Under Armour Association Forward Evaluations
Under Armour currently sponsors two Tennessee-based AAU programs. B. Maze, the younger of the two, runs out a host of talented, though raw forwards. Team Thad 17u is guard-driven, but they have a couple forwards of note. Be aware that…
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Continue ReadingUnder Armour currently sponsors two Tennessee-based AAU programs. B. Maze, the younger of the two, runs out a host of talented, though raw forwards. Team Thad 17u is guard-driven, but they have a couple forwards of note. Be aware that one Team Thad 17u forward hails from Mississippi, so he is not included below.
Team Thad 17u
Markeston Douglas (Haywood) #39 in 2020
Wonderful around the rim. Douglas was a terror with Team Thad 16u last summer. Markeston is a classic tweener. He thrives as a power forward, but probably winds up as an undersized forward or maybe a wing in sparse moments. His 16u AAU coach loved him and acknowledges that Douglas is a good player more than he fits a position. Rebounding and energy are Markeston’s biggest contributions.
Think Zach Randolph…kinda.
Johnathan DeJurnett (Lausanne Collegiate) #13 in 2020
Honestly, DeJurnett looks a little timid. He is light on his feet in the halfcourt set, but doesn’t run the floor as fast as Team Thad ‘s guards. This results in DeJurnett getting few touches on the break. Between Matthew Murrell and Jordan Rawls, the ball rarely enters the post unless it hits the rim first.
DeJurnett averaged around 4.5 ppg in light minutes. Nice free throw form. Talks with Belmont some. Will be a mid-major prospect all year.
B. Maze 17u
Akeem Odusipe (Knoxville Catholic) #6 in 2020
Block out technique is sloppy. Quick hands and feet. Needs to set better screens. He is strong, but needs to get better conditioning for when an opponent pounds his weight against him (See Lampkin below). Good offensive rebounding instincts. Foul prone. Still a little behind his peers in basketball IQ.
Akeem vs. Eddie Lampkin. Overpowered. Physically worn out. Used his quickness and turnaround move well in tight spaces. He projects as a active, spry PF. Think Montrezl Harrell.
Akeem vs. Valentin Catt. Drew shooting foul first possession.
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (I.M.G.) #5 in Florida’s 2021
Raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, Brandon took advantage of a unique opportunity to transfer to Florida, Olympic preparation academy I.M.G.
Still, his Tennessee roots allowed Bobby Maze to hear of and evaluate him very early. Once B. Maze Director spotted and coveted his talents, he discussed with I.M.G. the raw, young talented Huntley-Hatfield and the rest is modern history.
Developing as a wonderful athlete. Brandon has a quirky, slingshot release. Does not jump much on jumpers. Reminds of Sam “Big Smooth” Perkins only in his limited hop during outside shot. Still, Huntley-Hatfield is a tremendously coiled athlete…the kind that typically peaks when their investment finally meets their incredible potential.
Andrew Williams (Hamilton Heights Christian Academy) #5 in 2020
Exeptional athlete. Andrew Williams is reclassing down to 2021. He is excited about the opportunities this creates. Expect Williams to be an explosive wing similar to Marvin Clark or Miles Bridges. He rebounds so aggressively from his upbringing as a post player, but that three point shot really developed over the winter. Williams must find a new school next year after the news that Hamilton Heights is closing at the end of the semester.
Handje Tamba (Knoxville Catholic) Class of 2022
Used as filler with 17u. Handje is actually a 15u player, but BMaze will miss their starting forward Darlinstone Dubar for the month of April.
Tamba is a wonderful young man adapting to a new country. Already he has mastered middle school (in English) and dominated his class academically with a nearly 4.0 GPA. Tamba’s free throws and jumper in general are rough. There is no skirting around the issue. He is extremely raw as a shooter.
Tamba’s height will always give him a chance and development is coming along. Like most immigrants from non-basketball backgrounds Tamba is likely to have a delayed starting point but hopeful to enjoy a greater trajectory. For example, Joel Embiid, Bismark Biyombo (also from Tamba’s home country of Congo), and Cheick Diallo all began their lives in Africa and eventually improved at a more rapid rate than their peers simply because they adopted the game later than most American boys tend to.