HAMPTON, Va. – We already took a look at some from the class of 2014 who stood out in Hampton. Now we take a look at some underclassmen from the event, some of whom played up with an EYBL team and others we got a chance to check in out in games featuring younger teams.
It’s fair to say that a terrific crop of underclassmen competed in the event, including some who are more “potential” players right now, so there’s reason to like what’s in the future.
Sacar Amin (6’4″ So. SF, Brooklyn Park (MN) Delasalle HS) A fine complementary player on a team with a few good upperclassmen, he’s athletic and his body shows some physical maturity. He showed some quickness with a couple of drives and looks like more of a “potential” player right now.
Jalen Brunson (6’2″ So. PG, Lincolnshire (IL) Stevenson HS) Lefty floor leader was a big part of his team pulling out an overtime win, and not just because he came up big late in the game. He took a charge, drove and finished, hit from long range and later got a big rebound of his own miss. He has a good body and was just what you need from a floor leader in a tight game.
Michael Buckland (6’4″ Fr. SF, High Point (NC) Weslyan HS) He has the look of a nice open-floor player, as he was in the passing lane often for steals and got baskets in transition. He has a good frame and got near the basket for stickbacks as well, and as the skills catch up to his body he’ll be worth keeping an eye on.
Noah Dickerson (6’8″ So. PF, Atlanta (GA) North Atlanta HS) While many frontcourt underclassmen who are highly-regarded tend to play above the rim, this bulky post player is a decidedly below-the-rim assassin. He has a good frame but isn’t carrying all good weight, will back down more athletic players, and he’s deceptively quick moving inside and has a good free throw stroke.
Chris Egi (6’9″ So. PF, Markham (Ont.) St. Andrew’s HS) A very active forward, he was relentless in a big game with 23 points on 9-11 shooting and nine rebounds as his team won convincingly. While he has a relatively mature body, there’s still some upside, and he battled inside to get rebounds, especially on the offensive end. The lefty is athletic for the power forward spot and drew several fouls.
Jesse Govan (6’10” So. PF-C, Queens (NY) St. Mary’s HS) Lefty big man has a good frame and really took over for a stretch in the second half of a tough loss for his team. Besides his post scoring that he showed, he hit from about the foul line and was able to go right back up after getting a loose ball, showing he’s quick off his feet. There’s a lot to like about his potential given the offensive abilities he shows right now.
Skal Labissiere (6’11” So. PF-C, Memphis (TN) Evangelical Christian School) There might not be an underclassman with as much potential as this big man. He’s long and has a slight frame, and his body has a ways to go, but there’s a lot to like from a skill standpoint. He used his length well on the glass, kept the ball up high to take advantage of his length, used the left (off) hand to finish, showed a nice touch shooting the ball up to about 10 feet, and as he gets stronger he should be even more effective scoring on the post.
Dedric Lawson (6’8″ Fr. SF, Memphis (TN) Hamilton HS) Few players at this event ooze potential like he does. He’s long and his body has a ways to go, especially since he looks like he might have had a recent growth spurt as he’s not very athletic but has some guard skills at his size. He showed some ball skills and made a couple of nice passes to go with hitting from long range. If his body catches up and he improves the athleticism, we’re talking about a big-time prospect down the road.
Keelon Lawson, Jr. (6’7″ So. SF-PF, Memphis (TN) Hamilton HS) A lanky forward whose body has a little to go, he’s athletic and showed a good motor, finding several ways to score and being a constant factor for his team. Whether it was a jump hook, a mid-range jumper off the bounce, a short jumper or a layup while getting fouled, he was able to score, and he also got his share of rebounds as well.
Matt McQuaid (6’5″ So. SG, Duncanville (TX) High) A solid wing player, he’s a plus athlete who plays bigger and can shoot. He rebounded well for the wing in an early game, showed range out to the three-point line on his jumper and played off his team’s two inside stars very well.
Dillon Mitchell (5’9″ Fr. PG, Memphis (TN) White Station HS) A baby-faced point guard, his body has a ways to go and he did a lot to help his team to a playoff win with 15 points, including three three-pointers. He also finished the break and ran the show.
Luis Montero (6’8″ So. SF, New York (NY) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) An athletic wing with a body that has a long way to go, he could be a point forward down the road with his ball skills. He can handle the ball and showed nice passing ability, including a nice lob over a defender, is very good in transition and can be effective with his jumper not falling. Like a lot of talented young players, defense doesn’t appear to be his forte, and included was a bad reach-in foul late in the game.
Malik Newman (6’4″ So. SG, Jackson (MS) Callaway HS) An athletic guard with a good frame, he showed good potential, especially if he learns the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. His body isn’t there yet, but he drove at times and hit some tough shots en route to 25 points on 8-18 shooting in one game. He forced some tough shots but also hit some, including a tough runner with 2.4 seconds left to win the game for his team.
Jalen Sanders (6’0″ Fr. PG, Salisbury (NC) North Rowan HS) Scoring guard had a big second half, scoring 15 of his 21 points, in one game over the weekend. He has a good frame and some physical maturity, while showing that he could score and shoot from long range. At his size, some playmaking will help.
Isaiah Stokes (6’7″ Fr. PF, Memphis (TN) Central HS) Right now, he overpowers less mature players inside with his body, though he’s not carrying all good weight. He has a good frame and uses the body well, and he finished close to the basket en route to 14 points in a playoff win for his team.
Elijah Thomas (6’9″ So. PF, Dallas (TX) Prime Prep Academy) In a blowout win for his team early on, he was hitting turnaround jump hooks all night long as the lefty used his body well to dominate inside. He battled, ran the floor and has a college-ready body already.
Allonzo Trier (6’3″ So. SG, Tulsa (OK) Noah HS) One of a few underclassmen on his team to keep an eye on, he was active and found a few ways to score in a blowout loss. He has a good frame, so as he matures he should finish even better and be a more effective driver, both of which he showed the ability to do here, and he has some range on the jumper.
Khalea Turner (6’9″ Fr. PF, Marrero (LA) John Curtis HS) A post player with a good frame and a relatively mature body for his age, he’s an intriguing prospect because of the skills he showed hints of. He ran the floor well and showed good ball skills for his size and age in a reserve role for his stacked team, and on one play got a nice stickback while getting fouled.
Other players who caught our attention:
Tyrell Adams (5’11” Fr. PG, Roanoke (VA) William Fleming HS)
Braxton Beverly (5’10” Fr. PG, Rucco (KY) Perry Central HS)
Bennie Boatright (6’6″ So. SF, Mission Hills (CA) Bishop Alemany HS)
Terrance Ferguson (6’5″ Fr. SG-SF, Dallas (TX) Prime Prep Academy)
Jarvis Johnson (6’0″ So. PG-SG, Brooklyn Park (MN) Delasalle HS)
Darion King (6’6″ So. PF, Racine (WI) Case HS)
Chad Lott (6’3″ So. SG, Shreveport (LA) Byrd HS)
Thon Maker (7’0″ Fr. C, Martinsville (VA) Carlisle HS)
Shake Milton (6’3″ So. SG, Owasso (OK) High)
Luis Santos (6’8″ Jr. PF, Bronx (NY) St. Raymond’s HS)
Raymond Spalding (6’9″ Fr. SF-PF, Louisville (KY) Trinity HS)
