season.

Jeremiah Fears, 2025 6’3 CG - AZ Compass (AZ)
Despite his team losing, I thought Fears was one of the bright spots on Friday evening. Got to the paint and completed crafty attempts at the rim, made shots off the bounce and showed adequate playmaking ability. Fears is more of a combo guard than his older broth Jeremy, but his play with be vital to AZ Compass' success in the EYBL Scholastic League.

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Enter the EIBC.

Founded by BFL Prep head coach Barry Jones, the EIBC provides a platform that offers not just convenience, but elite competition for schools throughout the nation. Rather than traveling across the country to play just one of two games, the EIBC offers programs the opportunity to play four games in four days each month at one central location throughout the country. Additionally, it makes things far easier for players to get exposure from both college coaches and scouts since there are more than a dozen legit prep schools all under one roof. The first session was hosted by Colorado Prep just outside of Denver, and did not disappoint in terms of talent.

Jason Asemota, 6’8, SF/PF, Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 2024
The most dominant scorer of the EIBC Session I was undoubtedly Jason Asemota of Hillcrest Prep. Standing a legit 6-foot-8, the consensus top-25 scorer showed that he’s the prototype for a new age forward in today’s game. The Boston native is a deadly 3-point shooter with his feet set (hit seven 3PT in one half), has shown promise defending multiple positions on the floor, and seemingly finds a way to hang nearly 30 points on the board every time he touches the floor. Headed to Baylor next year, Asemota has the size and talent to be an immediate impact player from the second he touches down in Waco.

JJ Mandaquit, 6’1, PG, Utah Prep (UT), 2025
Some guys play checkers whereas others play chess, and JJ Mandaquit is definitely a chess player. The headiest guard we saw at the EIBC, Mandaquit saw the game one pass ahead, utilized a change of speed to throw defenses off constantly, and made unique finishes off the wrong leg throughout the weekend. The USA Basketball lead guard is the next Filipino-American product to make a splash and will have his choice of virtually any school in the country.

Jovan Milicevic, 6’9, PF/C, Canyon International Academy (AZ), 2024
One of my favorite players to watch throughout the weekend was Jovan Milicevic, a Canadian big who produces at an absurd rate. Certainly not the most athletic player in the EIBC, Jovan offers a feathery touch to the 3-point line, uses his sturdy body to create separation for his scoring moves on the block, and is a great positional rebounder. Toss in the fact that he can be used as a playmaking post player and you see why New Mexico locked up the Canadian big man early in the signing period.

Christian Gilliland, 6’2, PG/SG, Albuquerque Prep (NM), 2025
A player who I hadn’t seen prior to the event, Christian Gilliland was the most athletic guard that the EIBC had to offer. The Memphis native is a strong guard who can finish over the top of the defense with either hand, is an explosive slasher, and proved to be a really nice on ball defender. The Gateway Basketball Club combo guard will undoubtedly be one of the biggest stock risers that the EIBC has to offer.

Paul Osaruyi, 6’9, PF, Canyon International Academy (AZ), 2027
While he didn’t put up huge numbers throughout the weekend, Paul Osaruyi left no doubt that he’s one of the nation’s elite players in the class of 2027. Blessed with an outstanding frame, the Canadian big man showed promising range as a 3-point shooter and changed the game on both ends of the floor with his freakish athleticism. Having made a huge impact for the Canadian U-16 team, Osaruyi has firmly established himself in the conversation for the top player in the class of 2027.

Cole Bekkering, 6’5, SG, Edge Prep (CAN), 2025
As far as straight snipers are concerned, Cole Bekkering firmly established himself as one of the premier shooters in the class of 2025 at the EIBC. He can shoot it on the move going either way, has a quick release, and has no shortage of confidence shooting the ball from NBA range. Bekkering has also made a huge impact in the NorthPoleHoops National Prep Association in Canada, showing his impact on both sides of the border.

Josiah Sanders, 6’4, PG/SG, Colorado Prep (CO), 2025
One of the more physical guards in the EIBC, Josiah Sanders used his strong frame to consistently finish through contact all weekend long for Colorado Prep. The lefty owns a great change of pace, is a sneaky athlete, and utilizes his strength to defend a number of positions on the defensive end. Already owning an offer from Northern Colorado, their staff was in attendance to watch Sanders again throughout the weekend.

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RELATED:? Preseason 2022-23 FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 (16-30) | Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 (31-50) | Preseason East Region Top 20 | Preseason Southeast Region Top 20 ?| Preseason Midwest Region Top 20 | Preseason Southwest Region Top 20 | Preseason West Region Top 20 | Preseason FAB 50 Show (REPLAY) | ?Ballislife Podcast Network?| FAB 50 Rankings Criteria | History of High School Team Rankings

Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50
Region-By-Region Rankings

By Ronnie Flores

(Final 2022-23 ranking in parentheses; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included)

FAB 50 Preseason?
SOUTHWEST Region Top 20
(Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

1. (1) Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 27-1?
2. (4) Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 22-8?
3. (7) Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas) 31-3**?
4. (NR) Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 32-8
5. (9) Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 26-2?
6. (NR) South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas) 20-14
7. (2) Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 28-1?
8. (6) Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.) 29-0
9. (12) Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) 24-7?
10. (NR) W.T. White (Dallas, Texas) 17-13
11. (NR) Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis, Mo.) 29-4?
12. (NR) Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) 32-2
13. (NR) Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas) 34-5
14. (NR) Plano East (Plano, Texas) 31-5
15. (NR) Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, Ark.) 27-7
16. (NR) Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) 21-9
17. (5) Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) 36-2?
18. (13) Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 29-1?
19. (19) Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.) 21-4?
20. (16) Broken Arrow (Broken Arrow, Okla.) 27-2?

RELATED: Preseason 2022-23 FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 (16-30) | Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 (31-50) | Preseason East Region Top 20 | Preseason Southeast Region Top 20 ?| Preseason Midwest Region Top 20 | Preseason Southwest Region Top 20 | Preseason West Region Top 20 | Preseason FAB 50 Show (REPLAY) | ?Ballislife Podcast Network?| FAB 50 Rankings Criteria | History of High School Team Rankings

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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Kingston Flemings vs Waxahachie

It may seem weird to say this season could be a breakout year for 2025 Kingston Flemings of preseason FAB 50 No. 30 Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) especially after last year’s performance. He’s already a top 100? player nationally, but I think he’ll solidify himself higher than that and into the top 50 range. At The First Look in Brennan’s scrimmage vs. FAB 50 bubble club Waxahachie,? Kingston strung together a 17-pt. 11-reb and 6-ast performance. Kingston’s balance of scoring and passing was present in this matchup. He got to the paint, zipped passes to the open man when the defense gravitated heavily to him. His added strength with plus vertical pop allowed him to rebound in traffic and ignite fast and secondary breaks. Best guard in the state of Texas and holds a strong argument of being the best player in his class in Texas.

Antoine  & Armon Almuttar vs Denton

The Almuttar twins of Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, Texas) are a handful to cover. The 2026 duo are versatile players that can impact the game in a multitude of ways. Rebounding, transition playmakers, paint finishers through contact and make a jumper when left open.

In Parish Episcopal School's scrimmage victory vs Denton, Antoine Almuttar had 17 points, seven rebounds, 6 assists and four steals on 70 percent shooting.?

Armon collected 15 points, six assists and five rebounds.

LD Jones vs Kimball

It was a fun matchup between Kimball and North Forney. Fast paced, athletic plays and a lot of talking on the court. 2025 LD Jones of North Forney accumulated 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and two steals. An athletic, downhill guard that thrived in the pace of the game and showcased his speed and vertical pop in transition. Led his team to a win. Also wanted to point out Kei’von Johnson’s statline: 17 points, three rebounds and three steals.

Jaylon Dean-Vines vs North Forney

Speaking of athletic power, 2025 Jaylon Dean-Vines for Kimball has a lot of that. An explosive wing-guard that gets off the ground fast and high; even in traffic. He exploded for 24 points on 10 for 12 shooting and 3-of-3 from deep.?

TK Lawson vs LD Bell

Versatility and feel are big strengths when it comes to T.K. Lawson. At about 6’6-6’7 Lawson knows how to play. A 2024 prospect that’s a swiss army knife. Functional handle, a playmaker in the open court and has strong rebounding instincts. 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists on 7-of-9 shooting.?

Tyreek Swindle vs Pace Academy

Someone that has made huge strides in his game. A 2026 guard that’s engine stays on. Although it was a loss for Roosevelt (Dallas, Texas), Swindle accumulated 18 points and five rebounds, as he seems comfortable in his mid-range game and has a nose for the ball.

David Wilson vs Red Oak

This Grind Prep Academy group is very well coached and their game vs. North Crowley was a good evaluation game. 2024 David Wilson flies up and down the court. An athletic finisher that’s an active rebounder, assertive driver to the rim and an adequate help-side shot-blocker. Wilson finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in Grind Prep’s scrimmage win.

Dawson Battie vs LD Bell

A monster game for 2027 Dawson Battie. A 6’6 wing that’s one of the best prospects we have in the class. He recorded 24 points & 10 rebounds in St. Marks’ win vs LD Bell. Someone that can mix it up with his scoring. Can go inside as a driver and offensive rebounder and finish. Also a young player that can handle on the perimeter and make shots off the bounce. Crazy upside with this one.?

Zolan Skinner vs PSAT National

Richardson Lake Highlands will be a formidable team in UIL 6A this season. 2024 Zolan Skinner is coming to his own. He's a 6’5 athletic wing-forward that plays with a high motor. Mid-range shooting has improved, he rebounds well for size and finishes above the rim. He’s learning how to play the game and showing progression in his skill-level. 19 points, seven rebounds in Lake Highlands’ win vs PSAT.?

Jeremia Buress vs BigTyme Regional

IL-Texas had to reload after its team made it to the championship game last season in TCSAAL. 2024 Jeremia Buress made key plays in this 9 am matchup. Got to the rim and finished, kept the defense honest draining a three ball, plus I liked his intensity on the defensive end. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

Nicholas Addison vs RWG Stem

Cedar Hill plays with a lot of aggression. Defends full court, embrace physicality as a group and will be a tough matchup for anyone in the state. Lefty 2024 wing Nicholas Addison led the way for Cedar Hill vs RWG Stem. Had 13 points , five assists and two rebounds, as he knew how to carve space on his drives going left and showed improved poise when navigating through traffic to make the right basketball play.

Ethan Sheats vs Crowley

One of the better 2026 prospects the state has to offer, Ethan Sheats of Denton (Guyer, Texas) is a 6’8 wing-forward with a ton of upside. Can make open shots from deep, comfortable getting into a mid-range pull-up and is active as a rebounder. In Denton’s loss vs Crowley, Ethan produced 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

R’Chaun King & Christian Alston vs Lancaster

Bartlett (Tenn.) bounced back well after its scrimmage game vs TACA, and secured a win vs Lancaster. The front-court duo of Christian Alston and R’Chaun King provided formidable scoring and rebounding. Alston, an Abiline Christian commit, recorded 18 points and five rebounds as he’s a high level finisher with an adequate pull-up game.? King is a load inside. A physical post that can stretch the floor out some. His bread and butter is his ability to absorb contact and finish. His statline was 17 points, 8 rebounds, five steals and three assists.

Isaiah Kalala vs Duncanville

The junior forward is coming along. He was more assertive and confident with the ball inside. His shot mechanics from the mid-range area looked clean and made more attempts to alter shots around the rim. Hopefully, this is the Kalala we see more of in his campaign with W.T. White (Dallas). In a win vs preseason FAB 50 No. 47 Duncanville, Kalala recorded 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks on 50 percent shooting.?

BJ Davis & Kayden Edwards vs Ischool

Duncanville secured a 66-52 victory in its scrimmage vs. Ischool and their 2025’s carried the offensive load. 6’6 wing B.J. Davis had 18 points, five rebounds and two assists, as he showed his scoring efficiency on spot-up situations and in isolation off minimal dribbles. Kayden Edwards had a game high of 23 points, four rebounds and two steals on 70 percent shooting. A lefty speedster that’s a legit threat from deep. Have to locate him at all times when you’re on defense. His ability to blow by the defender to get to the rim, but also be a threat to connect on step-back threes, makes him a tough cover.?

David Iweze vs Duncanville 

When 2025 David Iweze is locked in, he impacts games on both ends. Ischool was down 20 points and its run to decrease the deficit to six points was due to Iweze’s increase in his offensive aggression. Blocking shots, running rim to rim, finishing inside and cleaning up rebounds. He fouled out with a couple minutes left in the game, but David finished the matchup with 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Mason White vs Hallsville

White in Denton Guyer’s win vs. Hallsville recorded a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double. A heady 2025 guard that gained plenty of paint touches. Driver to the rim, active on the offensive glass, as he collected six of them and albeit not shooting it well from deep, he gained an offensive rhythm by finding the rim.?

Anton McDermott vs Denton Guyer

I like Anton’s game. A 2024 prospect that falls fairly under the radar as a collegiate prospect. 6’5, quality movement shooter and plays with an edge. In Hallsville’s lost vs. Guyer (Denton, Texas), McDermott constructed a 22-point, 11-rebound and 3-steall outing. In my opinion, a D1 level player.?

Jordan Vasquez vs Seagoville

Efficient is the key word in Jordan’s performance vs Seagoville. 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep and he did that in 21 minutes of play. Jordan got hot early, gathered easy shots in transition and sprinted to spots while playing off the ball to gain a quality shot from deep.?

Trent Pane vs WT White

Allen’s overall defense was on lock vs WT White, only allowing 21 points in their matchup. 2025 guard Trent Pane is a handful. Athletic guard, albeit on the smaller side, is tough, can be a pesky defender and is a natural scorer with the ball in his hands.?

Leon Horner vs Waxahachie

2024 Leon Horner has been consistently good all fall. A 6’6 wing with a strong frame and playstyle. Switches and guards multiple positions, someone that excels in spot-up situations as a shooter, attacker on closeouts, hand-offs to get to his midrange jumper or be a driver to the rim. In Dynamic Prep’s scrimmage vs Waxahachie, Horner recorded 14 points on 66 percent shooting and five rebounds.?

TJ Burch & Perico Smith vs Bartlett 

Another fun game to watch. The TACA Storm group played with a meanstreak. In its rout vs. Bartlett HS, McNeese State commit TJ Burch led the way with 19 points and four steals and got wherever he wanted to on the court. Additionally, his finishing abilities translate to the college level. One of the best guards in the 2024 class in Texas. 2024 Perico Smith is a 6’4 combo that recorded 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. A strong built guard with a crafty handle. Really can score it in isolation and make plays for others.

Tyran Mason vs Mesquite Horn

The UNT commit is a pure bucket. A three level scorer that can make tough shots consistently. In Plano’s win vs Mesquite Horn, Mason put together 24 points on 61 percent shooting, six rebounds and four assists. A great pick-up for UNT and someone that shows translatable scoring power.

Bryce Melvin vs Kimball

Someone that is putting himself in the high major prospect category in 2025. Melvin of RWG was a matchup problem for Kimball. In a loss, Melvin orchestrated 16 points, nine rebounds and six steals. A sturdy built guard that’s found an appropriate shot diet and improving his balancing act of playmaking and scoring?

Parker Jefferson vs SA Brennan

The result of the scrimmage vs SA Brennan for Waxahachie wasn’t ideal, but 2025 big man Parker Jefferson excelled in his role. A skilled big man with a functional handle for his size and scores it with back to the basket and face-up game. Finished matchup with 18 points, 6 rebounds and two steals on over 50 percent shooting.?

Kaison Mebane vs Leadership Prep

Pace Academy has a talented group and finished 2-0 in its scrimmages at The First Look. Athletic 2024 guard Kaison Mebane had a monster statline in their morning win vs Leadership Prep. 14 points, seven rebounds and a whopping seven steals. A downhill off-guard that thrives in transition as a finisher and active as an off ball cutter.?

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Held at various locations throughout Minnesota, the Breakdown Fall League has the vast majority of the state's top programs playing in one of their events at some point throughout the fall. While the squads can't be coached by head coaches, the Breakdown Fall League still offers extremely competitive play and serves as a great opportunity to evaluate players from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Here are a few of the standouts from the opening week of the Breakdown Fall League:

Casmir Chavis, 6’3, PG, Park Center HS (MN), 2024
The state’s best unsigned senior showed his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court at the Breakdown Fall League. Chavis is an exceptional on ball defender, collecting double digit steals in the two games combined on Sunday. He showcased his freakish athleticism with creative finishes at the rack, played through contact on both ends, and brought no shortage of infectious energy to Park Center. Having narrowed his list to Georgia, Arizona State, West Virginia, and Washington, the J-Sizzle playmaker will be announcing his college decision on November 3rd.

Jackson McAndrew, 6’9, SF/PF, Wayzata HS (MN), 2024
It’s been a wild year for Jackson McAndrew. The 6-foot-9 versatile forward won a state title for Wayzata, saw his stock skyrocket to the point that he is now a consensus top-50 recruit, and is the highest ranked player to sign with Creighton in recent memory. McAndrew is an effortless shooter both off the bounce and off the catch who knows how to utilize his size to create mismatches. The Howard Pulley senior also showed growth as a playmaker, initiating the offense countless times throughout the day. Overall, Jackson has had one of the highest ascensions of anyone in the class of 2024 over the past year and has certainly solidified himself as the front runner for Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball.

Christian Wiggins, 6’4, SG, Wayzata HS (MN), 2026
A transfer from Benilde St. Margaret’s, Christian Wiggins will benefit greatly playing alongside Jackson McAndrew in Wayzata’s open offense. Wiggins is one of the better shooters in the state, possessing effortless range and no shortage of confidence to let it fly. Having grown to 6-foot-4, his newfound height and added athleticism have taken him to a new level as a prospect, making him one of Minnesota’s very best in 2026.

Jackson Fowlkes, 6’5, SG, Park Center HS (MN), 2024
In today’s era when everyone wants shooters who can defend, Jackson Fowlkes is a hot commodity. He is outstanding playing out of dribble hand-offs, is a threat to shoot it anywhere out to 24 feet when his feet are set, and brings the versatility to defend a variety of positions. While Fowlkes has been on campus at a number of D1 schools, a college decision does not appear to be on the horizon anytime soon.

Tian Chatman, 6’3, PG, Totino-Grace (MN), 2026
In terms of the look test, Tian Chatman has everything one desires out of an ideal point guard prospect. He stands a legit 6-foot-3 with crazy length and possesses the ability to really distribute the rock with both hands. The younger brother of Ohio State lead guard Taison Chatman is one of the highest upside players in the class of 2026 that the state of Minnesota has to offer.

Jordan Cain, 6’3, SF, Minnetonka HS (MN), 2024
One of the state’s better unsigned seniors, Jordan Cain is the type of glue guy that colleges dream of. He can defend anywhere from the point guard to the power forward spot, brings an incredible amount of toughness to the court, and is fearless attacking the rim. Cain had a number of big games running with Howard Pulley on the AAU circuit and is bound for a monster senior campaign at Minnetonka.

Kevin Armstrong, 6’6, SF, Breck School (MN), 2024
As far as in state sleepers with upside are concerned, Kevin Armstrong is one of those guys who has definitely gotten the attention of college coaches. Armstrong has ideal size at a 6-foot-6, brings defensive versatility with his long arms (6’11 wingspan), and has shown serious flashes of being a knockdown three point shooter. The high academic senior has already stepped foot on campus at a number of Ivy League schools and will be an interesting name to follow in Minnesota during the late signing period.

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In a large camp with over 240 plus attendees from 14 states (plus the District of Columbia and Canada) it was about the only memorable deep range shot, as the story of the camp was the stand out big men in attendance. This camp was all about the brute force scoring, inside jostling, power finishes and elite rim protection provided by at least a half dozen campers. Leading the way was 14 feet of fine timber that matriculated to the East Region from different countries to learn the finer points of the game and put themselves on the radar of national high school scouts in America. That 14 feet was provided by two centers named camp co-Most Outstanding Players: South Sudan native Akol Nyok, a 7-foot-1 freshman (2027) from Glen Elg Country School (Glen Elg, Md.) and Columbia native Keiner Asprilla, a 7-foot-1 sophomore from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

Both Nyok and Asprilla played in the very first round of camp games on different courts and it was evident within the first few stanzas that it was going to be difficult to find better prospects in attendance than that sizable duo. Nyok is an elite shot blocker with impeccable timing, the ability to get to the attempt from all angles, soft defensive hands (doesn't chop at players or swat down), patience on offense and good interior passing. Add that all up and you will be hard pressed to find too many better prospects in the national 2027 class with better upside than Nyok.

Asprilla is a bundle of energy who challenges everything at the rim on both ends of the floor. Whereas Nyok was turning heads with his nimble ability and rim running, Asprilla could be heard from other courts. He loves to get downhill and finish with authority ala a young Darryl Dawkins or young Amar'e Stoudemire. Asprilla also can score around the rim with nice half hooks, basic drop steps and attacks the offensive glass with fervor. He can also step away from the rim with a solid face-up game and only needs to clean up a bit of the extra dribbling to be an absolute force in the high school game. That surely won't be a problem for Asprilla playing alongside All-American guard Dylan Harper and a host of other talented perimeter players at Don Bosco Prep.

After the first set of games was over, the stage was set for the two talented big men hailing from two different continents to match up in the top All-Star Game at the camp's conclusion. The matchup of tender timber didn't disappoint, even though Asprilla proved to be a bit stronger and able to dictate where he wanted to get to in the painted area easier this his seven-foot counterpart. Nyok definitely had his moments, but was a bit frustrated offensively when he felt Asprilla's chest-to-chest power.

Asprilla finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks shots for the white club. Nyok tallied two points, six rebounds, two blocks and a nifty assist for the winning black club. At the camp's conclusion, Asprilla shared Most Outstanding Player honors with his fellow big man, as Nyok graciously and humbly stepped forward to be honored. Nyok is a bit quiet but the fire burns inside him to improve. Nyok has all the tools to one day make a handsome penny with the roundball in his hands.

The Top 30 affair was an excellent game and a handful of players were worthy of Game MVP honors. Perry and Thomas were joined by teammate Collins Onyejiaka, a 6-foot-10 2026 no non-sense center from Newman School (Boston, Mass.), as MVPs along with the white club's Josiah Jervis, a 6-foot-5 wing from Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.).

Thomas was shooting and play-making at a high clip and was a worthy MVP selection after the title of camp's top guard was in full deliberation heading into the all-star games. Thomas ended the discussion with his performance, which included seven points and an unofficial Pangos Frosh/Soph Cream of the Crop individual record 13 assists, including the game-winner. Thomas' New Heights Lightning EYBL partner Perry finished with a game-high 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Also scoring 16 points for the victors was 6-foot-7 2027 forward Andrew Kretkowski of Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.).

The Black club built a nine-point halftime lead, but after the White Club stormed back in the second half and actually took the lead, it was the inside-outside combination of Thomas and Onyejiaka that got things rolling and made the game quite entertaining. Thomas found the New England-bred big man on a host of pick-in-rolls and drop offs to the tune of 14 points. Onyejiaka only missed one shot from the field. Jervis led the way for the White club with 15 points.

While Thomas and Perry are travel ball buddies, Perry and Jervis are actually high school teammates and New York City Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) rivals of Thomas.

"I'm a pass first guard and it's just a natural part of my game to make others happy and get them the ball," Thomas said. "I was blessed to be named to The Top 30 game. As far as battling Stepinac, we lost alot so I know I am going to have to really rebound and get my teammates involved."

"I knew he was going to hit me in the corner," Perry said.

The difference in talent level was stark between the first all-star game and second Cream of the Crop Top 70 game reserved for the camp's next 40 best players. Event director Dinos Trigonis usually doesn't go so deep with his second game selections, but there easily could have been 20 additional players worthy of some kind of recognition for the second all-star game. There were that many talented players right below the first group. Trigons also felt the shot-blocking ability was perhaps the best he's ever seen at any of his regional frosh/soph camps over the past 10 years.

In addition to Perry and Jervis, one more Archbishop Stepinac player made the Top 30 game with two additional Crusaders selected for the Top 70 game. Darius Ratliff, a 6-foot-8 2026 forward and the son of former three-time NBA block block champ Theo Ratliff, scored five points for the White club. He had some terrific moments during camp games facing up and making shots and blocking some on the inside at a high level.

His twin brother Adonis Ratliff, a shade shorter at around 6-foot-7, had three points and a blocked shot for the Black club in the Cream of the Crop Top 70 game, while high school teammate Hassan Koureissi, a 6-foot-4 2026 guard, proved to be one of the better players in the Top 70 game. He scored 11 points for the Black club.

With five players rated amongst the Top 50 camp performers, Stepinac coach Patrick Massaroni has plenty of nice, young depth to build around star guard and recent Kentucky commit Boogie Fland. It's no wonder the Crusaders are expected to be one of the top East Region teams when the preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 National Team Rankings drop on October 29.

The White club rolled to an easy 104-77 victory in the Top 70 game. Selected MVP for the wining club was 6-foot-9 2026 forward Shane Pendergrass of Mt Zion Prep (Lanham, Md.) with 6-foot-1 2026 guard Jordan Dill nabbing honors representing the Black club. Pendergrass was easily the top performer in the Top 70 contest and the only player who legitimately had a claim for a Top 30 slot. He competed well and his motor didn't stop until he collected 22 points and nine rebounds.

The left-handed Dill finished with 15 points.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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Nic Codie Has Added Muscle

It was my first time seeing 2024 Nic Codie play since the NCAA July live viewing period, and he looks stronger. He played stronger as well, while playing through contact to garner a rebound and on drives, he embraced contact better to get to his spots to finish. Now he isn’t completely out-muscling guys, but the added strength definitely is helping him. Liked his motor and consistency at Wootten. 

2024 Evals

Jalen Shelley, 6’8 Wing - Link Year Academy (MO): Coming from Frisco, Texas, Shelley was good at Wootten Camp. Lefty that showed his scoring prowess. Comfortable getting to the mid-range and shooting, but overall, he seemed to be more comfortable shooting off the bounce. A versatile scoring threat, that when hot, can make shots in bunches. 

David Castillo, 6’1 PG - Sunrise Christian (KS): From Oklahoma, the K-State pledge played well at Wootten Camp. Was hot from deep, showed extended range and because he was such a threat from 3-point land, he was able to get to the rim and finish strong. 

Micah Robinson, 6’6 Wing - Oak Hill (VA): Also coming from the DFW, I thought the TCU commit was solid. Played the right way, moved the ball and made threes off the catch. Wasn’t very assertive, but he made the right basketball play and worked within the flow of the game. A power wing that’s a dependable 3-point shooter and utilizes his body on drives. 

Dillon Battie, 6’7 PF - Lancaster (TX): Talk about power, Dillon plays with a lot of it. Strongly built, plays very well off of two feet and showed an improved jumper. Dillon's engine continues to go and when he finds his perfect blend of inside-out scoring, he can be a matchup problem at the next level. Has official visits set up with Washington and Washington State.

The 2026’s Shined

Thought it was a good showing for the 2026 prospects from the Southwest Region. Jacob Lanier (Maumelle, AR) out of Arkansas really showed his playmaking. He got to spots, made the right read consistently and shot it well off the catch. Someone that’s impactful playing on and off the ball. Will hear his name amongst the upper tier of that class nationally until he graduates. A lot of upside with this one.

JJ Andrews (Little Rock Christian Academy, AR) made an impact especially in transition. A power athlete that was fantastic in transition, as he displayed his athleticism. He was a strong driver to the rim, absorbing contact well and flashing his shooting when the defense played off of him. Showed why he’s nationally known and continuing to rise. 

From Texas, I was impressed with Dakari Spear (The Colony, TX). A 6’4 combo that shows adequate shot making abilities. Doesn’t have crazy blow by speed but he’s crafty, uses body to generate separation and holds good elevation on his pull-up jumper. Trent Perry (Frisco Lone Star, TX) made his presence known as well. Athletic but uses go-go gadget arms to finish over taller defenders. Like his upside as a defender, his shot mechanics look cleaner and he seems more comfortable shooting from 3-point land. Alex Barther (Eastern Hills, TX) is a big wing that plays with energy in this atmosphere. He’s versatile, I was interested in seeing how he would be versus the older guys and I thought he was just fine. He looked comfortable getting to the mid-range, competing on the defensive end. Definitely think he’s a plus team defender that communicates. I know what Barther can do offensively, but it’s the other stuff that impressed me. Can impact games without the scoring. 

Hudson Greer Continues To Perform

No matter the event, 2025 Hudson Greer seems to be productive. Pangos Camps, heard great things at USA Basketball, fall league games,  and now here at Wootten 150 Camp. An athletic wing that's an opportunistic scorer. Attacks the rim on closeouts and when receiving a hand-off, finds the ball on missed shots and puts it back with slams, running the floor and finishing transition plays. His shooting is coming along and he makes open threes. Better shooter off the catch, but his overall off the dribble shooting has seen an up-tick as well. He’s putting himself in the category as a potential McDonald’s All American for 2025. It’s early, there’s a lot of basketball to be played, but he’s helping himself a lot.

2025 Evals

Jaden Toombs, 6’9 C - Dynamic Prep (TX): Jaden was very solid. He knows how to play and he has great touch around the rim. He also flashed his 3-point shooting as a pop guy. He's commitment to improving his body, expanding his game, but not floating and settling. 

Leroy Kelly IV, 6’2 2/1 CG - Dynamic Prep (TX): It’s a big year for Leroy. In years past, he primarily played off the ball but he’s transitioning on playing more of a primary ball-handler role. I believe he’s a better decision maker than he was a year ago so I think the transition is going fine but he hasn’t learned how to blend it all together yet. When he’s confident in his jumper, he’s a hard cover because he’s a versatile shooter. Combined that with improved passer feel and skills, he can put a lot of pressure on the defense.

Jermaine O’Neal, 6’5 Wing - Dynamic Prep (TX): Really showed his mid-range scoring prowess. Jermaine takes shots you probably wouldn’t want others to take but they go in. Contested one-legged fades, pull-up jumpers with a hand in his face, O’Neal isn’t fazed by the defender and puts the ball in the hole. 

Kayden Edwards, 6’2 2/1 CG - Duncanville (TX): A lefty scoring guard with supreme confidence. Made shots from deep, has a short memory and is fast with the ball. Love his upside as a scorer and playmaker.

Dorian Hayes, 6’4 SG - Ridgepoint (TX): I like Hayes' upside. A scoring guard that has his best basketball is ahead of him. He uses his length on the offensive end as a shooter. Extending over the contest, Hayes uses minimal dribbles to create space and generate shot opportunities. Doesn’t get talked much in this class but he’s one to keep tabs on.

King Grace, 6’4 2/1 CG - Waxahachie (TX): A scoring guard that has improved as a live dribble passer. I know he can score the ball but I wanted to see how he’s improved as a passer and overall decision maker. It’s definitely better than it was in the past, but there’s still times he puts himself in no-win opportunities on offense. Shot looks cleaner as well and he’s a confident scorer that can fill it up quick. 

David Iweze, 6’8 PF/C - Ischool (TX): David has made big strides since April and is playing with more confidence. Grabs rebounds and initiates transition breaks. A good passer but a risky one at that so he’ll have goofy turnovers. He’s a versatile offensive threat with a good feel of the game. When his motor is on, he’s uber effective.  

Cam Smith, 6’6 SF - Duncanville (TX): Cam continues to grow on me. First saw him in Atlanta in the summer and he was good, but he’s improved since March. Playing more in control and with better balance. He made athletic finishes in transition, showed a more functional handle and has improved as an overall shooter. High upside with this one, such as Dorian Hayes, is good now but will be really good later. 

Outside The Region Observations

I have many notes from prospects even outside the Southwest and I came away very impressed with 2026 Chris Washington (The Villages, FL). A big wing-forward with long arms. He can make shots with space, assertive on the glass and is a rim deterrent. He has some rawness to him offensively, as he can get out of control at times but his upside is tremendous. Will be ranked high in his class throughout his high school career. 

More Notes

Donnie Freeman, 2025 6’9 PF - IMG (FL): Motor was continuously running and was making shots as a trail, pop or spot up guy. Mixed energy, effort, toughness and perimeter shooting well and was one of the top performers there. 

Moustapha Thiam, 2025 7’ C - DME Academy (FL): Has gotten stronger and is playing through contact better. Faced up and scored, had a good amount of offensive rebounding attempts and showed upside as a guy that can space the floor down the road. 

Nikolas Khamenia, 2025 6’7 PF/SF - Harvard Westlake (CA): Skill and feel. That immediately stands out when watching Nikolas plays. Terrific footwork, shooting touch and is crafty. Understands angles very well and keeps the defense guessing. What helps him out as well is his passing feel. He hits the open target or the guy in stride which then opens up his scoring opportunities. 

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