EXOS Top 50 Event: Power Forwards and Centers

This is my detailed coverage of the hands-on look I got at the EXOS Top 50 Event going on in Frisco, Texas. These kids all played their hearts out, got a great experience, good exposure and all helped their stocks rise. Be on the lookout for the rest of my coverage of this event!   [player_tooltip player_id="779905" first="Rodney" last="Johnson"] Jr. 2021 6’6 Power Forward Bryan High School <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/rodney-johnson.jpg?1601072350669"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1055554 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/rodney-johnson-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: EXOS Rodney is an athletic freak who has a real chance to be successful at the next level. He shut down the camp multiple times from his rim rattling dunks. His leaping ability put his head at the rim all day long, even after being put through some grueling workouts in the morning session. I was very impressed by his ability to finish at the rim, no matter if he was facing contact or was forced to change where he wanted to release the ball. He is a skilled finisher even coming down from leaping. I would like to see continued development in his outside-in game, he has a decent set shot and needs work on pull up shots in mid-range and behind the arc. I would also like to see more ball-handling work his handle was often times to far out asking to be ripped. He has all the tools to be putting kids through the rim and ending up on SportsCenter at the next level.   Kobe Webb 2021 6’5 Power Forward Alvarado High School <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/kobe-webb.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1055557 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/kobe-webb-201x300.jpg" alt="" width="201" height="300" /></a> Photo: EXOS Kobe is an aggressive forward with unlimited potential. He has great foot speed and agility and can easily guard positions 3-5 and most guards. I was very impressed with his ability to get up and down the court and even had some impressive chase-down blocks and strong rim running finishes. I would like to see continued work on his ability to drive with the ball in his hands as well as create open jump shots for himself off a live dribble. If he continues to develop, he has a real shot at being an effective rim running forward at the next level.   Bradley Davis 2021 Power Forward Shepherd High School <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_E4607.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1055517 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_E4607-202x300.jpg" alt="" width="202" height="300" /></a> Photo: EXOS Bradley is an intelligent big who is great at finishing around the rim. He is a smart player in the pick n roll and knows when to pop, slip and roll depending on the situation. He is an engaged player on the boards who thrives in finishing second opportunities. He is a reliable player at finishing dump off passes around the rim, allowing him to quickly become a guard favorite at the camp. He is a patient scorer in the post who uses his size and basketball IQ well, he got defenders off balance with a series of up fakes and spins in the post. He is great at running the court and sealing defenders off and creating driving lanes for his teammates and space for himself. I was blown away with his touch on the outside, especially as a set shooter. He is a reliable scorer in the mid range and even behind the arc, allowing him to be a perfect modern day 4/5.   Raphfel Moss Jr. 2022 Power Forward O’Connell High School (Galveston) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_0033.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1055531 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_0033-203x300.jpg" alt="" width="203" height="300" /></a> Photo: EXOS Raphfel is an athletic specimen with great leaping ability. He has all the tools to become a dominant rim running forward, or maybe even a player much like Bam Adebayo. He is long, quick and athletic and has all the tools to become an incredible basketball player. He is a raw athlete with a lot of potential, but his game is unrefined. As he is a younger player, I was not surprised by this but more in awe of all the other things he was able to do despite having a below average ball handling ability and vision on the court. This upcoming season I want to see him work on his ball handling and ability to stretch the floor. He is already a pretty strong finisher at the rim, thanks to his leaping ability, and I only expect to see him get better from here.   Tristen Osuna 2021 6’7 Power Forward La Vernia High School [caption id="attachment_1055507" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/tristen-osuna.jpg-2.jpg?1601072367284"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1055507" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/tristen-osuna.jpg-2-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: EXOS[/caption] Tristen is a dominant offensive weapon with good range on his jumper allowing him to space the floor and force opposing bigs to come out to the three-point line to guard him. He has long arms and a confident jumper allowing him to shoot over seemingly anyone. On the defensive end of the floor, he is a game wrecker, coming up with blocks and forcing his opponents into difficult shots. I would like to see continued work in his face up game and increase his confidence with putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim. Also, I would like to see more work at fighting for positioning down low when shots go up, he gets caught ball watching sometimes, but is still able to come up with good offensive and defensive board numbers. He has all the tools to become an elite “3 and D” type forward at the next level.   Tyler Stephenson 2021 6’8 Power Forward Lockhart High School <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/exos-5.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1054776 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/exos-5-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> Photo: EXOS Tyler is an intelligent big who punishes his opponents down low. He is confident and fluid when he has the basketball underneath the rim and in the post. He had a dominant showing against some of the best bigs in the state and really showcased his talents. Seemingly a man among boys, Stephenson was a force on the glass, boxing out opponents not allowing them to fight over him for positioning and bullying them with simple bunny hooks and other soft turnaround post moves. I would like to see continued development with driving with the basketball, especially when he spins out of the high post. He has all the tools to finish over even the best defenders, and will become deadly if he is skilled enough to beat you off the dribble too.