A Scout’s Take: FAB 48 (Underclassmen Standouts)

A Scout's Take: FAB 48 (Underclassmen Standouts)

LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Although Hal Pastner and UAA Finals had a lot of talent within their gyms, the FAB 48, directed by Gary Charles, Dinos Trigonis, and Grant Rice, continue to be the cream of the crop of Las Vegas Grassroots hoops. From the beginning (Compton Magic taking down Team Takeover in a thriller) to DC Premier claming the championship over The Truth, the Fab 48 delivered in a big time way. 

Kyree Walker (Deer Valley/AZ)                              Club Team: Dream Vision

2020, SG, 6-foot-5, 220 pounds

Joel's Take: Walker is a burly wing-type who is always in attack mode. He is tough to deal with both in transition as well as in the half court set due to his strength and athleticism. In transition he has a knack of getting to the rim and finishing through contact. He is a capable shooter from deep and a gifted passer, however, scoring is his forte. 

RJ Hampton (Little Elm/TX)                               Club Team: Mudiay Elite

2020, PG, 6-foot-5, 170 pounds

Joel's Take: If you're looking for one of the better combination guards in America, regardless of class, look no further than Hampton. He can scorch the nets from deep, slash his way to the rim, or drop off the nifty dime. He has great length (long arms) and has the explosiveness to compliment his skill set. He can get too caught up with a “war on words” with his opponents, but he is a major talent. 

Scottie Barnes (NSU University School/FL)                     Club Team: E1T1

2020, CF, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds

Joel's Take: The jack-of-all-trades forward is one of the more unique prospects in America. His best attribute his his passing and he can impact the game in a variety of ways. Whether it's rebounding in traffic, defending multiple positions, or making the right basketball play with the ball in his hands, Barnes is a straight winner. One area that needs to improve to take his game to another level is his outside shooting touch. 

Xavier Foster (Osklaoosa/IA)                                 Club Team: Pure Prep

2020, PF, 6-foot-11, 225 pounds

Joel's Take: He gets disengaged at times, but there is no denying his upside and overall talent. Foster is a quick-jumping 5-man that is quality rim-protector and finisher in the paint. He gets off the floor extremely quick, has impeccable timing around the rim, and he can even knock in the 3-point shot. Sprinting in transition and playing more assertive all the time will elevate his game. 

Wilhelm Breidenbach (Mater Dei) Club Team: Big Red

2021, PF, 6-foot-8, 210 pounds

Joel's Take: This no nonsense 4-man plays the game well beyond his years. He can play inside and out due to his advanced skill set and he has a nasty demeanor. In the paint he knows how to carve out space and out of the perimeter he knows how to lay down a solid screen. This pick-and-pop forward also has a smooth shooting stroke.

Nimari Burnett (Napa Christian)                             Club Team: Team Why Not

2020, SG, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds

Joel's Take: Burnett is easily one of the more improved juniors on the West Coast. A year ago, the Chicago transplant, was a high-flying finisher. However, now he can play both guard positons and has a knack on how to play this game. His strength is his ability to score in a variety of ways due to his quickness, burst, and bounce—but his skill set in the half court set has taken his game to a new level.