Nic Codie Has Added Muscle

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

2024 Evals

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

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

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

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

The 2026’s Shined

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

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

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

Hudson Greer Continues To Perform

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

2025 Evals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Outside The Region Observations

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

More Notes

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

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

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

The post Wootten Camp Notes: Southwest Edition appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

On Point About Nic Codie

It feels good to be right as I talked about ‘24 Nic Codie seeing a considerable leap in his recruitment this travel ball season here. It seems as if everything is coming together for him. Playing hard each possession, defending on the perimeter, protecting the rim, shooting from deep, finishing with either hand; Codie has polished his offensive game and imposing his will on both ends. Codie has recently received offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, SMU, Texas Tech and more during the NCAA Spring Live Period.

Darryn Peterson…..

Most of the time I just give my southwest prospect evaluations, but I still keep track of players from outside the region. It’s been a while since I’ve locked in and saw 2025 Darryn Peterson of Phenom United play and wow. The saying, “That’s what they look like,” applies to Peterson. And that statement means that’s what guys that eventually end up in the NBA or have a good chance to look like. Also, I’m always impressed when someone can drop 40 plus points at nine o'clock in the morning. Positional size and three level scoring we knew was there, but the high level passes and overall playmaking puts him on the elite tier of prospects in his class. Also defensively, he utilized his length to disrupt opposing ball-handlers and was able to switch from the 1-3 spots.

Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer & Koa Peat have been on a tier of their own early on for 2025, but Peterson has entered that level as well.

Team Talk: Team Trae Young

Team Trae Young finished April with a 7-1 record in the 3SSB Circuit, as the group contains depth and plays with an abundance of confidence and chemistry. Have to give credit to coaches George Clay, Josh Davis & Morlon Wiley for constructing a balanced team. 

Now to the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Big man Doryan Onwuchekwa has been playing at a high level all year and it’s continuing in the Spring. Big body front-line prospect that has a soft touch with either hand, plus footwork on the block and is expanding his shooting range. Also helps that he’s in what possibly is the best shape I’ve seen him and he’s being productive now in longer stretches. Guard Bo Aldridge decision to re-class to 2024 is looking like a great move so far for him. Receiving high major offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Cal-Berkeley and more. Lefty that’s a big time scorer that excels getting downhill. Seeing a big stock increase. 2024 Dillon Battie, son of 15-year NBA player Tony Battie, is starting to turn the corner some. An athletic forward that plays with a plus motor and plays above the rim. The skill is progressively starting to catch up with the athleticism and Dillon is showing moments of what it’ll look like when it comes together. ‘25 Calrsheon Young is playing up and more than holding his own. A strong, scoring guard that’s handling the speed and physicality of the 17U just fine.

Team Talk: TJ Ford Academy

The Ford brothers,Tim and T.J., got the guys rolling with a flawless record on Adidas Gold with an 8-0 record after finishing up both chapters. Headlining the group is 2024 Robert Miller. At 6’10 with his versatility, you’re not seeing many guys not only in Adidas but in the country with his size and skill set. Continues to rise in the national player rankings. 2024 Jayden Gambrell is a guard with fairly long arms who can shoot it beyond the 3-point line. Like his size at 6’4 and his shooting prowess. The best available 2023 in Texas…well it's Ron Holland is now. So ladies and gentlemen,  the second best available 2023 player in the Lone Star State is 7’1 Bukky Oboye. Oboye at his size can move, block shots at a high rate, can shoot the three and has advanced ball skills for a player his size. He’s far from polished, but what he can do at his size isn’t common. Again, he has some work to do but I believe if he continues to play we will see a wide variance of D1’s on him. Also wanted to note how the 2023 backcourt of T.J. Ford Jr and Bryson Smith have been playing. Really managing the backcourt, getting to the paint and defending the full length of the floor. Both can score the ball, but I’ve also been impressed also with their playmaking.   

Mr. Devon Pryor

One Time Legends’ wing Devon Pryor is seeing his recruitment soar. Pryor, who was injured for the majority of the second half of the 2022-23 scholastic season, looks to be healthy and we are seeing his full offensive repertoire. At 6’7, he’s a dependable secondary ball-handler, is a big time vertical athlete and his shooting has vastly improved. He’s dependable connecting off the catch or bounce. He’s performing like a Top 100 player in the country.

2026 Prospect of The Event: Caleb Holt

I have talked about at length about the 2025 class, but the 2026 crop have been showing out as well and some are playing in the 17U division. Tyran Stokes is leading a 8-0 Vegas Elite squad in the Nike EYBL and A.J. Dybantsa is the second leading scorer in EYBL 17U division with 20 ppg. 

But we got to talk about Caleb Holt being a big-time contributor for a 7-1 17U Game Elite team on the 3SSB. A shifty, athletic guard that puts rim pressure. Holt has a plus wingspan, and is a quick twitch athlete that displays the ability to make an open 3-pointer. He’s one of the top 2026’s I’ve seen in the country and him still being able to do what he does best playing up is impressive.

Notables

Flory Bidunga, 6’8 2024 PF/C - Indiana Elite: Lefty big man that’s uber productive. Swats shots, even seen him closeout and block shots from the 3-point line. Athletic finisher that goes for every rebound and showed some promising touch on hooks and floaters. We see why he’s ranked so high in 2024. Will be a successful college player. Hasn’t played many years of organized ball so upside is very intriguing. 

Annor Boateng, 6’5 2024 Wing - Arkansas Hawks: Powerful, athletic wing-guard prospect that utilized strength and athleticism to score. Adequate mid-range game and I believe there’s been progress with the shooting and ball-handling. Boateng shouldered the offensive load for the Hawks.

Josiah Moore, 6’5 2024 Wing - One Time Legends: I came away very impressed with Moore. There was a stretch in the morning game where he collected four steals, he captured a poster dunk and one play he split a double team coming off a ball screen, then got to the basket and scored. This was in a span of four minutes. All that needs to be said.

Micah Robinson, 6’6 2024 Wing - Southern Assault: Broad framed wing that’s versatile. Plays the secondary ball-handler role and sometimes has primary dribbling duties in spurts. A capable shooter from three, really zips his passes and can thread a needle if needed and he knows how to find his way to the free throw line. There are some things that he needs to really work on, but I believe Micah will be a quality high major player.

Cam Carroll, 6’2 2025 PG - Southern Assault 16U: Tough, physical guard that embraces contact on drives. Cam is at his best when he relentlessly looks to get downhill and put pressure on the defense. Strong paint finisher, floater game and just generates a lot of activity when he’s aggressive. 

Amir McMillian, 6’ PG - Urban ASAK: When the ball is in his hands, McMillian is always on the go. Fast with the ball in his hands, McMillian gets paint touches and also can stop on a dime, launch and connect vs length. 

Peyton Marshall, 7’ Center - Game Elite: Peyton is a load inside. Large frame, legit size and has good foot-work on the block. Really throws his weight around and makes defenses adjust when he’s on the floor because he’s a threat in the paint. I believe the best basketball is ahead of him, especially when he reaches optimal shape. 

The post Adidas 3SSB Chapter 2: Storylines & Notables! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

This year I see 2024 Nic Codie (Newman Smith, Carrollton, Texas) make a major leap in his stock in the next 3-6 months. Before we do an outlook on what’s ahead, we caught up with the 6’8 forward to talk about his season and how he’s been able to utilize his skills to equate to wins. 

“Coach (Percy) Johnson gives me a lot of freedom and I can impact games either on the wing or inside,” Codie said. “I enjoy playing on the wing more, being able to go off the dribble and score, but I also know when to go inside and get buckets, too. Coach Johnson having trust in me makes me play with confidence and do whatever I can to help my team win.”

Currently, the Trojans hold a 19-5 record and a flawless 11-0 record in district play. The Dallas Morning News recently ranked them No. 10 in their DFW 5A UIL (University Interscholastic League) poll. 

This whole season hasn’t been sweet though, as Newman Smith sunk into a 2-5 record to begin the season. So yes, Newman Smith is on a 17-game win streak since being three games under .500.

“Everyone knew we had to change. We obviously weren’t happy with our record. We had a meeting as a team and actually started to play like a team,” Codie said. “Everybody started showing 100 percent on defense, we started playing with a lot of energy, getting out on transition and not only looking for one person to score.”

Codie talks about the keys for the Trojans to make a playoff run in a deep Class 5A classification.

“Key is to stay humble, stay together, fix up the little stuff. We need to stay healthy and do what is needed to take care of our bodies.”

The Eval

Really in the tweener mold right now. Wiry, lean prospect with an array of skills. Adequate handle for size, which allows him to grab rebounds and push but also step out onto the wing and create own look when he has an advantage on the matchup. Goes inside and uses his plus length to finish over like-size opponents and is also active on the offensive glass. The shooting stroke looks promising especially on catch and shoot scenarios, but Codie can sometimes float on the perimeter more for my liking at times. Still, Codie provides a formidable inside-out game and I can see further down the road of him being a multi-purpose wing that’ll bring versatility on both ends of the floor.

Current Recruitment

Codie holds offers from Sam Houston State, UT Arlington, Tulsa and Cal-Berkeley. The Golden Bears recently just offered Codie. And when I say recent, I mean as recent as me beginning to write about his recruitment. Tulsa and Cal have been the programs that have pursued him the most so far. St. Louis, Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi have shown interest. 

“These next couple months will be important for me; be big on how my recruitment goes. Want to help my team make a run in the playoffs and try to win an Adidas Championship (Playing with Southern Assault) this summer,” Codie said. “I need to be consistent with my play and just show how good I am.”

Consistency is key for Codie, but he’s figuring out how to stay productive on the court outside of scoring. He checks a lot of boxes from a physical and skill standpoint and I do believe we will see the ????  emoji by his name many times until we get to the fall. Check back to this article in August and I bet I was right.

The post Breakout Star: 2024 Nic Codie! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.