FISHERS, In. – The second session of the adidas Uprising circuit is near Indianapolis this weekend. Friday night got it started with three sets of games at the Best Choice Fieldhouse, and it’s the only stretch with all fixed matchups. Starting on Saturday morning, most of the matchups are determined by prior results, as bracket play begins. It’s a little different from how it was done last year.
Saturday will be a full day of action, with a few of the matchups now known and many more dependent on the outcome of Saturday’s games over the course of the day.
Here, we take a look at some players of note in Friday’s early action.
Brendan Bailey (6’9″ Jr. SF, Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic HS) One of the more intriguing prospects seen on the evening, he’s long and has a slight frame but is also rangy. He scored 14 points, but on 5-15 shooting, though he made some good ones that included an awkward transition finish going up off the wrong foot, another one with contact, and he doesn’t lack range on his jumper, though it’s not clear that’s close to his forte.
Garrett Covington (6’4″ Jr. SF, Atlanta (GA) Greater Atlanta Christian HS) Athletic wing was a little slow to get going, which went with his team, as they fell behind early. Later in the first half, he came alive, hitting shots from deep and then getting chances closer to the basket. His offense seemed to come and go a bit, though he finished with a game-high 24 points.
Jalen Harris (6’1″ Jr. PG, Raleigh (NC) Word of God Christian Academy) In posting a double-double of 17 points and 11 assists, he sliced through the defense multiple times to create opportunities for himself and teammates. He’s athletic and looks to have enough range that his jumper has to be respected.
Jalen Hill (6’9″ So. PF, Corona (CA) Centennial HS) He’s more of an offensive threat than the teammate who started Friday’s game instead, as he tried to score more and got to the foul line several times (and made all six free throws). In limited minutes off the bench, he gave them a good boost.
Vance Jackson (6’8″ Jr. SF-PF, Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco HS) In posting a big double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds, he scored inside, including with contact, while also hitting a couple of three-pointers. His body can still mature more and there’s some good potential here.
Cameron Lard (6’9″ Jr. PF, Natchitoches (LA) Central HS) He didn’t get a lot of touches since his team’s guards often settled for jumpers, but when he got the ball he finished in close, including while fouled. He rebounded well, getting a stickback one time, and has a good frame, with a body that can mature a little more.
T.J. Leaf (6’10” Sr. SF-PF, El Cajon (CA) Foothills Christian) The clear best player on the floor in the last game of the night, this lanky post player was a big reason his team ran out to a big lead that they then had to hang on to at the end. He owned the boards, especially at the offensive end, where he got a lot of stickbacks in his 21-point, 10-rebound outing. He has some length, as well as good ball skills, as he even led the fast break one time while finishing others.
Lamar Peters (6’0″ Jr. PG-SG, New Orleans (LA) Landry-Walker HS) Although this left-handed wing has some good tools, he tended to settle for shots too much. He’s athletic and had a nice play where he drove and finished over a guy, but too often he took a questionable long three-pointer early with plenty of time left on the shot clock. In the second half, he got hot, and the shots started falling en route to a 21-point outing.
Michael Smith (5’10” Jr. PG, Chicago (IL) Fenwick HS) Though he scored 19 points, this thick point guard had just one assist with four turnovers. He’s deceptively fast and can finish the break, doing so once by out-running the defense, and he attacks often. But in this game, his playmaking left something to be desired, and perhaps some of it is from playing a little too fast at times as his normal speed is fast.
Romello White (6’8″ Jr. PF, Suwanee (GA) IMG Academy) This former Tennessee commit is clearly talented, and he nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. However, you watch him and expect him to be more of a consistent factor than he was since he’s well-built and athletic and can be a live body. His post offense appears to need refinement, but he can be active on the glass and in transition and get baskets from finding the ball.
