Sam Siegel: A very crafty guard that has great ball skills and very high basketball IQ. Sam got to the cup at will and also created for his teammates. His tenacity on defense was also showcased when he faced other top prospects. His game reminds you of former Ohio State star Aaron Craft. Smart, tough and knows how to play the game.
Noah Peoples: Strong athletic post player that has to the ability to dominate on the game. At first glance of Mr. Peoples you have to ask yourself is he really in the 7th grade because of his physical stature. The young guy is a bull and knows it. Some kids at this age shy away from “bangin down low”, but this kid enjoys it and don’t mistake his strength and size as an inability to handle the rock. On numerous occasions during the showcase I saw Noah take bigger players to the perimeter and create his own shot. Top 50 player in the nation in the 2021 class.
William Jeffress: Will is a top 20 player in the nation in the 2021 class and an outstanding prospect that I see as having a very high ceiling. He has the size, the basketball IQ and the intangibles to become a great player at the high school and collegiate level. It’s very rare to see a kid with his size and at his age that can handle the ball effortlessly and have the court awareness of a guard. Will can do just about anything you want him to do, from leading the break to getting out and filling the correct lanes to hitting 10-15ft jumpers. Remember the name William Jeffress.
Tae Perie: A long, feisty guard that can flat out shoot the rock. Tae was one of the prospects that I got to see a few times over the weekend and every time he did not disappoint. When his team needed a basket he was the guy, when they needed a defensive stop he was the guy. He’s a great all-around player that reminds you of another NBA player with the same initials Tayshaun Prince and I mean that in regards to his length and ability to defend on the perimeter and knock down shots. Keep an eye on this kid because it wouldn’t surprise me if he is one NEO’s best prospects by the time he’s in high school.
Luke Chicone: Luke was one the most impressive prospects at the showcase. Luke started to create a buzz late Saturday afternoon during the first round of games, but by the Sunday Top 20 game he had Court 1 packed with spectators to see what all the buzz was about. With his smooth ball handling and ability to get to the cup against bigger, faster and stronger kids, Luke definitely made a name for himself this weekend and it will be interesting to see how he develops.
Omar Abuhamdeh: Everybody knows Omar and rightfully so. The kid can flat out play. He has great handles, a pure shot from deep and the court savvy of a seasoned high school player. His maturity on the court is well beyond his years and to me that’s what really sets him apart. When I watched him, he made the tough plays look easy and got his teammates involved and that’s something you rarely can say in a setting like this. In a nutshell Omar is a great player with a bright future.
Ramelle Arnold Jr: Ramelle was another player that stood out physically. At this stage of his game he can dominate anywhere on the floor because of his strength and athleticism. He’s an intriguing player that really stands out in transition and the low post. He’s definitely one to watch. He is one of the top 100 players in the nation in his class.
Joe Labas: A tall and long post player with great leaping and rebounding ability. In the first game I saw Joe, he dominated with his relentless attack of the glass and the ability to finish in traffic. In the Top 20 game I saw a little more of his basketball IQ and skill set as he hit a couple of jumpers and made good passes.
Jaden Hameed: Jaden is a tough shooting guard that brings it on both ends of the court. He has a world of potential and athleticism that showed well during game play. He has the handling ability to create space on the perimeter. He has an extremely high basketball IQ and is always a difference maker when he is on the floor and is one of the top 50 players in the nation.
EJ Farmer: EJ is an all-around playmaker for himself and his teammates. He can fill it up from all three levels and is versatile enough to play the 1, 2 or 3 positions. He is long and lean build with a tremendous about of upside. He's a smooth lefty that continues to get better.
Jimmy Salamone: High basketball IQ, does a great job seeing the floor, makes great decisions and has a nice mid-range game. He is also very crafty with the basketball which allows him to get anywhere he desires to on the court.
Mechie Johnson: Mechie has the ability to spread the floor, with an unmatched quickness. He is a terror for any defender as he has the ball handling skills unsurpassed by anyone his age playing the same position. A real treat to watch and always a crown please. He is one of top 15 players in his class of 2021.
Darryl Peterson: Peterson is a prospect that uses his size, skill, and fluid athleticism to overwhelm his opponents. As hard as he competes on the offensive end, he plays even harder on the defensive end. One thing about Darryl you can tell he stays in the gym getting better. He will be getting national recognition soon!
Collin Albert: This ultra-quick guard gets to the rim at will and finishes in traffic. He is an ultimate competitor that simply refused to be denied on the court. All weekend long he kept the defense on their heels as no one could keep him in front of them. After this summer , trust me , people will know his name around the nation as one of the best guards in the nation.
Makail Cottingham: Cottingham is an aggressive lead guard who pushes the tempo in the full court and makes plays in the half-court. We like Cottingham’s ability to make plays for himself and others. He is always aggressive and can always score the rock. It is obvious why people are recognizing his name.
Trent Jakacki: Trent was a top 20 all star and a scrappy guard who plays hard and has nice length. He makes the hustle plays and gets you the 50/50 balls for that extra possession. I can definitely see him being a glue guy for a high school program in the next couple of years.
Alvin Stallworth Jr: This kid is a player, I saw him for the first time in the Top 40 game and he impacted every facet of the game. He started the game off slow, but scored 6 straight points to send the game into OT, during one sequence he blocked a shot, ran the floor and finished in traffic. He’s a worker and doesn’t quit. Put him on your list for names to remember.
Jamere Sheron: This guy is scoring machine, I saw him in the Top 40 game against Alvin Stallworth and he finished with an easy 25 points. He can do it from anywhere on the court. He shot the long ball, attacked the rim and made a few nice pull-up’s. I don’t know what he didn’t do to get in the Top 20 game, but he made up for it in the Top 40.
