RELATED: 2024-25 Preseason FAB 50 Questionnaire - CLICK HERE to fill it out!

When it comes to the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com, we actually compile them based on what happens on the court and weigh the results. It's not just about who has the most recruitable players or who is playing on television; it's about building a team's resume to a certain point and then maintaining that level based on the on-court results.

Here are three simple steps you can take to give your team the best chance to get ranked this upcoming 2024-25 season:

Give Your Team A Chance

1. Let Us Know About Your Team
It's never too early to let us know you have a good team. In fact, we are starting to gather team info for the 2024-25 season right now. Coaches, please completely fill out the preseason FAB 50 questionnaire. CLICK HERE to go to the form. The more info we have on your team, the better!

2. Compile and Promote Relevant Team Info
Once in a while a coach or team director will reach out to us about being ranked. Our response is usually, "send me your roster and your stats." You'd be surprised by how many do not have the basics for their team. A functional website is great and the best, but if that's not possible, an up-to-date social media handle with all the results and stats does the trick, too. Some schools are terrific at getting out information and others are not so good. It's Ballislife's job to seek information and know the teams, but with so many teams out there and so much competition to be ranked, it's only common sense to want to help make that task easier since recognition for the players is what it's all about.

3. Be Honest and Consistent
There are programs that hit us up every year to let us know about their team, even if it's not good enough to be nationally or regionally ranked. We appreciate that. Sometimes, we know if a team is expected to be really good because the coach will reach out early and often. And then there are those that embellish the truth or exaggerate. We know some are just trying to get their team out there, but being dis-honest usually comes back around and after doing rankings for so many years, we have a good idea when information about a team or player is not accurate. High school stats are not common (especially since the newspaper industry no longer has the staff to publish them) so getting accurate info from a third party source is not as easy as it was 20 years ago. In press releases for college signings, high school stats are not referenced as much as they were 15 years ago. That info is still relevant and is actually helpful to evaluate players for the next level.

Reaching out early in the preseason is a great step. Below are eight ways your team can get ranked, whether you reach out or not, when the games start and results begin to pour in.

How Your Team Can Get Ranked

1. Play the Strongest Schedule Possible.
Teams that desire to be ranked in the FAB 50 play competitive schedules, including tournaments or showcases with opponents that are good enough to be ranked, too. The adage "If you want to be the best, beat the best" holds true.

2. Defeat a FAB 50-Ranked Team.
Upsets are common in boys' hoops, but beating a ranked team -- especially a winning team with a good track record -- can make a huge statement.

3. Own Significant Head-to-Head Victories.
These results carry weight among FAB 50 editors. A non-ranked team has a strong argument if it defeats a ranked team -- or previously ranked team. Sometimes in basketball, there are "fluke" wins, where a non-ranked team upsets a highly-ranked team, then goes back to playing at the level it previously was at. That's why a pattern of success or winning a tournament with multiple FAB 50-ranked teams is a sure way to move?up or into the rankings.

4. Earn a High Ranking in Your State or Region.
The FAB 50 takes into consideration credible state rankings. If a team wants to be nationally ranked, it should consistently show up in state or local rankings.

5. Root For Your Rivals.
If an opponent you've defeated beats other highly ranked teams during its season, it bodes well and makes a great case for you team to move up in the rankings.

6. Come From one of the Traditional Hoops Hotbeds.
A successful program’s location in a traditional hotbed for boys' basketball such as New York City, Philadelphia, Southern California, or Chicago certainly doesn't hurt its chances to be ranked. This category has expanded and contracted over the years. For instance, high school basketball in Texas once lagged behind spring football. Not anymore. Phoenix is quickly becoming a great place for college coaches to find players.

7. Dominate a Non-Power State.
Plenty of ranked teams fit into this category. That is why teams with extended and dominant in-state successes make the cut. They've earned their spot by setting standards in those states (multiple state title streaks, record victory streaks, etc.).

8. Have a Top Recruit on Your Team.
"Wait a minute,"?you might say.?"I thought the FAB 50 rankings were based on game results, not player rankings." That is true, the FAB 50 is based on game results. But with the explosion of national events, holiday tournaments and intersectional competition, boys' basketball has the most solid foundation to rank teams among the high school sports. That relates to individual talent because in basketball, one player can make a big difference. Having a player near the top of the 247Sports, Rivals.com, Scouts.com, ESPN.com or Hoop Scoop player rankings increases the likelihood of being invited to a tournament or showcase. That’s where the opportunity to defeat another ranked team lies.

FAB 50 Basketball Policy:?We do not rank teams with players on the roster that have completed eight semesters of high school i.e. 5th-year players. We do not rank programs that don't follow age cutoff guidelines of the state association in which the program resides or the recommended date outlined by the NFHS ?(19 before September 1). Programs also must be recognized by a high school athletics governing body or be an associate member of a state association. Generally, programs must be allowed to play members schools of the state association in which the program resides and, outside of recruiting, follow all other rules of the high school governing body in that particular state. If coaches intentionally provide false or misleading information about his/her program, it automatically disqualifies that particular program from inclusion in the FAB 50 this year and each subsequent year.

2023-24 Preseason FAB 50 Questionnaire: CLICK HERE to fill it out!

FAB 50 Basketball Policy:?We do not rank teams with players on the roster that have completed eight semesters of high school i.e. 5th-year players. We do not rank programs that don't follow age cutoff guidelines of the state association in which the program resides or the recommended date outlined by the NFHS ?(19 before September 1). Programs also must be recognized by a high school athletics governing body or be an associate member of a state association. Generally, programs must be allowed to play members schools of the state association in which the program resides and, outside of recruiting, follow all other rules of the high school governing body in that particular state. If coaches intentionally provide false or misleading information about his/her program, it automatically disqualifies that particular program from inclusion in the FAB 50 this year and each subsequent year.

The post Let Us Know About Your Team! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

For Roosevelt, the Mustangs used a monster overtime stanza from Colorado State-bound senior Darnez Slater to record a 76-71 win over host Damien (La Verne, Calif.), which sent the game to an extra period on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by 5-foot-9 sophomore Elijah Smith. With Damien trialing 63-60, Roosevelt called a timeout with under twenty seconds remaining and with Damien in possession after a loose ball. The clock wound down all the way to 4.8 seconds before the Mustangs' Brayden Burries knocked the ball out of bounds. Damien retained possession and both teams called a timeout to go over strategy. The Spartans even called another timeout with 2.9 seconds remaining that had the crowd on the edge of their seat. That crowd exploded after an inbounds pass that junior (2025) 7-foot big man Nate Garcia was unable to reach caromed to Smith, who calmly stepped to his left and fired a 3-pointer that swished through the net to make the score 63-63 and give the lively crowd four more minutes of basketball.

That's when Slater went to work to put Roosevelt (15-1) in Saturday's 8:30 title game. He had two points in regulation, but quickly hit a 3-pointer then converted a soft lay-up after a steal by junior 5-foot-9 guard Myles Walker (13 points) that gave the Mustangs a 72-67 lead with 1:17 remaining in the extra period. When Slater then coverted a sweeping, running junior hook with 35 seconds to go, it made the score 74-69 and it was apparent Roosevelt wasn't going to be denied. In all, Slater scored Roosevelt's first 11 points in overtime and finished with 13 points.

Garcia (15 points) made two free throws with 22.9 seconds remaining to once again make it a one possession game (74-71) before Roosevelt junior guard Issac Williamson sealed matters by making two free throws with 21.8 seconds remaining.

During regulation, Xavier Clinton, a 6-foot-4 senior, did most of the damage for Damien (13-2) with 20 points. In a back-and-forth affair, it's pretty safe to say Roosevelt wouldn't have been in position to win down the stretch without the play of Burries, its splendid 2025 wing guard. One of the best players nationally in his class, Burries got to the rim when he needed to, finishing with 31 points, and pulled down seven rebounds. Fans are in store for a real treat on Saturday evening with Burries matching up with St. John Bosco's 6-foot-5 lead guard Elzie Harrington, who helped the Braves advance to the title game with 14 points in its 68-66 overtime overtime victory over previous unbeaten Salesian (Richmond, Calif.).

St. John Bosco, which came in at No. 18 in the latest FAB 50 National Rankings update, moved to 13-1 with the victory with its only loss a 74-71 setback to Christ The King (Middle Village, N.Y.) in the semifinals of the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. Salesian, which is No. 40 (one spot below the DeMatha Catholic of Maryland club that Bosco beat in its final game in Hawaii) fell to 12-1 with the two-point loss.

The first semifinal contest in the Platinum Division wasn't decided until The Pride was unable to get off a shot with 0.4 seconds remaining after 7-foot Bosco sophomore Howie Wu was inserted to harass the in-bound pass attempt by Salesian's Hawaii-bound guard Aaron Claytor (10 points). Wu did just enough that Claytor was unable to get a clean pass over to Salesian's big shot-maker, 6-foot-4 junior Alvin Loving IV, as no shot attempt was taken.

Early in the game, St. John Bosco coach Matt Dunn was not exactly pleased with his team's effort and execution and he let the players know about it. That tounge-lashing paid off after Harrington scored what turned out to be the game-winning layup on a contested drive with 23 seconds remaining in overtime. After the basket, the Braves put forth terrific defensive effort on Salesian's last possession while The Pride, a team with a multitude of capable play-makers, worked the ball around for an open look. They didn't get any clean looks before the ball was tipped out of bounds and Wu inserted into the contest.

Sophomore Elias Obenyah, part of California's terrific 2026 class, led four Salesian players in double figures with 14 points. Six-foot-5 sophomore Carlton Perrilliat added 13 points with play-making senior De'Undrae Perteete netting 10 for Salesian.

The Harrington-Burries matchup is highly-anticipated, but the X-factor in the contest could be 6-foot-4 Brandon McCoy, who leads California's sophomore contingent and is now playing at a level where he is in the running to lead the class nationally. He's that talented and explosive. McCoy led the way for Bosco with a game-high 28 points, including some field goals that were back-breaking for Salesian and five points in the extra period.

While Bosco hasn't lost in-state, Roosevelt's only loss came in double overtime to JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.). That club took its first loss of the season in the quarterfinals of The Holiday Classic presented by SBLive. It was a resounding 60-42 setback to Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas), which punched its ticket to the National Division championship game on Friday evening with a 75-55 victory over St. Augustine (San Diego Calif.). Texas A & M–Corpus Christi signee Issac Williams, a 6-foot-2 guard, led Faith Family with 22 points over a team that took third place in the top division at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

Faith Family came into The Holiday Classic at 7-8 against a rugged national schedule, but is starting to play like a team that was ranked No. 27 in the preseason FAB 50 rankings. Colorado-bound big man Doryan Onwuchekwa leads a deep and balanced team that will do battle with Carlsbad (Calif.), which advanced to the title game via a 71-67 semifinal win over Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.). That means a big man battle will ensue between Onwuchekwa and Pepperdine-bound 6-foot-9 Jael Martin.

Tony Duckett, a 6-foot-4 senior who was the MVP of the Spalding Division at the Tarkanian Classic and is one of the West Region's top unsigned prospects, led the way for 13-2 Carlsbad in the semifinal win over Mitty with 18 points.

In the Gold Division of The Classic at Damien, St. Pius X-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.) came in as the prohibitive favorite after capturing the top division at the Tarkanian Classic and were looking at cracking the FAB 50 rankings with another title at The Classic. The Warriors' national and state ranking will have to be revisited after they fell in the semifinals to San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.), 67-62.

San Ramon Valley is no slouch, as it came into the event as the defending champion in the Gold Division and was eager to show (on a more national scale) that its wins last season were no fluke at all or Friday's victory not much of an upset. SRV is a well-schooled team that moves the ball well and has many capable scorers. None of them are better than fast-rising Luke Isaak, a 6-foot-4 junior (2025) and last year's MVP of the Gold Division. He netted 19 points in the big victory with rugged senior forward Seamus Deely adding 15.

Sam Ramon Valley will play for its second consecutive divisional title versus Dixie (St. George, Utah), a 74-69 semifinal winner over West Ranch (Valencia, 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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The Classic at Damien Platinum Division Semifinals (12/29)
Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) vs. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 7 pm
Damien (La Varne, Calif.) vs. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.), 8:30 pm

The Holiday Classic National Division Semifinals (12/29)
Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas) vs. St Augustine (San Diego, Calif.), 7 pm
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) vs. Carlsbad (Calif.), 8:35 pm

Alec Blair, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 6-7 SF 2025
He's more than a terrific athlete; he could be one of the best two-sport stars to come down the pike from the CIF North Coast Section in quite some time. In fact, we can't recall a basketball-baseball combo from California bound to be a high MLB draft pick who was this good at basketball. MLB sluggers Aaron Judge (Linden) and Giancarlo Stanton (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks), among others, were no where near the basketball player Blair is. Going back further, Hall of Fame writer Frank Burlison noted that 1980 No. 1 MLB draft pick Darryl Strawberry of L.A. Crenshaw was not the hooper Blair is. Like The Straw, Blair is a sweet-swinging lefty outfielder who is big-time on the hardwood. In fact, Blair was all-state last season as a sophomore and has made a big jump this winter. He looks taller than he did last year and his elite footwork, jump stops and feel has been on display at The Classic at Damien. Blair is also an elite passer and has a nasty streak on the glass, too. His Top 100 level game was on full display in De La Salle's 72-62 victory over Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.) in the first round of the Platinum Division with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. He didn't have quite that statistical output in the 51-42 quarterfinal loss to host Damien, but there is no doubt he'd be on the radar of even more P5 schools if basketball was surely in his future. In looks like he'll give baseball a try after high school, but it's never easy to forecast how a pro career goes and we've seen many instances where players try football or basketball later on. Regardless, Blair's future is bright.

Aidan Fowler, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) 5-11 PG 2024
The more one watches this cat-quick point guard, the more one wonders why Fowler doesn't have more college interest. Big Sky programs and high level D2s would be smart to take a deeper look and pull the trigger on JSerra's floor general. He can shoot the deep ball and sprint into a pull-up jumper, something that is rare among high school guards that are not going to P5 schools and even some of them can't do it. His sprinting with the ball and hustle without hit is a major plus for a college looking for a dependable guard. Fowler had 18 points and a handful of assists in JSerra's 72-45 first round victory over host Torrey Pines (Del Mar, Calif.) at The Holiday Classic. Even though JSerra suffered its first loss of the season in a 60-42 quarterfinal setback to battle-tested Faith Family, Fowler hit big shots en route to 16 points. Most impressive was how well he stayed in front of Faith Family's primarily ball-handlers defensively for the entire game.

Lamont Hartfield, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas) 6-5 W 2025
Faith Family is a battle-tested team with many contributors and this physically strong and talented junior is one of the key cogs. Colorado-bound big man Doryan Onwuchekwa is the ring-leader, but a number of players can make big shots and have so far in leading the Eagles into the National Division semifinals at Torry Pines. Hartfield has plenty of upside with his nice frame and ability to shoot off the catch. The talented lefty had eight points in a 62-54 first round win over O'Dea (Seattle, Wash.) and eight more, including two big 3-pointers in the second half, in his team's big 60-42 quarterfinal win over previously unbeaten JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.). With his combination of size, skill and knock down ability, he'll be a hot commodity to track during the spring travel season.

Luke Isaak, San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.) 6-4 SG 2025
This sharp-shooter was the Most Valuable Player of the Gold Division at The Classic at Damien last season and is off to a strong encore, as the defending divisional champ Wolves are in the semifinals after a 70-60 quarterfinal victory over Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.). Isaak went for 26 points after netting 16 points in his team's 54-52 first round win over Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) that came down to the last possession. As we're seeing in the NBA, teams that don't have consistent perimeter shooters struggle and college coaches can't have enough of them on their ever-changing rosters. Isaak foots the bill and should be getting serious D1 looks as he's one of those threats where the ball looks like it's going to drop every time. Isaak has faced good competition and puts up solid numbers while being a team-first player. One aspect of his game that really stands out to us is he's always under control and has his feet under him on the release. He is good on the catch and also moves well without the ball.

D'Marco Johnson, Santa Margarita (Calif.) 6-3 CG 2025
This lengthy guard just recently transferred in to Santa Magarita from academy-type program SoCal Academy and has been a shot in the arm for the Eagles. He can play on the ball with good slashing ability and can create for teammates, or off it and score with a versatile offensive skill set. Johnson has terrific length and uses it to finish around the rim, where his bounce allows him to get fouled at a high rate or finish over bigger defenders, or uses it to defend the perimeter with vigor. Johnson has plenty of legit D1 interest and if he continues to play as he did in the first two games down at Torrey Pines, it will continue to grow. He had nine points in the Eagles' 43-38 first round loss to Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) and came back for 16 points in the consolation victory over Waxahachie (Texas).

Gene Roebuck, La Mirada (Calif.) 6-4 WF 2027
This high-scoring wing is already one of the best bucket-getters in Southern California and gets our early vote as the best freshman in the Southland. Now, we haven't seen all of them in a highly-competitive environment just yet, but in terms of production in high-level games, he is deserving of the accolades he's compiling and will compile at the end of the season. Roebuck is skilled with the ball and can beat defenders in a variety of ways by using his strong frame and body control in the mold of former UCLA forward Kris Johnson. Roebuck also has the innate ability to get to the line, as we've already seen him get to the line more than 10 times on multiple occasions. Roebuck is also getting it done vs. high-level competition. He had 34 points in a 64-57 first round setback to Owyhee (meridian, Idaho) in the Platinum Division at The Classic at Damien. He then went for 44 points in a 82-80 loss to Branson (Ross, Calif.) in the consolation bracket. There is always the question of long-term potential (which is still obviously to be determined) vs. high-level production, but there is no question Roebuck is playing the game at a high level a month into his high school career.

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 Post Christmas Stock Risers! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

While there was more of a focus on local teams on day three, a number of players certainly saw their stock rise at the City of Palms Tourney:

Darius Acuff Jr., 6’2, PG, IMG Academy (FL), 2025
While Acuff Jr. is already a very highly touted player, performances like the one he had against back to back defending state champion Richmond Heights are what will lock him up as a McDonald’s All American and put him right there as the top point guard in class of 2025. Always known for his scoring prowess, Acuff Jr. was a one-man press break, killed defenders with his change of speed, and was a more than willing facilitator. His 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists (I think that number was a tad low) in a mere 21 minutes don’t even begin to tell the story of the impact that he had on the game. The son of former Eastern Kentucky guard Darius Acuff already has had a storied career, leading Detroit Cass Tech to their first ever state title as a sophomore last season.

Caleb Holt, 6’6, SG/SF, Buckhorn HS (AL), 2026
It’s hard to say that a player ranked in the top-5 by everyone nationally raised his stock, but given the fact that many haven’t seen Holt at the national level, he certainly did. Holt’s family has been very adamant about slowing down the process and focused on development rather than exposure early in his career since I first saw him at the varsity level as an eighth grader. The explosive athlete was a catalyst for Buckhorn, finished above the rim in transition, and defended virtually every position to tune of 21 points and eight rebounds in limited minutes.

Kayden Mingo, 6’1, PG, Long Island Lutheran (NY), 2025
While scoring machine VJ Edgecombe certainly paced the way, Mingo was the catalyst for Long Island Lutheran’s two quality wins thus far at City of Palms. The heady lead guard is leading EYBL Scholastic League in scoring, is an absolute blur in transition, and picked up a Wake Forest offer today with his play. Posting averages of 17 points and five steals per game, Mingo certainly solidified himself as a high major point guard this week.

Travis Perry, 6’2, PG, Lyon County High School (KY), 2024
Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer certainly showed that he could hold his own against elite competition, dropping 30 points against future McDonald’s All American Cam Scott at City of Palms. The volume shooter is an extremely confident 3-point shooter (especially in transition), is a nice rebounder from the backcourt, and has super quick hands as an on ball defender. Perry surprised many with his commitment to Kentucky as they jumped in his recruitment relatively late, but the Big Blue Nation has certainly welcomed him with open arms.

Jeremy Wilson, 6’5, PF, Richmond Heights HS (OH), 2024
There are some dudes who have no fear no matter who they play, and Wilson was that guy against national power IMG Academy at City of Palms. Wilson had no problem mixing it up in the paint, was Richmond Heights’ best interior defender, and showed some versatility on the offensive end. While not a name nationally, Wilson is certainly an impact player for Ohio’s back-to-back defending state champions.

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Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division Final (12/21, PST)
St. Pius-St. Matthias (Calif.) 7-1 vs. Desert Mountain (Ariz.) 9-1, 4:30 pm
Tarkanian Classic Ball Dawgs Division Final (12/21, PST)
Weston Ranch (Stockton, Calif.) 6-1 vs. Liberty Magnet (Baton Rouge, La.) 12-2, 1:30 pm
Tarkanian Classic Spalding Division Final (12/21, PST)
Poly (Riverside, Calif.) 10-3 vs. Carlsbad (Calif.) 9-1, 12 pm

St. Pius-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.) doesn't always win pretty and tends to start slow, but if it wins and advances, the players don't care. That team-first philosophy had produced results at the 11th annual Tarkanian Classic and has put the Warriors in position to play for the Platinum Division championship.

The Warriors took on St. Augustine (9-2) and the CIF San Diego Section power led 36-32 at halftime in the semifinal contest. Saints was seemingly in control until St. Pius-St. Matthias (7-1) picked up the defense and started making timely buckets to post a 62-50 victory to advance to Thursday's 4:30 pm (PT) championship game.

St. Pius, which lone loss this season is to California No. 1 and FAB 50 No. 9 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) by one point in a road game, led 48-45 at the end of the third period, but Saint's first field goal of the final period came with just four minutes remaining in the eight minute stanza. St. Augustine finished with 14 points after intermission. Jaden Bailes, a sophomore guard and Saints' leading scorer in their first two tourney games, had 14 points, but only two after halftime.

St. Augustine had trouble slowing down Pius X big man Doug Langford, who forced double teams inside, created lanes for teammates and worked the offensive glass. The highly-recruited 2025 power forward finished with 20 points and seven rebounds.

San Francisco-bound wing Tyrone Riley of St. Pius-St. Matthias is similar to all-time great middleweight boxing champ Marvin Hager; he can be a slow starter but is a productive and championship player. Riley's mere presence is a threat to foes and he came up with timely shots and clutch rebounds in the second half vs. St. Augustine to finish with eight points.

"We came into the tournament with the mindset to win it (the title)," Riley said.

The Warriors are a scrappy bunch that never get too high or too low on themselves and received some timely second half shots from 6-foot-2 2024 (senior) Tylon Williams. Five-foot-8 2024 David Mack, the unsung hero of Tuesday's quarterfinal victory over FAB 50 No. 44 Alta (Sandy, Utah) with 20 points, came through again late vs. Saints for his team, which trailed by nine points in the second half in its first round win over Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) and by as much as 16 points in the second quarter in the big win over Alta. With 1:21 to go and St. Pius holding on to a 56-50 lead, Mack's slicing lay-up was a big moment and on the other end on Saints' next possession, he came up with a big rebound to put his team firmly in control.

"I just do whatever is needed for us to win," said Mack, a transfer from L.A. Fairfax. "We're just focused on winning."

The Warriors know how to come from behind to win and win in a variety of ways, but they probably can't afford too much of a slow start against their foe in the Platinum Division championship game. That's because Desert Mountain, a young outfit from Scottsdale, Ariz., that starts a pair of brothers who are sophomores and freshmen, have jumped all over teams and kept up the offensive pressure for 32 minutes in its first three victories.

The Wolves' 78-65 semifinal victory over Branson (Ross, Calif.) was no different, as they got it going early to move to 9-1 on the season and handed the Bulls their second loss (7-2 overall). All five of Desert Mountain's starters scored in the first period, as the Wolves led 17-10 after eight minutes.

All four of the Wolves' young perimeter players can burst by defenders, stop on a dime and pop the jumper or whip a pass, but their best player, 6-foot-3 sophomore Kaden House, simply does those things on another level than his peers in the national 2026 class. He is putting forth a show-stopping performance in Sin City and was already up to 20 points at halftime as his team led Branson, 40-30.

Junior guard Semetri Carr (24 points), a blur of a ball-handler himself, kept the Bulls in the game but they couldn't get over the hump dispite a 15-2 run that put Branson (which also got 23 points from Illinois-bound senior guard Jase Butler) within a point at 47-46 after trialing 45-31. The Branson run was stopped by a timely bucket by freshman (2027) guard Jabron Bardwell. From there Desert Mountain, which lost its only game of the season on a buzzer-beating shot by Pinnacle of Arizona, led 58-48 at the end of the third period with House up to 34 points.

In the end, the sophomore sensation was the difference in the game, as he once again nailed his free throws and sliced through the defense to the tune of 43 points and also had nine rebounds. Through three Platinum Division games, he's scored 104 points, good for a 34.7 ppg. One will be hard pressed to find a hotter player in the country or a better all-around guard in the West Region.

A star has been born in a city that has produced many of them over the years in scholastic and grassroots basketball, but the job is not done yet. St. Pius-St. Matthias may not have the same type of flash, but all it does is do its job and close out games.

The contrasting styles will make for quite the interesting Tarkanian Classic championship game.

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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Allen, Jenkins Combo Kicks off Day 2 of COP

My first game to watch in Fort Myers, FL was a quality one, as two Florida based programs in Victory Christian and Riviera Prep battled it out.?

Riviera Prep nabbed a 73-56 win and 2025 Dante Allen and 2027 Jeremy Jenkins played a large part in the victory. 

I’ve watched Allen multiple times, but this season is the first I’ve evaluated him being the primary scoring option. Liked how he got his teammates involved by finding guys running the floor or dishing it to the open man when he got to the paint. Because of his willingness to pass, it opened driving lanes and open shots for him. Allen recorded 17 points, six assists and five rebounds?

Jenkins will be a name talked about??plenty of times for the 2027 class.?

I saw him in Dallas last year as an eighth grader and he showed flashes of the skill but he physically dominated games for the most part. On the varsity level as a freshman, he has exhibited an array of skills. Possesses a clean shooting stroke at 6’7, scores with back to basket and facing up due to adequate footwork and touch. Jenkins offensive versatility poses as a matchup issue for opponents. Finished game with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Mater Dei With Convincing Win vs Windermere Prep

Five Players reached double figures in Mater Dei’s matchup over Windermere Prep of Florida.

Player Evals 

Mater Dei

Brannon Martinsen, 6’7 PF - 2026: Skilled forward that’s a capable shooter from deep. Embraces contact on back downs from the block and uses body well to generate enough space to get shot off over length. Operated well and made sound decisions in the high post, as a pick n pop guy and in the short roll. 

Luke Barnett, 6’3 SG - 2026: Shot over 50% from the field and 3-7 from deep. Attacked closeouts and got to the mid-range pull and floater game. Active off-ball mover who has extended range from deep.

Blake Davidson, 6’7 PF - 2025: Started the game out with a 3-pointer and I liked his assertiveness and toughness on the glass. Physical box-outs, active on offensive glass and can make jumpers when his feet is set. Activity and motor, to go along with his promising shooting touch, was on display.?

Windermere Prep

Sinan Huan, 7’ C - 2026: Lefty that’s a legit 7-footer that’s equipped with adequate touch around the rim. Coordinated for size and age, comfortable operating on the low block but could play with more toughness and aggression on the glass. Regardless, can see the tools and the talent.?

Brandon Bass Jr, 6’4 CG - 2026: Struggled shooting and seemed to have been pressing on offense when shots weren’t going in. Can see the talent though and I liked that he continued to compete on the defensive end regardless of how his offense was. A lefty with wiggle off the dribble and can shot create.?

Evening Recap

VJ Edgecomb leads LuHi vs Westminister Academy

LuHi, ranked No. 2 in the latest FAB 50 Rankings, came out the gates slow but executed better in the second half and recorded a 83-59 win vs. a talented Westminister squad. 5 star guard VJ Edgecomb showed why he’s one of the best in 2024. An explosive athlete that has polished up his offensive game. Major vertical pop, first step and one of if not the best wing defender in the country. He finished the game with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals on 61 percent shooting.?

Also wanted to note the impact of 2025 guard Kayden Mingo had on the game. Got downhill and to the paint multiple times, finished through contact, navigated well in tight spaces and was a pest as an on-ball defender, shooting through the gaps and racking steals as a team defender.?17 points, 2 assists and a whopping 6 steals.?

For Westminister, 2026 Alex Constanza is the real deal. A fluid 6’8 wing with legit guard skills. Everything looked effortless and clean. Long strides allowed him to get to spots in limited dribbles, he utilized his length to finish vs like-size length and he’s an adequate shooter also. Saw why he’s labeled one of the best overall prospects in 2026. 

Rutgers Commits Go Toe to Toe

The Scarlet Knights should be excited about what’s coming in 2024 from the high school side. Dylan Harper (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) and Ace Bailey (McEachern High School, GA) put on a show on Tuesday. Don Bosco ran away with it in the second half and won 76-50.?

Harper led his squad with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists on 11-for-17 shooting. The lefty pg was dominant. He controls the pace of the game, manages the floor and knows when to score the ball. He’s not speeding by the defender, but he’s using his body and ball-handling creativity to create space and score. Also wanted to note his ability to read double teams and skip passes to make the defense shift. He only recorded 3 assists, but he had a plethora of possessions that his pass led to the ball rotating and eventually generated a bucket.?

Ace Bailey continued to play hard and I respected that. Recorded 24 points and 7 rebounds. At 6’8 and the elevation he has on his jumper, there are so many shots he can create because of how high he gets off the floor and his high release point. There’s plenty of upside as a shot creator when he gets hot offensively, it’s very hard to cool him off as a defender. 

I know the transfer portal is a huge deal and labeled as the wave in college basketball, but these two will be impact freshmen and won’t be in college long.?

Columbus Found Rhythm and Defeat Archbishop Ryan

The evening matchups all were basically a tale of two halves. Columbus (Fla.) vs. Archbishop Ryan (Pa.) was no different.?

Ryan slowed down the pace of the game and its zone defense gave Columbus fits early on. Causing turnovers and Columbus didn’t shoot it well from deep. Offensively it scored off a heavy dose of back-door cuts and post feeds to Georgetown commit Thomas Sorber (11pts 9rebs & 3 assists).?

Columbus eventually found their groove and went on a scoring tear. The Explorers just played a lot fast and started attacking the paint in the zone. Jase Richardson was very good in this one with 17 points and 8 rebounds. An athletic, lefty guard that once he gets downhill, he’s finishing around the rim and playing above the rim. 5 star forward Cameron Boozer started to show why he’s arguably the best in his class, as he finished better around the rim and started utilizing his strength inside. He recorded 26 points, 8 rebounds on 62 percent shooting.?

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Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division Semifinals (12/20, PST)
St. Augustine (Calif.) 9-1 vs. St. Pius-St. Matthias (Calif.) 6-1, 6 pm
Desert Mountain (Ariz.) 8-1 vs. The Branson School (Calif.) 7-1, 7:30 pm

Jaden Bailes, St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.) 6-2 SG 2026
Has made a big splash so far in helping the Saints advance to the Platinum Division semifinals. He started it off by hitting five 3-pointers and netting 22 points in Saints' 52-41 first round victory over Mater Lakes (Miami, Fla.). In the quarterfinals, Bales made two big plays down the stretch to spark St. Augustine to a 55-52 comeback win over Arbor View (Las Vegas, Nev.). With 2:35 to go, the sophomore hit a big 3-pointer to give St. Augustine a 53-49 lead and on the next play Arbor View's Pharaoh Compton fouled out on an offensive foul. After Arbor View cut its deficit to one on a 3-pointer, Bailed hit a 8-foot baseline floater to make it 55-52 and account for the final margin. Bailes has good skill, deep range and a knack for being around the ball when it matters.

Javon Bardwell, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-3 W 2027
The Wolves start four underclassmen and all of them are some of the best players in their class in the West Region. In fact, Bardwell just might be the best 2027 high school player in the region and one of its better long-term prospects. Bardwell has length, athleticism, but most importantly, can handle the ball and finish going both ways. He's also an elite rebounding guard. After a terrific performance at the HoopHall West in Scottsdale, Ariz at the end of November, Bardwell has turned in terrific performances at the Tark Classic. He went for 26 points in the second half of the Wolves' 74-69 first round victory over Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.). He took a secondary scoring performance in the big 81-65 quarterfinal victory over host Bishop Gorman, but still handled the defensive pressure well and made some big defensive plays. Sophomore Kaden House is already well-known nationally and any credible ranking service that doesn't have the Desert Mountain star in its national 2026 Top 20 can't be taken too seriously. He's proving to be one of the best guards in the country, regardless of class. He went for 36 points in the Wolves' victory over Bishop Gorman and his brother Kalek House, a 6-foot-2 sophomore who is a bit more stockier and more scoring oriented, had 27 points as the House brothers accounted for 63 of their team's 81 points. Kalek can hit the 3-ball and has a nice mid-range game and all of Desert Mountain's ball-handlers can change direction and play with a nice pace.

Semetri Carr, The Branson School (Ross, Calif.) 6-1 CG 2025
Illinois-bound power point guard Jase Butler had it going in the Bulls' 71-57 first round win over St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.), finishing with 25 points, including four 3-pointers after halftime. He's physically dominant, so it's easy to see why Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) was hell-bent on slowing him down. Fortunately for Branson, it has another D1-bound guard that can hurt teams in a variety of ways. Carr is a slick guard with burst and good feel who is wired to score, but can handle it like a true lead guard. He also rebounds the ball well for his size and is not afraid to mix it up and draw fouls. When Calvary focused on Butler, Carr went to work in the first half, scoring 20 points. With the quarterfinal game in the balance entering the fourth quarter, the junior knocked down his foul shots while Butler got the hot hand from the field to help Branson outscore Calvary, 26-19, in the final eight minutes. Carr finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Butler hit four 3-pointers down the stretch in the fourth period and five for the game to finish with 20 points.

Cayden Daughtry, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 5-11 PG 2027
The Eagles have a big frontline and some balance, but the spark plug is a mercurial freshman who will turn 15 right after the high school season. Daugherty is under control with the dribble and has an elite separation game with the jump shot. He also has good instincts to roll to the open area when he doesn't have the rock. In the Eagles' 55-46 first round victory over Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Daughtery hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. In the quarterfinals, he had three second half 3-pointers to keep his team in range in a tough game with Branson (Ross, Calif.). The Eagles were down by one point entering the fourth quarter, but the wheels came off in the final eight minutes.

Nick Jefferson, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-1 CG 2025
Quick scoring lead guard is a fiery competitor for a Gaels team that is improving and hopes to make a run at the NIAA Class 5A state crown. Jefferson should see his recruitment uptick during the winter after going for 25 points, seven assists and four steals in Gorman's 67-63 first round victory over Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) and 24 points, five rebounds and four assists in the 81-65 loss to Desert Mountain.

Ace Reiser, Alta (Sandy, Utah) 5-11 PG 2024
D2s and lower level schools should take a deep look at this cerebral point guard that sees the court well and has a knack for not only the big play, but the right play. Also a pin-point passer, Resier had 20 points in Alta's 74-63 first round victory over tough Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.). Although Alta was upset in the quarterfinals by St. Pius-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.), he continued to make a positive impression, including a 35-foot, 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer that gave his team a 60-52 lead it would eventually give up. Reiser finished with 10 points. St. Pius-St. Matthias got a huge second half from San Francisco-bound Tyrone Riley to propel his team to a 81-69 quarterfinal victory. He's not under the radar per se, but is an absolute terrific get for the Dons. The smooth and versatile lefty with a college-ready frame netted 18 second-half points and finished with 24.

Michael Simcoe, Sandra Day O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-8 PF 2025
This is the most talked about prospect in the entire event, as he was a relatively unknown nationally at the beginning of the high school season. Many national scouts and college coaches were interest in seeing Sierra Vista (Las Vegas, Nev.) junior 7-footer Xavier Stanton vs. Simcoe in a first round Spalding Division matchup, and came away raving about O'Connor's big man. He's no longer a sleeper after scoring 26 points in the head-to-head matchup. Simcoe has a big frame that he knows how to use, good hands and the lefty can step outside and keep defenses honest with a well-timed 3-pointer. Simcoe had heavyweight colleges over at Sierra Vista High School looking at him on the second day of the tournament, but is probably more suited for the mid-major/mid-major plus level. His team fell to a solid Poly (Riverside, Calif.) club in the quarterfinals.

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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Here are a number of players who certainly saw their stock rise day two at the City of Palms Tourney:
Keiner Asprilla, 7’1, C, Don Bosco Prep (NJ), 2026
It was my first time seeing the Colombian big man and he certainly showed why he’s one of the country’s next gems down the road. He absolutely dominated the paint against an athletic McEachern (GA) team, grabbing rebounds with two hands above the rim and providing a formidable shot blocking presence. The Co-MVP of the prestigious Pangos All Frosh/Soph East camp also showed an advanced offensive game for a young big, ultimately finishing with 12 points and 14 rebounds in Don Bosco's big 76-50 win over McEachern (GA).

Darren Williams, 6’2, PG, Archbishop Ryan (PA), 2024
The catalyst for a tough Philly team that came into the event ranked No. 46 in the FAB 50, Williams definitely showed that he can hold his own against one of the nation’s finest teams in Christopher Columbus. The lefty playmaker showed off blazing speed, has nice range, and constantly kept defense on toes with ability to change directions. Headed to Florida Gulf Coast, Williams has ability to make immediate impact, exhibited by his 16 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals at City of Palms.

Alex Lloyd, 6’4, SG/PG, Westminster Academy (FL), 2025
A player who I’d seen before he ever played a high school game, I think people outside of the state of Florida forget how much Alex Lloyd brings to the table. Lloyd is an outstanding on ball defender, great cutter, and has really improved as a playmaker. The Nightrydas combo guard finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, showing why he’s a priority for virtually every high major in Florida.

Alier Maluk, 6’10, C, Long Island Lutheran (NY), 2025
A name well knownst amidst recruiting circles since early in his freshman year, people sometimes forget how good Alier Maluk actually is. The Florida State bound big was a much more willing roller/lob threat, played with more energy than he has in the past, and still maintained his presence as a 3-point threat. The native of South Sudan finished with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists in a blowout win.

Jaxon Richardson, 6’5, SG/SF, Christopher Columbus HS (FL), 2026
Playing for one of the best teams in the nation in Miami’s Christopher Columbus, ranked No. 7 in the FAB 50, minutes aren’t necessarily plentiful at times. In Columbus’ 73-38 victory at City of Palms, it was great to get an extended look at guys like Jaxon Richardson. The sophomore is an absolutely absurd athlete who is elite in transition, is a great cutter, and has shown flashes of dominance on the perimeter defensively. The son of a former NBA 20 PPG scorer Jason Richardson is certainly making moves to follow in his father’s footsteps.

D.J. Wimbley, 6’7, SF/PF, Westminster Academy (FL), 2025
One of the more versatile players that we saw at City of Palms was D.J. Wimbley. Able to play and defend inside/out, Wimbley is a rangy athlete, produces at a high rate, and showed great lateral quickness defending on the perimeter. Wimbley’s father (Dwayne Wimbley Sr.) was a 6-foot-9 forward for Miami in the 90’s, so the genetics are certainly in line for the high major forward to continue growing.

Sinan Huan, 7’0, C, Windermere Prep (FL), 2026
It was my first time watching the highly touted Chinese product and it was easy to see what the hype was about. The lefty big man ran the floor well, finished above the rim, and showed intriguing touch facing the rim. Huan had an outstanding performance for China’s U-16 National Team this past summer and piggybacked at City of Palms with 11 points and six rebounds on Tuesday.

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Arbor View (5-2) held a one point lead (51-50) after O'Connell's Bryson Tucker hit a 12-foot baseline jumper with 40 seconds remaining. O'Connell (5-2) didn't score on its next offensive opportunity and waited until 7.2 seconds remaining to foul Arbor View's Maxiumus Romero. He made one free throw, then the Knights got a break when there was an Arbor View lane violation on the second attempt. Tucker then took it the length of the floor for a slashing lay-up and the ball rolled around the rim...and rolled off. The extra toilet bowl roll prevented any potential tip-in as Arbor View advanced to play St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.) in Tuesday's second round.

Arbor View had four players in double figures with San Diego St.-bound forward Pharoah Compton, arguably Nevada's top senior and 6-foot-3 2024 guard DeMarion Yap each netting 13 points. Yap, the younger brother of Fresno St. guard Donovan Yap, hit two big 3-pointers late to aid in the upset bid.

Bishop O'Connell, which was coming off a one-point loss to Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), was hurt by the absence of sophomore guard Quincy Wadley, a terrific national Top 25 prospect in the 2026 class who is back in the D.M.V. getting a leg injury diagnosed. His absence was felt against a team that is hoping to give the local fans a team to get behind other than host Bishop Gorman.

St. Augustine, which came in as a top three team from San Diego County but on paper a shade below its prior two teams who participated in the tourney, advanced with a 52-41 victory over Mater Lakes (Miami, Fla.), which took its third loss of the season. Sophomore guard Jaden Bailes had a big game with six 3-pointers and 25 points for St. Augustine (8-1). Bailes is one of the better 2026 prospects in the tourney and is one to track for D1 college coaches.

The Vegas locals could have had three teams to get behind in the winner's bracket as Conorado (Henderson, Nev.) battled with state-ranked St. Pius-St. Matthias (Downey, Calif.) in a back-and-forth affair. The SoCal club, which came in 4-1, finally put it together down the stretch after a slow start and got the key bucket it needed with 36 seconds remaining. That's when San Francisco-bound wing Tyrone Riley made a contested baseline layup to give St. Pius-St. Matthias a four point lead in its eventual 67-62 victory.

Riley finished with 24 points after being held scoreless for the first 12 minutes of the game. Highly-regarded 6-foot-8 2025 power forward Doug Langford added 19 points. He's tracking nicely as a mid-major plus/high-major minus and Langford's production will be key in the quarterfinal matchup with Alta's 6-foot-8 Utah-bound Jaxon Johnson. The Sandy, Utah program entered the tournament at No. 44 in the FAB 50 and moved to 8-0 with its first-round victory.

In the best first round matchup in a battle of unbeatens, Alta took down 10-0 Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.). Alta took control of the game in the third period, outscoring the Golden Eagles, 16-8, as Clovis West netted only four points in the first six minutes of the quarter after trailing 37-30 at halftime. Leading the way in Alta's 74-63 win with a 20-point performance was 5-foot-11 2024 guard Ace Reiser, a composed and crafty shot-maker who can handle defensive pressure and wreak havoc on both sides of the ball. Johnson and 5-foot-8 2026 Dash Reiser, a blur with the ball and Ace's brother, both finished with 15 points.

In the opposite bracket, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) advanced to the quarterfinals to face host Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) with a 74-69 victory over battle-tested Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.). After a slow start Desert Mountain (7-1), in particular 6-foot-3 freshman (2027) Javon Bardwell, came alive in the second half, as he netted 26 of his 28 points in the final 16 minutes after not playing in the first period and scoring two points in the second. Desert Mountain, which owns a victory over highly-regarded Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), also got 24 points from 6-foot-3 sophomore point guard Kaden House before he fouled out. House, one of the most exciting players in the tournament, will need to quarterback his team to a lower turnover count to get it past the Gaels.

Bishop Gorman (6-0) was the second of the three Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association (NIAA) clubs to advance, taking down a game Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) club, 69-66. With the game in the balance, 2025 guard Nick Jefferson made two key buckets down the stretch and Grid-Hoop stud Jett Washington, a 6-foot-5 sophomore wing who doubles as a safety and wide receiver for the mythical national championship Gaels' football team, had a key steal and finish to give Bishop Gorman the cushion it needed. Jefferson finished with 25 points, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Washington, the nephew of the late Kobe Bryant, added 19 points and four steals. Sixteen of those points came in the critical fourth period.

Florida High School Athletic Association schools were 0-2 in the first round until Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) got the FHSAA off the schneid with its 55-46 victory over Centennial (Corona, Calif.), the event champion in 2019. Centennial (7-5) led 22-5, but the Eagles stormed back and caught Centennial at the end of the third period, 38-38, before pulling away in the fourth period, as the Huskies had trouble keeping Calvary Christian out of the paint. Centennial was also hurt when UCLA-bound wing Eric Freeny (9 points) fouled out with 5:32 remaining in the game.

Calvary Christian (6-1) was led to victory by 6-foot-7 2024 John Roland Jr. with 16 points. Junior 6-foot-7 forward Shon Abaev also made a second half impact and finished with 10 points. The Eagles also have a budding star in freshman (2027) point guard Cayden Daughtry, a 5-foot-11 dynamo who can handle the ball like a seasoned veteran, has a sweet shooting touch and can create separation for the 3-ball while being under control. Daughtry had 16 points, including three 3-pointers.

Calvary Christian will take on Branson (Ross, Calif.), which defeated St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.), 71-57, in a game that was a bit more competitive than the final score indicated. It was the first loss of the season for the Vikings.

The difference-maker for Branson (5-1) was Illinois-bound power guard Jase Butler, who made timely outside shots and also punished the Vikings inside. The 6-foot-4 senior finished with 25 points, including five 3-pointers with four coming after intermission.

Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division Quarterfinals (12/19, PST)
St. Augustine (Calif.) vs. Arbor View (Nev.), 4:30 pm
Alta (Utah) vs. St. Pius (Calif.), 6 pm
Desert Mountain (Ariz.) vs. Bishop Gorman (Nev.), 7:30 pm
Calvary Christian (Fla.) vs. The Branson School (Calif.), 9 pm

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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While it’s quite early, Erick Dampier Jr. could be the next on that list.

Already standing every bit of 6-foot-9 and just beginning eighth grade, the younger Dampier has been donned the top player in the class of 2028 by many scouting services. For those who don’t remember, his father (Erick Dampier Sr.) was the No. 6 pick in the legendary 1996 NBA Draft, went to the NBA Finals twice, and made nearly $100 million in his career. With such gargantuan size and such a strong lineage, the pressure can be a bit much for a middle schooler.

“There’s pressure all the time,” Dampier Jr. told Ballislife at the MSHTV Camp in Indianapolis. “Everyone expects me to play good every single game because my dad was in the NBA.”

With the combination of size, skill, and lineage that Erick brings to the table, it's tough to imagine him playing against middle schoolers. In fact, that is why the Dampier family has decided to let the intriguing big man play varsity basketball as an eighth grader this upcoming season.

"I'm going to be playing varsity this year for Madison-Ridgeland Academy," Dampier quietly announced at the MSHTV Camp. "I think I will be able to help the team with my finishing, my shot blocking, and my rebounding."

Having gotten an extensive look at the Alabama Fusion big man in Indianapolis at MSHTV, we agree. At every bit of 6-foot-9 with a 7'0 plus wingspan, the eighth grader already possesses ideal size for a big man in today's game. Having made huge strides in the past year with his perimeter game, potential has been shown as a shooter when his feet are set, in addition to the powerful presence that he maintains with his back to the basket.

Defensively, the youngster blends his physical prowess with the ability to contain on the perimeter in drop coverage when guarding the perimeter. He will be an immediate impact player as a positional rebounder and shot blocking presence at the high school level in Madison, Miss. The humble Dampier is fully aware that there is still a long road ahead, though.

"I am still in middle school and I haven't made it anywhere yet, but my name has definitely gotten a lot bigger than it was two years ago," the soft spoken big man admitted. "It's been kind of crazy. I never thought that I would be here three years ago."

That it certainly has been, but the Dampier family has been very adamant about taking the process slowly. Sure, there have already been viral videos and number one rankings. Colleges have already been putting scholarship offers on the table, too. The family has been keeping all that away from Erick Jr. and are letting him remain a kid for as long as possible, as we saw at MSHTV where he posed for countless photos with his peers and played the game with a youthful sense of joy.

"The camp is going great so far," Dampier said of his time playing against many of the nation’s elite 2028 prospects at MSHTV. "I've met a lot of people I've never met before and talked to people I've never met"

While there has been considerable success against his peers, the entire Dampier family knows that while they have a talented youngster under their roof, there are still a number of variables left in the equation before the ultimate goal is achieved. With dad going through the full gauntlet or roles in the league as both a lottery pick and then an enforcer in the paint for the Mavs in the Finals, priceless knowledge is right there under his roof. Toss in an incredibly supportive mother who is just as motivational in a different way and you see why the cards are in his favor to reach his potential.

"I just hope to make it to the NBA," Dampier Jr. said. I want to have a successful career, and just live the life I've always dreamed to have."

Erick Dampier Jr. and his Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Jackson, Miss.) teammates open their 2023-2024 high school season on November 16.

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RELATED: 5 Things Young Players Must Do

Everybody is going back to school in the next three weeks and this is an exciting time for students. Kids want to show off their new outfits, catch up with friends and meet new ones. For young athletes entering high school who play ball, there are dreams of making the varsity team and, of course, getting playing time. For some, the dream of hitting a game-wining shot or impressing a friend they like is something they want to turn into reality right now, not tomorrow. For some, that doesn’t happen right away or sometimes, it never does. Occasionally some players don’t physically grow much after junior high, others develop bad habits that don't improve their weaknesses while some become more interested in other activities and things. In some instances, players become disenchanted with the game and eventually stop developing or even worse, stop playing.

We’ve seen it happen.

So we wanted to share five main points any player can incorporate into their game or lifestyle that will help with development and grow their love of the game because it hurts when someone stops developing or doesn’t get on the court nearly as much as expected.

Communicate Effectively
You have to learn how to speak to your coaches and parents. Sometimes kids dread the car ride home because their parents critique or point out all the things that went wrong. The game is supposed to be fun and it won’t be if that happens after every practice or game. Learn how to speak up and tell your parent(s) that you’d like to talk about something else. Bring up something you’ve been meaning to say. Telling them how much you appreciate what they do for you will help. It cost plenty of time and money to pursue basketball and many times parents feel the stress of that and can take it out on their kid without even knowing it. You have to learn how to initiate and take charge in a conversation. It will also help you on the court and make the game more fun. Same thing applies with your high school coach, someone you might be playing for, for the first time. Know what his or her expectations are for the team and for yourself; if you don’t know what those are, ask. Ask coach what he wants his young players to focus improvement on. Perhaps it’s physical conditioning or maybe it's your weak hand. If he or she gives you that task, make sure to work on it and follow up. Don’t forget to turn in all your physicals and paperwork, bring your equipment and the things you need for practice each day. Hit your deadlines. Coaches don’t want to baby sit or keep reminding ninth graders and first year players.

Seek Reps
To get better and see the court early, you simply need more court time than the allotted time your new high school has for practice. Juniors and seniors are likely physically stronger than you even if the skill level is similar. You'll need the proper rest, but you need to work on some aspect of the game every day. Sometimes when you need a physical rest, it’s good to watch YouTube videos of a player whose game is similar to yours or a player you inspire to play like. Ask your coach, an older family member who knows something about the game, or a scout about a player from the past who has something you can incorporate into your game. Not everyone is going to be able to shoot like Steph Curry or jump from the foul line like Air Jordan. Dreaming and practicing those type of shots is okay, but incorporating more realistic aspects of your game will help you get better faster and see the court earlier. Gym time is precious at high school nowadays, so you need to quickly find out is there an open gym time or a time when you can come into the gym outside of a formal practice setting. If there is, take advantage! If coach tells you to work on your ball-handling, then do it. If coach says you need to get stronger, you need to get into a simple workout regimen that works best for your age group and ability.

Don’t Waste Time
Money can be replaced; time can’t. Don’t wait for coach our a loved one to tell you what to do, take charge of your time. There is never a dull moment when it comes to basketball. Maybe your team has an older coach who’s been around the game a long time. Seek him out and learn something. If you go to a camp, learn who people are, don’t wait for your parent(s) or your travel ball coach to introduce you to them. If you introduce yourself, they will be impressed and want to help you. Be prepared to go when practice starts, don't be the last to do things or be last in line. Don’t do drills 60 percent speed. Do them game speed every time and do them that way even when no coaches are watching. One of the most important things you can do is to learn to practice efficiently and not waste time dribbling the ball all over the place. If you’re working on shooting off the catch, then specifically work on that. If you are working on post moves, then focus on that, don’t get distracted by dribbling or making HORSE type shots. Focus. The late Kobe Bryant was legendary for not wasting time while practicing or warming up. We saw it first hand in his preparation for the 2008 Olympics and it was impressive to say the least how much he accomplished in 15-20 minutes by not being distracted by other players or what was going on around him. The faster you learn to value time, the more you can accomplish and the better player you will become.

Play in Different Environments
For those of us who were lucky enough to grow up with a court in our backyard or by a court that was always open, was such a blessing. To be able to play whenever you want and dream of making the big shot or pretending to be LeBron James is part of our makeup that is important and can never be taken away. With that being said, it’s also a comfortable environment. You feel comfortable and the shots seem to go down at a high rate. Have you ever tried shots you normally make in your backyard on another, unfamiliar court that don’t seem to go down? It’s because it’s uncomfortable and in order to get better and develop to the maximum of your potential you have to get uncomfortable. You have to learn how to play on various courts, in different places and in various conditions. You have to learn how to play half court basketball, in open runs versus more athletic players and with older players who are more physical and call less fouls. The older players you play with, the more you’ll realize they rely less on athleticism and more on moving with a purpose and using their mental ability as much as their physical ability. The more you can incorporate that into your game at a young age, the quicker you’ll improve. You have to learn how to relax and focus on fundamentals in a road environment. Good players do well in home games. Great players thrive on the road.

Play With Purpose & Passion
When you are real young, it’s usually a parent or older family member that will determine how much you play, but at some point there will be a reckoning. There will be that important moment where you will ask yourself, “how much do I want this? Do I really want this? Do I want to be a great player?” You can still enjoy the game, but those that love it and play with a passion will likely pass you up and play longer. On a past episode of our "In The Paint” Podcast, we talked with former all-NBA star Marques Johnson about a college teammate who was talented, but only did the basic and minimums to remain on the team and play in the league. It’s quite telling. On the flip side, we know a young NBA player whose mom wanted to throw him a party for his tenth birthday. Can you guess what he wanted to do for his tenth birthday? He wanted her to set up a basketball tournament! He loved the game and it’s one of the reasons why he eventually made the NBA. If you play with a purpose and the game has real meaning to you, it will help you when times get tough or you meet your physical ceiling. It will also help you find your purpose in the game, whether that be to get in coaching, or pursue another off-court job. Young talented players often like the game when it comes easy or thrive when they know they are better than most of their opponents. That situation can rapidly change once you get to high school and how much you play with a purpose or passion will reveal your response to adversity. Will you want to quit or will you work harder if and when that moment comes?

We spoke to a high level high school basketball coach from the South Region whose team has been recently FAB 50 ranked to get his take on what keeps young players from seeing the court early in their high school career:

“Two things ninth graders need to work on, in my book, would definitely be their physical conditioning and learning how to compete and play hard at all times. Too many times talented ninth graders can coast because they are more talented than their age group and then get to our level and struggle. Biggest two mistakes I see being made is attention to the defensive side of the ball and terrible shot selection."

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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He talked to me about the decision to re-class.?

“Me and my mom actually talked about it during COVID. I actually was going to graduate in 2023 at 17. We decided to stick it out at that time but before the school year ended, me, my mom and my uncle? decided it was best for me to go 2024 because I would still graduate at 18,” Leon said. “Also I thought it would help my recruitment and this spring with Drive Nation and playing with Dynamic Prep in June has helped me a lot.”

Horner has one official visit scheduled in September on the 7th at Sam Houston State and has been talking to Head Coach Chris Mudge and Assistant Jake White on a consistent basis. He plans on taking an official to UNT and potentially Loyola Chicago as well but just figuring out a date. Expect Leon to make a mid-season decision when it comes to committing.

“I plan on making a decision mid school season as I just want to visit everything first and make sure I’m playing somewhere that feels like family, has a winning pedigree and the play-style fits me because I know in a situation like that gives me a chance to reach my ultimate goal which is  to play in the NBA one day.”

I understand the mid-season decision as I believe he'll see an up-tick in his recruitment during the fall as there will be several chances Leon will play in front of coaches during the preseason & regular season.?Always a need for a big wing from college coaches as well.

Shifting gears, Leon talks about what he feels he brings to the table.

“I can really play 1-4. I go hard for rebounds but people mainly see me making shots and getting on the glass. I can switch on defense and guard, and I like to make plays for my teammates.  I like setting my teammates to score more than myself to be honest.”

Versatility is the word that pops out to me when describing the 6’6 wing-guard out of Frisco. A play-maker on the wing I feel is his prototype. Holds quality positional size and strength. Handles and passes it well off the live dribble, a physical driver to the rim and reliable as a catch & shoot threat. During the playoff run with Frisco Memorial I got to see him operate fine as a secondary/tertiary ball handler, make shots from deep and assist off ball-screens. Still some work there for him as a decision maker and scorer off the bounce but there’s a skill-set he holds that translates and if he continues to build and be more efficient, could have a potential all-league guy at the right fit.?

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Here are a number of the top youngsters I evaluated in my recent travels:

Darryn Peterson, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (OH), 2025 6-5 SG
The consensus No. 1 shooting guard in the class of 2025 nationally was matched up against defending D1 (highest classification) state champs Akron St. Vincent St. Mary over President’s Day weekend and despite constant face guards and double teams, certainly lived up to the hype. He dropped 28 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks from the two guard spot at the Ken Ganley Nissan Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic. Most impressive, he got to the line 17 times (hitting 15 of his free throws) via a variety of scoring moves with limited dribbles. Peterson will enter the spring AAU circuit as one of the most highly sought after players in the national class of 2025.

Jackson McAndrew, Wayzata HS (MN), 2024 6-9 PF/SF
The epitome of a new age forward, McAndrew brings the inside/outside game that college coaches are dying for out of someone standing 6-foot-9. He owns a picturesque stroke from the 3-point line with a fluid release, knows how to utilize his height to exploit mismatches, and has improved his level of physicality drastically over the past year. McAndrew holds a number of high major offers and will continue to add more running with Howard Pulley on the EYBL circuit.

Dorian Jones, Richmond Heights HS (OH), 2025 6-3 SG
The highest touted prospect from arguably the best team in Ohio regardless of division that recently cracked the Ballislife FAB 50, Jones is a name that is about to blow up nationally. Ranked by some in the top 50 nationally, the bouncy two guard has been essential piece for the defending D-4 state champs who own a 42-game winning streak. Jones is a freak athlete who plays well above the rim, has deep range well beyond the 3-point line, and has the potential to be a lockdown defender. Already the owner of offers from programs such as Michigan State, Houston, Ohio State, and a host of others, Dorian will be one of the hotter names from the Midwest in the EYBL.

Jaleel Donley, Benilde St. Margaret’s (MN), 2025 6-1 PG
The best lead guard in Minnesota’s sophomore class has continued to put his footprint on that spot and doesn’t appear to be moving off it anytime soon. In a recent game I saw Donley matched up against a team that featured two D1 prospects, he simply dominated to the tune of 26 points (4 3-pointers), seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds while sitting the final 12 minutes of the game. The combination of blinding speed, ability to make high level passes with both hands, and improved jumpshot make him one of the most intriguing 2025 point guards in the Midwest.

Calvin Little Jr., Garfield Heights HS (OH), 2024 6-2 PG
One of the best defensive guards in the state of Ohio, Little Jr. showed that he can provide great on ball defense to all three perimeter spots. “C.J.” is a big time athlete, uses his strong frame to offer physicality on the perimeter, but also uses his athleticism to stay in front of guys laterally. The explosive guard has already visited West Virginia and owns a handful of mid-major offers.

Zashon Rich, Minneapolis North (MN), 2024 6-2 SG
A D1 prospect on the gridiron as well as on the hardwood, Rich has proved to be one of the best defensive guards that the Land Of 1,000 Lakes has to offer. The powerful lefty provides immense pressure on the rock, has no shortage of heart, and is a threat to put anyone on a poster with his serious bounce. Rich is playing for former NBA 20 ppg scorer Ricky Davis for the city league champs and is one of biggest under the radar guys in Minnesota.

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I was the assistant director of Ohio Basketball Club (formerly Cleveland Basketball Club) for five years on the Adidas circuit and the program still has produced more NBA players than anyone in the state of Ohio. I’ve born and raised in Cleveland (have it tatted all over my body), but the journey that is the game of basketball has taken me to a number of cool spots that a poor kid from CLE would have never imagined going. I spent time living in North Carolina (all throughout Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), Norfolk, and Houston (working for John Lucas). My latest stop in life is Minneapolis.

Amidst the insane weather and flight chaos that we had in this country, I was one of the casualties. After covering the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, I had plans of shooting to Atlanta and Chicago to cover a few other high school games. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out and I had to reroute all of my travel to simply make it back to Minneapolis for Christmas. Furthermore, I was hoping to make it to South Carolina for post Christmas events, but flight cancellations didn’t make it worthwhile for me to literally just roll down for a day or two.

That being said, this introductory piece is going to be on some of the local Minnesota talent that I’ve seen over the past three weeks. January is going be a pretty crazy travel month for me, so I’m definitely going to have much more on the national level for Bilateral readers moving forward.

Here are a few of the top guys who I have seen in Minnesota post Christmas:

Casmir “Cash” Chavis, 6’3, PG, Park Center HS (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), 2024
The leading scorer (20 points per game) for the best team in the state, Chavis has been getting it done far more than his team’s official 5-0 record reflects. His squad has quality wins over both Minnesota Prep and West Oaks Academy (FL) of the Grind Session, but games had to be counted as “exhibitions” due to Minnesota state rules. Chavis, who was the leading scorer for J-Sizzle 17U on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, is a lockdown on ball defender who is an elite finisher and continually developing playmaker. Sitting at No. 48 in the latest Ballislife FAB 50 national rankings, Chavis and Co. are the favorites to repeat as state champions in Minnesota.

Nolan Winter, 6’10, PF, Lakeville North HS (Minn.), 2023
The state’s best jumbo sized shooter, Winter is producing at a high level for Lakeville North and his team’s success has followed. The Wisconsin recruit is averaging 19.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game for a 6-1 team that has only lost to the state’s top ranked team (Park Center). The prototypical new age forward, Winter utilizes his size against smaller defenders on the block, yet also has the athleticism and agility to blow by slower defenders on the perimeter. Nolan may not be done growing yet either, as his father (Trevor) is a true 7-footer who played for the Timberwolves back in the day himself.

Jayden Moore, 6’0, PG, Hopkins HS (Minnetonka, Minn.), 2026
If you’ve followed any semblance of middle school basketball over the past few years, you’re probably familiar with Moore. He’s been playing varsity for one of Minnesota's most storied programs since seventh grade. He also played up two years for J Sizzle (Jalen Suggs’ AAU team) on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. A super heady PG, Moore is also a dynamic scorer, dropping 34 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds in the Augsburg Holiday Classic. He already holds a West Virginia offer, has an outstanding change of pace, and has made himself a more versatile guard with an improved jumper. Moore is sitting at the top of Minnesota’s 2026 class and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

Anthony Smith III, 6’1, combo guard, Hopkins HS (Minnetonka, Minn.), 2025
One of the more improved guys in the state of Minnesota, Smith III is certifying himself as serious D1 prospect. He dropped 34 points (including 7 three pointers), six assists, five rebounds, and four steals at the Augsburg Holiday Classic. The D1 Minnesota product (plays on Adidas 3SSB circuit) is a serious shooter with no shortage of confidence. Owning an offer from George Mason, Smith is a guy who could be adding plenty more once college coaches see the growth in his game during the live period in April.

Jack Janicki, 6’5, SG, White Bear Lake HS (Minn.), 2023
Janicki could legitimately be the best division one walk on in America. Turning down more than a dozen D1 offers, Janicki opted to go to Wisconsin as a preferred walk on, and has the potential to play there right away. The lefty shooting guard is exceptionally crafty, scores the ball at a high rate with a limited amount of dribbles, and throws defenders off with his change of pace. He is a fiery competitor who showed that he could hold his own on the national level running with D1 Minnesota on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, and is trending to do the same thing in the Big Ten at Wisconsin.

C.J. O’Hara, 6’4, SG, Park Center HS (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), 2023
One of the most versatile defenders in the state, O’Hara is the defensive catalyst for undefeated Park Center. O’Hara proved himself to be a legitimate D1 prospect with his play against both West Oaks (FL) and Minnesota Prep, but has continued in the state high school season by posting 20 points per game. The combination of productivity and defensive versatility that he offers make him the state’s best unsigned perimeter player in the class of 2023.

Kyle Jorgensen, 6’9, C, Minneapolis Washburn (Minneapolis, Minn.), 2024
Arguably the best player in the Minneapolis City League, Jorgensn is simply having a monster start to his junior season, posting 24 points and 14 rebounds per night. The skilled big man has outstanding footwork on the block, can step out and shoot it from three, and uses his frame to finish through contact. Still under the radar, Jorgensen is starting to attract interest from D1 programs throughout the Midwest.

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