Tim Ryerson, who has spoken at some of our Basketball Elite events in the past, is one of the few people in the country who we recommend as a recruiting service. In this video, Tim explains the timetable for a recruit committing to college. In a world where most of the people advising players have no real knowledge, Tim is the real deal.

Carolina Heat Power 24 2012

By Marcus Shockley

The beautiful campus of Emory University was home to this year’s Power 24, one of the last events for AAU teams to impress college coaches during the July recruiting period. The Power 24 is organized by Shun Williams and On the Radar Hoops, one of the best sources for Georgia recruiting evaluations available.

I was intent on seeing several players specifically, especially Ahmed Hill (SG, 6’4″, 2014) of the Southern Stampede 16u, who I’d just seen explode at the 2012 Peach Jam less than a week before. Hill is an offensive powerhouse; when he’s on, he can be almost impossible to guard. Friday he showed that prowess again, and despite slumping in the match up against the GA Stars on Saturday, remains a high major prospect who can score on the move or under pressure. Meanwhile his teammate Jakeenan Gant (PF, 6’7″, 2104) continues to impress with his agility and active play. Gant is especially good around the basket on putbacks and in traffic around the rim, using his bounce and timing to catch the ball coming off of the rim and slam it home. Jakeenan Gant dunking
Jakeenan Gant with the slam over the Georgia Stars

Gant has great hands and despite being primarily a PF, was playing some wing effectively. He still needs to add strength but is definitely a player to watch. C.J. Thurman (C, 6’9″, 2014) is a solidly built post player who can bang some in the paint and is a good rebounder. The Stampede have a lot of size with Thurman, Gant and Elijah Staley (SF, 6’7″, 2014) another fluid player with good length and has versatility.

Gabe Devoe (SG, 6’3″, 2014), playing with the Forest City Heat, continues to show his strength and ability to overpower smaller guards. Devoe is best when getting to the rim and finishing with contact, but he also was running some point and shows good patience when running the offense.

The Upward Stars have been victims of buzzer beaters twice in the July period, but they are still a team loaded with prospects, including P.J. Dozier (PG, 6’4″, 2015) a long guard with great poise and slashing ability. Dozier’s strength is slashing to the hoop and finishing with contact or over smaller guards. He is already a high major prospect and as he adds strength will be impressive. Dozier’s partner in the backcourt is the dynamic scorer L.J. Peak (SG, 6’4″, 2014), who squares up well on his shot, even on the move, but is also strongest putting the ball on the floor and finishing. Kingsley Okoroh (C, 6’10”, 2014) continues to look like a solid center and prospect, although he still needs to become much more aggressive in the post. Okoroh swatted several shots (I counted 4 in one game) and has good hands. Tyrece Brice (PG, 5’10”, 2014) also continues to have a solid summer, a true point guard who works his tail off on defense but can also score at full speed. Brice has picked up interest from High Point and Presbyterian College. A player who really showed he should be getting more interest is Javis Howard (PF, 6’8″, 2014) Irmo (SC), who was active and showed he could really be effective at the PF spot. Has a great drop step already and good build.

The Birmingham Ice have a rock solid bevy of swarming guards, with speed everywhere, and it cannot be understated; they match up even against teams with much more size effectively. Justin Coleman (PG, 5’10”, 2014) has been a killer all summer, a player who will burn you if you play off of him (or sometimes even when well defended). Coleman’s deadliest weapon is actually his first step, which is a blur, but he has a great release on his shot and is a dangerous shooter. But it’s not like you can double team Coleman with Jarvis Calhoun (PG, 6′, 2014) on court, who is a deadeye shooter with textbook form and has scorched several teams already. Cedric McGinnis (PG, 5’8″, 2014) adds his own quickness and speed and you have a set of guards that can move at the speed of light.

The Georgia Stars have a nice prospect in Devin Mitchell (PG, 6’4″, 2014) who is a solid athlete and all around guard. Mitchell has a good looking shot and can hit from deep.

TeMarcus Blanton (SF, 6’5″, 2014) of the Atlanta XPress is a player with a couple of offers but will no doubt start seeing more interest if he continues to show his active game. Blanton is an ‘everywhere on the floor’ player at times, scoring, rebounding and moving without the ball. A solid wing with good size. His teammate Trentin Drayton (SF/PF, 6’6″, 2014) has great hands and can catch bullet passes from the guards, finishing easily around the basket. Drayton would be tracking at the LM/MM level right now because of his size, but his athleticism and agility around the basket make him definitely a player colleges should be taking a look at- he plays big and has great quickness at the PF spot that would give bigger post players matchup problems. He also would likely be able to defend against big wing players at the 3 spot.

The Columbus Knicks have some solid players, starting with LaMarcus White (PF/C, 6’8″, 2013). White is a great prospect who lets the game come to him and has a great feel around the rim. He’s not overly aggressive but he moves extremely well. Definitely a PF prospect who can also play C, not the other way around. Had a really nice move putting the ball on the floor and getting around he defender from just inside the three point line and is a very smooth player. Good rebounder, needs to add strength, but definitely a MM/HM prospect. Playing with White in the post is Christian Kennedy (PF/C, 6’9″, 2013) a very long athletic shot blocker who is a little raw but has a lot of potential. Both White and Kennedy are very mobile big men who would be effective in a the transition game, and Kennedy has quick bounce on the move.

Running the show for the Knicks is Dionte Corprew (PG, 5’11”, 2013), a true point guard with good awareness. Corprew has a good high release on his shot and a solid handle. Definitely a point guard who looks to attack with the dribble or pass.

Chris Ferguson basketball

By James Blackburn

Game film from Overseas Basketball Camp– #49 Black

I had the privilege again this year to scout the Overseas Basketball Camp in July (www.overseasbasketballcamp.com) which is a showcase event for college players who want to be seen by European coaches and agents. This was my third year scouting the event and this year it was held at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy in Las Vegas, NV.

Over 65 players attended the event hoping to secure a European contract and attract interest from teams. Many of these players played college basketball at the D1 level, had previous overseas pro experience, and some had D-League experience.

The top player in camp in my opinion was Christopher Ferguson (6-9, 200, SF, Mid-Continent University) who just finished his collegiate playing career this past season at Mid-Continent, an NAIA school in Kentucky. In his sophomore year at MCU, he set a school-record with 26 rebounds vs. Indiana-Southeast on Nov. 24, 2009, and grabbed 18 defensive rebounds, the second-most ever in an MCU game. By his senior year, he was averaging a double-double and leading his team in scoring.

I was just as impressed with Chris’s attitude, demeanor, and personality off the court as I was with his skills and attitude on the court. Chris garnered the interest of many of the agents and European coaches in attendance and is destined to have a successful pro career ahead overseas. He could be really special as he has the skills/body/potential/upside to attract interest from D-League and even some NBA teams for workouts/summer league.

Chris is a very long and athletic wing forward who can handle the ball and advance the ball in transition. He can score in one on one situations, is active on the glass, and moves with effortless, fluid movement. What stood out the most to me (amongst other things) was his ability at his size to defend on the perimeter, primarily against quicker, smaller players. Chris runs the floor hard and is excellent in transition, where he can finish above the rim. He blocks shots and could become prolific shot blocker and elite defender with his mobility, length, athleticism, and versatility. Is an above average shooter who can hit midrange and jumpers off the dribble as well as the occasional 3 pointer. He can break his man down and score and get to rim or pull up and shoot in the half court. If .he can add about 20- 25 lbs. of muscle- watch out.

Chris recently signed with BDA Sports Management (http://www.bdasports.com/), the same agency which represents over 25 NBA athletes and many overseas players. He currently has options to play in France or Spain for there respective 2nd division teams. Chris wants to be the best player he can be and maximum his potential. When asked what his goals were in basketball, he said, “I want to be the best defensive player in the world and win the defensive player of the year award in every league I play in.” This is not out of reach or far fetched, as Chris has the drive, skills, and athleticism to accomplish this goal.

Peach Jam Oakland Soldiers vs. CIA Bounce 2012

By Marcus Shockley

Oakland Soldiers 51
CIA Bounce 50

No one was surprised when CIA Bounce advanced to the championship game; all week long the talk had been about how loaded the Canadian team was, led by Andrew Wiggins (SF, 6’7″, 2014), considered by most to be the best high school player on the continent. Wiggins is a player who we’ve been watching long before he was labeled as such; however, as I’ve said in the past, he has a pro first step that is deadly. A fluid superstar who has great length and agility, Wiggins already has tools that some professional basketball players lack. He still needs to work on his consistency with his shot, and he will need to add strength, but his quickness is incredible and he loves to use the spin move, in either direction, to free up a shot. He’s explosive and dynamic on the court and tracking as a NBA lottery pick, if not #1 overall.

The powerhouse player for the Oakland Soldiers was the versatile Aaron Gordon (PF, 6’9″, 2013) who was playing injured but continued to show that he might still lay claim to the top player in the 2013 class. Gordon has a balanced approach to the game, and is the kind of player that teams like to run the offense through, with the ball getting in his hands at least once during a possession; even if he’s not scoring, he can often find another player who might.

Kendall Smith (PG, 6’2″, 2013) ran the show for the Soldiers once again; Smith is a true point guard with a good first step and he has the ability to get to the bucket and score in traffic. CIA Bounce once again employed the talents of combo guard Tyler Ennis (PG/SG, 6’3″, 2013) a player who can run the team effectively but also plays very well off of the ball.

Other notable players included Jaylen Canty (PF, 6’8″, 2013) a post player for Oakland who has a light touch and showed a really good drop step. Jabari Bird (SG/SF, 6’6″, 2013) was active at all times and had some nice passes and deep shots to help build the Oakland early lead.

For much of the game it was a contest of wills between Wiggins and Gordon, who each wanted the ball in their hands to try and score or facilitate. At times they were directly matched up against each other. Oakland quickly ran out to decent lead, 27-15 with 1:33 remaining in the first half. After a three by Bird put the Soldiers up 32-26 in the second half, it was obvious that Wiggins became very focused on getting his team back in the game. Suddenly he became even more active, scoring multiple times down the floor or finding teammates, include one deft pass to Ennis for a dunk. Ennis’s transition slam tied the game 34-34.

With the game in contention, several players were instrumental in the battle for the title Xavier Rathan-Mayes (SG, 6’4″, 2013) of CIA Bounce was a stable player on the wing, handling the ball against pressure and hitting several big shots down the stretch. Stanley Johnson (SF, 6’7″, 2014) continued to be the emerging star who supported Gordon effectively, and working hard on the defense, often matched up with Wiggins.

As with most of the games of the EYBL Final Four, the game came down to the wire. Both teams traded the lead and CIA Bounce led 50-49 with 8 seconds remaining on the clock. After back-to-back timeouts, Oakland took possession of the ball, ran a screen for Bird, who launched a long two-pointer with 1.3 on the clock, and a foul was called. The fans and media erupted in the building, depending on which allegience they might have, as the contact seemed minimal.

Bird headed to the line and calmly hit his first free throw, tying the game, 50-50, then after a time out, sank the second shot to put Oakland up 51-50. Forced to heave a last second shot, Rathan-Mayes raced almost to half court and launched a good looking, but unfortunately errant, shot. Oakland players celebrated on the court while CIA quickly left the floor in obvious dejection, but both teams showed that they belonged in the title game.

EYBL 2012 Oakland Soldiers

Peach Jame Texas Titans vs. Southern Stampede 2012

By Marcus Shockley

Texas Titans 66
Southern Stampede 65 (2OT)

The battle between the 16u AAU contenders at the Peach Jam was a back and forth war in which neither team wanted to yield, no matter what the clock or score might be. Close at the end of the first half with Texas clinging to a slim 24-23 lead, Mikey Mitchell (SF, 6’7″, 2015) showed that he’s gone from being a middle school phenom to a legitimate big time collegiate prospect. The last time I saw Mitchell, he was 6’5″ and already an above-the-rim player. Now he’s added two inches in height and is a versatile enough to play the SG, SF or even the PF positions effectively. Handles the ball like a wing but has great rebounding timing and awareness.

Mitchell is joined by King McClure (PG, 6’3″, 2015) whose solid free throw shooting and scoring led everyone and helped seal the win. SoSo Jamabo (SG, 6’4″, 2015) is an effective shooting guard who can score under pressure or in traffic and hit several big time shots against stout defense. Big men Samir Sehcc (C, 6’8″, 2015) and Tyler Davis (C, 6’10”, 2015) are pure post players who add a lot of size in the paint.

On the Southern Stampede roster, the name to remember is Ahmed Hill (SG, 6’4″, 2014) who was nothing short of spectacular in the second half. With his team down and the game slipping away, Hill put the team on his back, hitting shot after shot, often while being fouled, to bring his team back and take the lead. Hill has a great looking shot and can shoot on the move, with contact, or from deep. He also had a thunderous two-handed slam in traffic that brought the house down. Joining Hill on the Stampede are notable players Elijah Staley (SF/PF, 6’6″, 2014) who has good bounce and length, Jakeenan Gant (SF, 6’7″, 2014) a long forward with good follow through on his shot, and solidly built post player Cedric Turman (C, 6’9″, 2014).

Hill almost completed the comeback after hitting two free throws to send the game into overtime. Neither team wanted to relent – the Titans took a 2 point lead, but Jarryd Coleman (SG, 6’2″, 2014) hit a huge three under pressure to erase that lead and put the Stampede up by a single point.

Each team traded free throws, and after a steal in the open court by Marcus Stroman (PG, 6’2″, 2014), it seemed that the game was in hand for the Stampede. Stroman hit his first shot from the line to put the Stampede up 61-60 with 4.4 seconds left in overtime. On his second free throw attempt, it bounced into the hands of Staley, who was fouled immediately. Staley also went 1-2 from the line, putting the Stampede up by 2 and which meant any hope for the Titans was a Hail-Mary-style bomb down the length of the court. The Titan star Mitchell, a noted quarterback prospect as well, was sitting on the bench after fouling out and it seemed like the very definition of a longshot.

The long inbounds heave was batted around by swarming Stampede defenders before being corralled by Sehic, who spun and scored as time expired, sending the game into the second overtime, stunning the Stampede and sending the Titans into a frenzy. Mitchell cheered his teammates on from the sideline after pulling off what seemed like a miracle that allowed them to claw their way back into the game.

The final OT is a race – only a short amount of time is added and it comes down to a quick series or rapid possessions. The Titans took a 66-63 lead with 30 seconds to go, and Hill picked up his fifth foul, sending him to the bench. The Titans held on for the title while the Stampede will have the chance to bounce back in next week’s Power 24 in Atlanta.

Marcus Shockley is the founder of Basketball Elite and the creator of the Scouting Confidence Rating System™. You can follow Marcus on Twitter @m_shockley.

By Marcus Shockley

More player evals are coming, but here’s a few notes from this year’s EYBL Final Four matchup between the CP3 All-Stars and the Oakland Soldiers.

Oakland Soldiers vs. CP3 All-Stars

Oakland Soldiers 55
CP3 All-Stars 53

The CP3 All-Stars come in loaded with a couple of a high flyers, one of whom being Theo Pinson (SG/SF, 6’5″, 2014), who has an electric style of play as evidenced in the highlight dunk from the Saturday night win over E1T1 (video above). Pinson is a big time athlete with great length and bounce. Still working on his handle but has great elevation on his jump shot. Pinson continues to track as one of the top prospects in his class.

The Oakland Soldiers’ biggest name is Aaron Gordon (PF, 6’9″, 2013) a long player with great awareness and quickness from the big forward spot. It’s not unusual to see Gordon bringing the ball up the floor and finding an open teammate. He is a top flight basketball talent, excellent footspeed for a big and light touch around the basket. He is versatile and can pull other bigs away from the basket in order to drive around them. Still needing to add muscle to bang in the paint but Gordon is a future pro prospect and likely lottery pick when he makes the jump to the NBA.

Sam Hunt (PG/SG, 6’1″, 2013) continues to impress me with his ability to score, even against elite talent. Hunt is sort a forgotten man on CP3, since there are so many big names, but I currently have him as the #2 PG in NC in his 2013, so I’m not surprised to see him getting buckets at EYBL. Hunt is strong and has a consistent deep shot.

The Oakland Soldiers, in this game, went as Gordon went- they took an early lead, but when the big man picked up his third foul late in the first half, CP3 took advantage and built a small lead. Greg McClinton (SF, 6’6″, 2013) showed much of the explosive athleticism that highlight video guys desperately seek. McClinton has an agile ability to get putback shots and finish in transition, but also can shoot from mid range or deep, as we saw during the high school season.

Kendall Smith (PG, 6’2″, 2013) is a capable, sure handed point guard for Oakland, while the player who gives a real boost to Gordon is Stanley Johnson (SF, 6’7″, 2014), who has a great ability to do his work in the mid range, whether it’s exploiting gaps in the zone defense or getting off his own shot on the move. For CP3, Youssoupha Kane (C, 6’11”, 2013) continued to show he belongs on the national scene with his superb shot blocking ability and some decent offensive moves. Kane is a solid prospect with a lot of room to grow as a player. Definitely a guy who has slipped through the cracks of the national rankings due to his limited exposure in the United States. Reggie Dillard (SG, 6’3″, 2013) showed an improved ability to pump fake on the perimeter and drive effectively for CP3.

The final play came down to free throws at the last second, with Pinson unable to convert after being fouled on a three point shot, and the Oakland Soldiers advanced to face CIA Bounce in the championship game.

MoKan Elite vs. CIA Bounce EYBL 2012

By Marcus Shockley

Once again some of the top high talent in the nation descended on North Augusta, SC for the Nike EYBL series championships. I’ll have evals coming soon for more of the tournament, but here’s a report on the Final Four 17u match up between MoKan Elite and CIA Bounce.

This year’s EYBL Final Four included MoKan Elite vs. CIA Bounce and Oakland Soldiers vs. CP3 All Stars.

MoKan Elite vs. CIA Bounce

CIA Bounce 81
MoKan Elite 67

MoKan Elite has the talented Semilore Ojeleye (SF/PF, 6’7″, 2013), a physically strong player who is agile and has great hands. He can play the SF or PF spot effectively and is a solid rebounder. However, CIA Bounce also has their own superstar in Andrew Wiggins (SF, 6’7″, 2014), a player who might just be the #1 NBA draft pick when he gets the chance. Wiggins has a pro level first step, and he likes to push the ball into the mid range, spin, and get off a shot. He’s explosive and dynamic – there aren’t going to be many players at the high school or college level who will be able to guard him effectively. Wiggins scored 23 points in the win, leading all scorers.

CIA Bounce also has a talented combo guard in Tyler Ennis (G, 6’2″, 2013), who can score from inside or outside and plays with great awareness. Ennis is a combo as opposed to a true point, but runs the team effectively but also moves well without the ball. A player who I had not seen before but has blistering speed is Lourawls Nairn (PG, 5’10”, ’14) who came in off of the bench and showed he has elite speed and can finish with contact. Nairn is one of the fastest guards in the country and has a deft handle. Definitely a player to watch.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes (SG, 6’4″, 2013) of CIA Bounce showed good poise with the ball and that he can shoot under pressure. Solidly built and effective with the shot or pass, Mayes and Ennis create problems for defenses because they cannot double Wiggins without leaving one of them open. Duane Notice (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2013) also provides tough, hard-nosed play for CIA Bounce on both ends of the floor. Notice is also a kind of ‘glue guy’ for the team, getting loose balls, a solid free throw shooter and all around worker.

O’Shai Clark (SG, 6’1″, 2013) of MoKan Elite is an active rebounding guard who often drew the toughest defensive assignments. He also can put the ball on the floor and attack. Andre Sands (PF/C, 6’7″, 2013) is a capable big who is mobile and has good hands around the basket.

In the second half, CIA Bounce pulled away behind the scoring of Mayes, Ennis and Wiggins and put the game out of reach, sending them to the EYBL Championship.

EYBL 2012

Just wanted to make sure everyone who is interested in this year’s Peach Jam action, but isn’t able to attend in person, knows about the LIVE coverage from Augusta Basketball Report. Augusta Basketball is using the Basketball Elite Player Database to find as much information about the attending players and teams as they can. To see all of the games they are broadcasting live or the archived broadcasts, click on this link.

In addition to the coverage, Basketball Elite will have scouts in attendance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the event.

Be sure to follow Basketball Elite on Twitter!

Upward Stars 16u 2012

The Upward Stars 16u took a decisive win in one of two featured games.

The Queen City Showcase opened with a bang at the new Carolina Courts facility in Concord, NC, with dozens of college coaches in attendance, several high profile players and many more who are quickly showing they have potential at the next level. Spotted at the event were South Carolina’s Frank Martin, as well as coaches from VMI, SC State, UNC Pembroke, Lenoir-Rhyne, North Carolina A&T, UNC Asheville, Harvard and many others.

Operated by 6th Man Basketball, the Queen City Showcase is a solid AAU event, and space is limited, with several high quality teams available to scout. This year, several games were streamed live over the web by Augusta Basketball, and those guys did a great job, even providing commentary during the games in what can only be described as a marathon session for voice man Chad Cook, who also coaches the Augusta Eagles. Chad takes great pains to get players’ information and names correct, and humbly provides some of the most professional AAU broadcasting that we’ve encountered.

Basketball Elite sponsored two streamed games this year, and provided some color commentary the Upward Stars 16u vs. Swish City Elite, which you can watch at this link. Day two’s featured game was a match up between two high-octane teams, the Upward Stars 17s vs. the CP3 17u, which you can watch here.

Even with three Basketball Elite scouts in attendance at the event, it is impossible to watch even half of the games going on. This is the reality of basketball recruiting, that even playing in a good event, with college coaches in the building, good teams and during a live evaluation period, doesn’t mean players will even be seen.

Here are a few of our notes from the event:

P.J. Dozier (PG/SG, 6’4″, 2015) – Upward Stars 16u – Very long guard with a fluid stroke and nice crossover. Already has an offer from Kansas and is definitely a solid high major prospect. Will need to get stronger but is only a rising sophomore, so has a high ceiling. True combo guard, can run the point and team effectively, with poise, but also a scoring threat.

Trey Mitchell (SG, 6’5″, 2013) – Charlotte Jets (South) – Mitchell is currently ranked as our No.2 shooting guard in the state for his class, and he still impressed in this event. Quick, long and with a high motor, Mitchell is a tough-minded player who always keeps a cool head on the court but is active all over the floor. He constantly is involved, whether it’s finding open players on the break, defending multiple positions or scoring. Can play above the rim. Mitchell needs to get stronger but is poised for a breakout year at Olympic HS (Charlotte, NC).

Josh Dominguez (SG, 6’4″, 2013) – Charlotte Jets (South) – Dominguez has offers from UNCG, Hampton and Liberty, and is definitely a Division I shooting guard. Good size and an ability to score from deep or slashing to the basket, Dominguez is a player who will continue to get more and more college offers. Also extremely effective in transition, but doesn’t leak out early. Is often out on the break fast enough to be a target, and when he catches the ball at full speed, he’ll finish either on the move or with a dunk.

Kingsley Okoroh (C, 7′, 2014) – Upward Stars 16u – Kingsley hails from England and played last season at Findlay Prep. Still working on his overall conditioning, he has a big frame and great length. A good shot blocker with excellent hands, Okoroh is a likable personality who has physical tools that aren’t easy to come by. Okoroh’s size and athletic ability make him a mobile big man, and there’s no other way to say it – he could be a pro prospect if he continues to add muscle, works on his footwork in the post and improves his ability to run the floor.

Tony Nunn (C, 6’8″, 2013) – Upward Stars 17u – Nunn continues to show that he’s a banger in the paint, effective on the putbacks and crashing the boards. Still dropping weight, he’s lighter on his feet and running the floor better, but still needs to improve in his overall conditioning. Long and likes contact. Committed to North Texas.

Sidy Mohammad-Djitte (C, 6’10”, 2013) – Upward Stars 17u – Mohommad-Djitte is a big man with upside. Right now most effective as a shot blocker and has good rebounding timing, but still needs to add strength to help him box out more effectively. He does understand positioning on the blocks and can get putback points. Still needs work on his footwork but runs the floor very well and is a fluid player.

Trevor Anderson (PG, 6’1″, 2015) A solid prospect in the NC 2015 class already, Anderson is a savvy point guard who plays well in a high octane game or in the half court. Strongest asset is his awareness and look ahead passing ability. Players who run the floor hard with Anderson should be ready to get the ball no matter where he is on the floor. He wants to burn the defense, but understands when not to throw the deep pass. Can finish with contact and is a solid ballhandler. Holds an offer from Cal Poly, which is just the beginning.

Sam Hunt (PG/SG, 6′, 2013) – CP3 17u – Hunt continues to be a player with heavy college interest (and offers) while simultaneously being one of the better players under the radar in the southeast. Our rankings have Sam as the second-ranked point guard in NC for his class right now, a player with good strength and an ability to score the ball even against elite talent. Definitely more combo guard than pure point, Sam can finish with contact and plays very well at full speed.

Emmanuel Patton (PF, 6’5″, 2013) – Charlotte Jets (North) A good showing by Patton with him proving he can play a tweener SF/PF, although undersized at the four spot. Has an improved midrange and is very active, has a good build that looks like he will add to over time. Good hands. Needs consistency on his shot follow through and tends to fade on his shot, but has a high release and can score on the move. Has good timing on rebounds.

Steven Burrough (C, 6’8″, 2013) – Charlotte Jets (North) – Burrough is a player we’ve been tracking for some time and he continues to show improvement and big man skill. Big time shot blocker, solid frame and good rebounder. He is a post player and needs to work on developing go-to moves in the post but a solid prospect at the LM/MM level.

Sindarius Thornwell (SG, 6’4″, 2013) At the very least, Thornwell should already be in the discussion for regional all star games, and maybe more. He showed his versatility, and an ability to score on the move. He is most effective in transition, and needs to improve his handle some, but definitely a big time prospect.

Aaron Linton (PG, 5’7″, 2013) – Charlotte Jets (North) – a lightning fast point guard who even can step around some of the fastest guards at the event. Solid ballhandler. Issues for Linton are his overall decision making, especially at full speed, and his size. However, he has the jets and handle that make him exciting – he just has to improve on his “floor general” skills.

L.J. Peak (SG, 6’4″, 2013) Peak is a shooting guard with good size and build and can finish with contact. Squares up well on his shot. Definitely a DI prospect and high octane athlete. He will need to continue to add strength but already has a decent build. Can create his own shot off of the dribble and is effective attacking in transition.

Justin McKie (SG, 6’5″, 2013) Active on both ends of the floor and moves well without the ball. Can be explosive, had a nice tomahawk jam in traffic among other highlight plays. Still working on overall consistency.

Bradley Fisher (C, 7’0″, 2014) Ran the floor well and was active. Has a good frame and length but needs to add strength and use it to establish himself in the paint. Had some nice baby hooks around the basket. Will be much more effective with more muscle.