2020 NEO DAY ONE RECAP
The 2020 NEO Youth Elite brought some of the top young talent in the country to Northeast Ohio to compete in a basketball showcase. Participants were divided by age group and in this article the top performers from Day 1 in grades 3-6 are highlighted.
Peyton Kemp is a quick PG, he initially popped with a tough left handed finish. He also has good vision with the basketball and was a Pull-up threat from 3-point range.
348 possessed a shifty handle for his size. Matchup problem when defended by slower footed big men. Runs the floor with a purpose to the rim for easy looks.
Landon Krygierk was an excellent shooter that also moved his feet defensively. Nice size at the wing position. Showed hang time on layups, can finish with both hands.
Jayden Moore was a taller primary ball-handler who showed impressive driving ability. Finished off 2 feet in traffic which allowed him to make a high percentage of layups.
DeWade Moore was simply more physically mature than his opponents. He used ball fakes to gain an advantage over defenders. He was also aggressive when attacking the basket.
Scoop Smith showed nice touch on layups. Gets to the basket when he wants. Good instincts on the defensive end of the court which helped lead to fast-break chances for his team.
Maximus Jansenvanvuren was opportunistic around the basket. Can also step outside and shoot the 3-pointer. Provides size and rebounding from the forward position. He also took advantage of defenders falling asleep on him, getting open layups though this skill.
Evangrlos Verginis was very poised with the basketball. Doesn’t make rushed decisions and plays at his own pace. Doesn’t fall for dribble moves on defense and stays disciplined when off ball.
Marino Graham was a lefty point guard that throws the ball ahead in transition. He also made outside shots and layups with both hands. Ran the show for his team as a very young point guard.
Tre Moore is an impressive outside shooter. Can shoot the step-back jumper. Moore seems to have a knack for scoring the basketball.
Kaylen Brooks plays passing lanes for interceptions. Creates space with his handle for drives and jumpers on the offensive end in the half-court.
Karl Mullins mixes it up with bigger players on the defensive end. Comfortable on pump-fake and drive to either pass or shoot. Not afraid of contact in the paint.
Jalen Holmes pops with his huge frame. Holmes is an imposing rim protector and cleans up on both ends with rebounding ability. Long strides make it difficult for defenders to keep up with on the fast break.
Deon Johnson is a long wing that can handle the rock. Comfortable bringing the ball up the court and doing a combo of crossover moves to beat his defender. Impressive shot-making ability.
Peyton Kemp is a quick PG, he initially popped with a tough left handed finish. He also has good vision with the basketball and was a Pull-up threat from 3-point range.
348 possessed a shifty handle for his size. Matchup problem when defended by slower footed big men. Runs the floor with a purpose to the rim for easy looks.
Landon Krygierk was an excellent shooter that also moved his feet defensively. Nice size at the wing position. Showed hang time on layups, can finish with both hands.
Jayden Moore was a taller primary ball-handler who showed impressive driving ability. Finished off 2 feet in traffic which allowed him to make a high percentage of layups.
DeWade Moore was simply more physically mature than his opponents. He used ball fakes to gain an advantage over defenders. He was also aggressive when attacking the basket.
Scoop Smith showed nice touch on layups. Gets to the basket when he wants. Good instincts on the defensive end of the court which helped lead to fast-break chances for his team.
Maximus Jansenvanvuren was opportunistic around the basket. Can also step outside and shoot the 3-pointer. Provides size and rebounding from the forward position. He also took advantage of defenders falling asleep on him, getting open layups though this skill.
Evangrlos Verginis was very poised with the basketball. Doesn’t make rushed decisions and plays at his own pace. Doesn’t fall for dribble moves on defense and stays disciplined when off ball.
Marino Graham was a lefty point guard that throws the ball ahead in transition. He also made outside shots and layups with both hands. Ran the show for his team as a very young point guard.
Tre Moore is an impressive outside shooter. Can shoot the step-back jumper. Moore seems to have a knack for scoring the basketball.
Kaylen Brooks plays passing lanes for interceptions. Creates space with his handle for drives and jumpers on the offensive end in the half-court.
Karl Mullins mixes it up with bigger players on the defensive end. Comfortable on pump-fake and drive to either pass or shoot. Not afraid of contact in the paint.
Jalen Holmes pops with his huge frame. Holmes is an imposing rim protector and cleans up on both ends with rebounding ability. Long strides make it difficult for defenders to keep up with on the fast break.
Deon Johnson is a long wing that can handle the rock. Comfortable bringing the ball up the court and doing a combo of crossover moves to beat his defender. Impressive shot-making ability.
NEO Youth Elite once again brought some of the top talent to Northeast Ohio to compete against each other. The first day of the camp saw some players stand out from the pack. Here are those top performers from grades 7-11.
Jalen Griffith is a flashy point guard who can execute a killer crossover combo before dropping an impressive dime or layup. Active hands on the defensive end. Outside shot has flashes of success, even off the dribble.
Brent Walker is a physical specimen in the paint. Dominates on the interior against slimmer bigs. Throws down thunderous dunks in transition. Was bullying smaller opponents who didn’t want to get in his way. Improved handle shows promise for ability to play on the outside at the next level.
Jyles Brandon was finishing through contact in the paint. Had multiple and-1’s. Leaking out in transition to find easy layup opportunities. Was one of the most productive scorers in the high school age group all day. Jesse Hayes is a long rim protector who can give drivers trouble with his length. Still developing his movement skills but is more physically filled out compared to the high school season. High potential big. Shamar Simpson is an aggressive on ball defender. Started the fast break by getting steals or grabbing defensive rebounds. Uses speed to push in transition. Liked floater as a shot while attacking the basket. Flashed some outside shooting capability.
Seven Bullock ran the show for his team, creating open looks when trapped or collapsed during drives. Showcased his jumper too with a few 3-pointers as well to get buckets for himself.
Justin Williams Jr shot the ball well from the outside. Spaced the floor for his teammates to drive and attacked close outs to beat defenders to the hoop. Played a solid complimentary role on the offensive end, as he didn’t try doing too much with the basketball.
Memphis McDowell created a lot of easy layups for himself with his defense and hustle. Only looked to finish with his right hand, but found ways to get his shot up with that hand. Hounded ball handlers to cause turnovers with his pressure.
Ahmaan Thomas is a wider framed big guy that competes on the glass. Looks to use his size to post-up on the block. Can use a step through or fade-away jumper to finish once he receives an entry pass. Showed nice hustle on the defensive end.
Jaiden Gladney has the microwave scorer signature skill. Gladney can pull-up with the basketball or use a hesitation dribble to get defenders on their heels. More of a combo lead guard than a pure point as he has a score first mentality.
Xzavion Robertson looked to pick opposing dribblers pockets. Came out firing with 2 early 3-pointers. Continued his scoring barrage with a variety of inside shots to carry his team.
Keyshawn Hall came in clutch at the end of his first game with a game-tying 3-pointer with under a minute to go. Hall then won the game with a layup with 10 seconds to play.
Alexander Lloyd is a monster athlete, he even threw down a dunk. Lloyd also showed his athletic ability with an acrobatic tip-in. He can get around defenders with his impressive straight line speed.
Demarco Johnson is a long off guard with a lot of burst when attacking the basket. Showed off his athleticism with flashy finishes at the basket to avoid rim contests. Made the right decision to
give up the ball at times in transition when he didn’t look to score. Competed on the defensive end of the court with a couple blocks on jumpers. Had a crazy hot shooting stretch as well, probably scored around 30 points in the one full game I watched of him.
Isaiah Cunningham had the entire camp going crazy with his athletic highlights. Showed some real skill with left handed finishes and a 3-pointer to show he’s more than just a leader.
Quentin Toles had defenders reaching for their ankles with his crossover. Made a defender fall over before knocking down a 3-pointer on a step back to finish the move. Showed solid defensive intensity both on and off the ball.
Nekwante Sprauve nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send his first game to overtime.
Jalen Griffith is a flashy point guard who can execute a killer crossover combo before dropping an impressive dime or layup. Active hands on the defensive end. Outside shot has flashes of success, even off the dribble.
Brent Walker is a physical specimen in the paint. Dominates on the interior against slimmer bigs. Throws down thunderous dunks in transition. Was bullying smaller opponents who didn’t want to get in his way. Improved handle shows promise for ability to play on the outside at the next level.
Jyles Brandon was finishing through contact in the paint. Had multiple and-1’s. Leaking out in transition to find easy layup opportunities. Was one of the most productive scorers in the high school age group all day. Jesse Hayes is a long rim protector who can give drivers trouble with his length. Still developing his movement skills but is more physically filled out compared to the high school season. High potential big. Shamar Simpson is an aggressive on ball defender. Started the fast break by getting steals or grabbing defensive rebounds. Uses speed to push in transition. Liked floater as a shot while attacking the basket. Flashed some outside shooting capability.
Seven Bullock ran the show for his team, creating open looks when trapped or collapsed during drives. Showcased his jumper too with a few 3-pointers as well to get buckets for himself.
Justin Williams Jr shot the ball well from the outside. Spaced the floor for his teammates to drive and attacked close outs to beat defenders to the hoop. Played a solid complimentary role on the offensive end, as he didn’t try doing too much with the basketball.
Memphis McDowell created a lot of easy layups for himself with his defense and hustle. Only looked to finish with his right hand, but found ways to get his shot up with that hand. Hounded ball handlers to cause turnovers with his pressure.
Ahmaan Thomas is a wider framed big guy that competes on the glass. Looks to use his size to post-up on the block. Can use a step through or fade-away jumper to finish once he receives an entry pass. Showed nice hustle on the defensive end.
Jaiden Gladney has the microwave scorer signature skill. Gladney can pull-up with the basketball or use a hesitation dribble to get defenders on their heels. More of a combo lead guard than a pure point as he has a score first mentality.
Xzavion Robertson looked to pick opposing dribblers pockets. Came out firing with 2 early 3-pointers. Continued his scoring barrage with a variety of inside shots to carry his team.
Keyshawn Hall came in clutch at the end of his first game with a game-tying 3-pointer with under a minute to go. Hall then won the game with a layup with 10 seconds to play.
Alexander Lloyd is a monster athlete, he even threw down a dunk. Lloyd also showed his athletic ability with an acrobatic tip-in. He can get around defenders with his impressive straight line speed.
Demarco Johnson is a long off guard with a lot of burst when attacking the basket. Showed off his athleticism with flashy finishes at the basket to avoid rim contests. Made the right decision to
give up the ball at times in transition when he didn’t look to score. Competed on the defensive end of the court with a couple blocks on jumpers. Had a crazy hot shooting stretch as well, probably scored around 30 points in the one full game I watched of him.
Isaiah Cunningham had the entire camp going crazy with his athletic highlights. Showed some real skill with left handed finishes and a 3-pointer to show he’s more than just a leader.
Quentin Toles had defenders reaching for their ankles with his crossover. Made a defender fall over before knocking down a 3-pointer on a step back to finish the move. Showed solid defensive intensity both on and off the ball.
Nekwante Sprauve nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send his first game to overtime.
2020 NEO DAY TWO RECAP
Day 2 of the NEO Youth Elite showcase was headlined by the Top 20 All-Star games in each age division. These games helped put the best in each age group against each other to battle it out head to head. Here were the top performers from Day 2 of the Camp.
Day 2 top performers
Derek Whitfield showed impressive poise when pressured with the basketball. He used a hesitation dribble and flashy passes to help create easy shots for his team. Incredibly comfortable with the behind the back pass. Made layups with both hands on the fast break.
Tristan Comer worked well with his guards to seal position on the block. With his size he grabs a ton of offensive rebounds to give himself second chance points. Still developing as a finisher but shows aggressiveness in the paint which is important for a young big.
Sammy Dari is a big time shooter. Uses the threat of his jumper to get to the paint to dish off to teammates. Competes on the defensive end of the court.
Dooney Johnson displayed an all-around scoring package. Besides his scoring capability, he impressed with his effort on the offensive glass and defensive intensity.
Deon Johnson takes it aggressively to the cup. With his athleticism he’s able to rise over defenders and finish in traffic. Quick with the ball in a straight line, when he gets past a defender he’s not going to be slowed down.
Four Petre was an aggressive shot creator. Using his deep range to surprise the defense with a pull-up. On the defensive end he was successful with strip attempts on the ball.
Nazsir Cammon was one of the top defenders at the camp. His intensity on ball and quickness gave opposing ball-handlers fits and he played an unselfish brand of basketball on the offensive end of the court.
Ryker Bowden was productive on both ends for his team. He played his role on the offensive end, attacking close outs and distributing. He also used his size around the basket against shorter defenders. Defensively he shined off-ball, playing help-side defense and jumping passing lanes.
Marcus Johnson initiates contact at a very advanced level for his age. His understanding of leverage when defenders are backpedaling is something you don’t see from many young guards. Intense on-ball defender, with fast recovery time.
Robert Cain dominated with his slashing ability from the wing position. His strong frame allowed him to outmuscle defenders in the paint. He also leaked out for easy layups before the defense could get back and hunted for steals as well. His jumper also showed promise as he knocked down a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Scoop Smith showed off the clamps in the all star game. Despite playing against the best of his age group, he was hounding opposing guards and making it extremely difficult to even cross half court. He then prompted to nail a shot from almost half-court in the latter part of the all star game blowout.
Jalen Holmes helped his squad dominate the glass. Strength was difficult to contain and he scored a boatload of second chance points.
Daeshaun Hall took advantage of a lack of defense in his all star game and really exploded offensively. While he mostly looked to attack the basket, he also hit outside shots in a well rounded offensive effort.
Vernon Smith showed out in the all star game. The high flying big man was wowing with his athleticism but also hit a pull-up 3 and one off the handoff.
Danny Young Jr played with his usual fearlessness attacking the basket. There aren’t many guards that get to the free-throw line as Young. Young also shot the ball well from the outside.
Michael Coyne made it rain from downtown in the all star game. Besides knocking down 3-pointers he made a couple impressive behind the back passes and cuts off ball.
Carter McDole is a crazy athlete that shined during the all star game. Thrives in transition where he can really show off his athleticism.
Day 2 top performers
Derek Whitfield showed impressive poise when pressured with the basketball. He used a hesitation dribble and flashy passes to help create easy shots for his team. Incredibly comfortable with the behind the back pass. Made layups with both hands on the fast break.
Tristan Comer worked well with his guards to seal position on the block. With his size he grabs a ton of offensive rebounds to give himself second chance points. Still developing as a finisher but shows aggressiveness in the paint which is important for a young big.
Sammy Dari is a big time shooter. Uses the threat of his jumper to get to the paint to dish off to teammates. Competes on the defensive end of the court.
Dooney Johnson displayed an all-around scoring package. Besides his scoring capability, he impressed with his effort on the offensive glass and defensive intensity.
Deon Johnson takes it aggressively to the cup. With his athleticism he’s able to rise over defenders and finish in traffic. Quick with the ball in a straight line, when he gets past a defender he’s not going to be slowed down.
Four Petre was an aggressive shot creator. Using his deep range to surprise the defense with a pull-up. On the defensive end he was successful with strip attempts on the ball.
Nazsir Cammon was one of the top defenders at the camp. His intensity on ball and quickness gave opposing ball-handlers fits and he played an unselfish brand of basketball on the offensive end of the court.
Ryker Bowden was productive on both ends for his team. He played his role on the offensive end, attacking close outs and distributing. He also used his size around the basket against shorter defenders. Defensively he shined off-ball, playing help-side defense and jumping passing lanes.
Marcus Johnson initiates contact at a very advanced level for his age. His understanding of leverage when defenders are backpedaling is something you don’t see from many young guards. Intense on-ball defender, with fast recovery time.
Robert Cain dominated with his slashing ability from the wing position. His strong frame allowed him to outmuscle defenders in the paint. He also leaked out for easy layups before the defense could get back and hunted for steals as well. His jumper also showed promise as he knocked down a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Scoop Smith showed off the clamps in the all star game. Despite playing against the best of his age group, he was hounding opposing guards and making it extremely difficult to even cross half court. He then prompted to nail a shot from almost half-court in the latter part of the all star game blowout.
Jalen Holmes helped his squad dominate the glass. Strength was difficult to contain and he scored a boatload of second chance points.
Daeshaun Hall took advantage of a lack of defense in his all star game and really exploded offensively. While he mostly looked to attack the basket, he also hit outside shots in a well rounded offensive effort.
Vernon Smith showed out in the all star game. The high flying big man was wowing with his athleticism but also hit a pull-up 3 and one off the handoff.
Danny Young Jr played with his usual fearlessness attacking the basket. There aren’t many guards that get to the free-throw line as Young. Young also shot the ball well from the outside.
Michael Coyne made it rain from downtown in the all star game. Besides knocking down 3-pointers he made a couple impressive behind the back passes and cuts off ball.
Carter McDole is a crazy athlete that shined during the all star game. Thrives in transition where he can really show off his athleticism.