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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With NCAA member schools focusing their recruiting efforts on the transfer portal for the month on April, the NCAA decided to move its spring live weekend to May (17-19) for the 2024 recruiting calendar. Travel teams are still attending events in April to warm up, get acclimated and to decide roster fits.

Twenty-six travel teams, both shoe-sponsored and independent, descended on Gibson Park in Miami to participate in the Fantastic 40. Our colleague Rodger Bohn will focus on stock-risers and top performers from the three-day event, so we decided to give a rundown of some under-the-radar recruits (from a national perspective) that had a good showing.

O'Neal Delancey, Gibbs (Tampa, Fla.) 6-2 2027 CG
The Florida Rebels EYBL have a terrific talent level on their 15u club and their backcourt has a chance to be special. We evaluated and mentioned 2027 point guard Cayden Daughtry of Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) during the Tarkanian Classic in December, so we decided to spotlight his backcourt mate Delancey. He made a huge splash during the high school season and was terrific at the Fantastic 40 as well. Sprinting into a pull-up jumper or stopping smoothly to hit a mid-range J is a lost art, but that's what sticks out about Delancey's game like a sore thumb. He can shoot in traffic or set up the right play on a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 advantage. He was particularly effective in a highly-competitive 79-72 win over Jet Academy 15U on Saturday afternoon, finishing with 21 points. In fact, he and Daughtry (who is more of a lead guard) combined for 54 points. Plenty was expected of Delancey coming into the 2023-24 high school season and he delivered for Gibbs, finishing as the second-leading scorer (15.4 ppg) behind 2025 guard Jacob Daniels for a team that won the Class 4A state crown.

Myles Fuentes, Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 6-1 2027 PG
This cat-quick guard made a big impression at the event for All Ball 17U with his court savvy and play-making ability. While Fuentes' rep is growing nationally, he's well known in the Sunshine State after starting on a Riviera Prep team that captured the Florida Class 3A state title and finished No. 17 in the FAB 50 Southeast Regional Rankings. Fuentes already has plenty of high school experience, and international FIBA experience, as he started as an eighth grader for Riviera Prep and also plays for Puerto Rico's 16U National Team. That combination of experience and savvy stands out even when playing up, as he can thread the needle and makes the right decisions under duress. Look for him on the UAA Rise 17U circuit this year with All Ball (FL). His older brother, fellow Riviera Prep starter Mason Fuentes, is a 2026 point guard who is a blur with the ball and gets in the key at will. The travel team the brothers belong to is coached by their father, Joseph Fuentes.

Myles Jones, Gateway Charter (Ft. Myers, Fla.) 6-3 2025 SG
Good all-around athlete is having a terrific spring so far for Team Knight NB 17U. Jones has an improving jumper to combine with his D1 athleticism. He finishes well around the basket through contact, plays at rim level and is a capable defender to boot. Jones also gets after it on the glass and just needs to shore up his handling and dishing skills to take his recruitment to the next level.

Cam McKinney, LA Premier Prep (Downey, Calif.) 6-6 2027 WF
This Oakland native made a terrific impact for Arizona Unity 16U and has a bright future in the game. McKinney really got in a stance on the defensive end and can guard the wing or eat space inside. McKinney's skill level is improving and his move to SoCal was intended to put him on a good training regimen with the goal of taking his game to the next level. He already has the frame, motor and desire.

Jaion Pitt, Canyon International Academy (Glendale, Ariz.) 6-8 2025 PF
This Toronto native has a productive season in EYBL Scholastic League play and is using this travel season to expand his offensive repertoire. Pitt has an old school forward's game, but at the Fantastic 40 was successfully using his triple-threat game to keep defenses honest and create lanes for himself and teammates. Pitt, the third leading rebounder in the EYBL Scholastic, is pretty confident in the progression of his game and is hearing from schools all over the country. The consensus Top 75 prospect is hearing from Michigan St., Oregon, among others, and fields offers from ASU, OSU and CAL, among others.

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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10 Fantastic 40 Standouts
(Listed Alphabetically):??

Ray Allen III (Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, FL/Florida Lightning 16U) 6-0 G 2023:
Has good form and lift on his jumper and that shouldn’t come as a big surprise considering his father is one of the greatest pure shooters ever. His father also coaches this 16U team for Gary DeCesare, the veteran coach at Gulliver Prep who has mentored countless future D1 players. Allen III is not as big or athletic as dad was in high school in the early 1990s, but he plays more on the ball and has the ability to make tough shots. The young team Allen III plays on took its lumps at times at this event, but it was a great learning experience and this young guard will be one to watch as the summer unfolds.

Marcus Allen (Norland/Miami Gardens, FL/LAB 17U) 6-6 F 2024:
We spent most of our time tracking younger players at the Fantastic 40 and Allen stood out as one of the best long term prospects. He’s already a physical specimen and this terrific athlete can really get after it on the wing, whether it’s defending or slashing to the basket. For a player with only one year of high school ball under his belt, Allen already possesses solid skill, including a nice step-through move and the ability to create space in tight quarters. His Norland teammate, Clarence Burts, is a 6-foot-3 2024 prospect who also turned heads among scouts. Burts is more of a lead guard type and with him and Allen, the future is bright for both Norland and LAB 17U.

Tyshawn Bridges (Academy of Science/Milwaukee, WI/KL Power 5) 6-1 G 2024:
Would be hard-pressed to find a better freshman lead guard in the Midwest than this terrific all-around talent. Still has three more summers to improve and that’s a scary sight because he’s already a terrific point-man now. Bridges always keeps his head up looking for openings and can really thread the needle with either hand. Bridges can also get down hill and is a terrific rebounder from the lead guard position. He also keeps defenses honest with a nice perimeter stroke and can finish at the rim. Teams keyed on him at times and still couldn’t stop Bridges from impacting winning basketball.

Isaiah Elohim (Heritage Christian, Northridge, CA/Belmont Shore) 6-4 G 2024:
With a limited summer in 2020, with the high school season in Nevada cancelled and California and other Western states delayed until the spring, we don’t have as good read on the 2024 West Region pecking order as we’d like. It’s safe to say, however, when we feel more comfortable with the 2024s, Elohim will be right near the top. He has a terrific combination of size, skill, and athleticism to make an immediate impact on both high school and 17U competition. Elohim can play on the ball, covers ground as a slasher, and is an effortless scorer. He netted a big basket late to lead his team to a victory over Rhode Island Elite. When it’s all said and done, Elohim will be able to punch his ticket to almost any high major program in the country.

Jamar Franklin (Rockledge, FL/Team Speights 17U) 6-4 G 2022:
This club had plenty of standout 2022s who should see their recruitment take off this summer, but we highlight this combo guard. Franklin is a terrific athlete and a skilled scorer who went over 20 points on multiple occasions at the Fantastic 40. Jaylen Jordon, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Hilliard (FL), and Derrick Mitchell, a 6-foot-5 wing out of Tampa Catholic (FL), also had strong weekends. Jordan is a strong lefty who converts a ton of baskets by the rim using his motor and strong frame, while Mitchell attacks the rim with a vengeance.

Jaden Henley (Colony, Ontario, CA/Team Inland 17U) 6-5 F 2023:
Veteran grassroots coach Elvert “Kool Aid” Perry is excited about many of the young prospects in his program and this 10th-grader was his best performer of the weekend. Henley is a slashing wing who can blow by defenders and finish around the rim, or create for himself off the dribble. Henley also isn’t afraid to take (or make) the big shot. Michael Miller, a 6-foot-4 2022 from Oak Hills (Hesperia, CA) is another talented wing guard who made good plays for Inland 17U and is one to track.

Scotty Middleton (Patrick School, Elizabeth, NJ/LAB 17U) 6-7 F 2023:
One of the best all-around talents and prospects at the event, Middleton can play a variety of positions and easily projects as a national Top 50-75 player on the low end. He can play on the ball and read defenses or can slash and score effectively. Middleton also can shoot the deep ball and can hit the pull-up three quite well for a young player his size. Patrick School, a FAB 50 ranked club that finished 14-1, was hit by COVID-19 and never really found its stride. According to coach Chris Chavannes, he was the back-up point guard, could play multiple positions and had as good an individual season as anyone on the talent-laden team.

Isaiah Miranda (The Phelps School, Malvern, PA/Rhode Island Elite) 7-1 C 2023:
There were plenty of excellent 2023 prospects in attendance and this agile big man was arguably the most intriguing of the bunch. Miranda shows great promise because he’s coordinated and can run well. Miranda can rim-run and finishes well above the rim. He also has a nice combination of power and finesse with the ability to float on the perimeter and make some plays. The more one watches him, the more one realizes he has solid touch on his shot. With normal progression, he will be big-time in a few years.

Ausar & Amen Thompson (Pine Crest, Ft. Lauderdale FL/Illinois Stars) 6-6 G 2022:
The Thompson twins were arguably the most talked-about players in Miami, and for good reason. They are both oozing with talent and potential and bring a high level of excitement to the court. Both could use a bit more intensity at times, but that is nit-picking because their ability helps teams win. The duo helped Pine Crest capture the FHSAA Class 4A state crown with a 21-1 record. The twins played like Top 50 national prospects in this event with the ability to move up. They are similar in height, as Amen plays with the ball more as a facilitator on his travel team, while Ausar is more of a scoring finisher. They are versatile, so the differences were minimal in this setting. Amen is a smooth passer while Ausar also has good instinct. They can see the play ahead and are both explosive finishers around the basket. Their frame and game scream high ceiling and it wouldn’t surprise us if both tick upwards on the national rankings radar this summer.

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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