CBG Fall Series 3: 2022 Standouts (Part 1)

<p>It was the final session of the CBG Fall Series, which has brought grassroots teams from all over the state to Richmond to compete in front of coaches in person and on live steam. The event featured teams from the 757, 804, 703, 434 and 540 area codes, and was chock full of talent for all levels. The games were competitive, well coached and gave the kids a much needed opportunity to get seen in an unprecedented time.</p> <p>Here’s a look at part one of the 2022 standouts, featuring 6 guys who had big days on Saturday.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815579" first="Tyler" last="Nickel"] | 6’7” WF | VA Blaze</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Nickel-Tyler-Blaze.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1063291" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Nickel-Tyler-Blaze-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Nickel has had some big days throughout the CBG Fall Series, but this was by far his best day and maybe the best day of anyone throughout the series. In his first game, Nickel caught fire from deep and showed his quick release and ability to get hot, and he hit four in a row at one point and finished with 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field and 4-for-7 from deep, and he pitched in 8 rebounds and 5 assists in an upset win over a very good Team Suffolk group. In their second game against the NOVA Cavs, Nickel continued his hot streak and exploded for a series high 41 points, going 14-for-24 from the field, 6-for-10 from deep and 7-for-13 from the free throw line, and he sat out the last six minutes of the game. The big wing has continued to see his recruitment pick up, and he showed he can score it as well as anyone this past weekend.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815598" first="Ihsan" last="Duncan"] | 6’2” G | VA Blaze</strong></p> <p>The Hampton High guard joined a Blaze team that he fit in perfectly with because they needed a ball handler, and he did that and made plays throughout the day for them as a big part of their two wins on the day. Duncan looks in great shape and it shows as he looks quicker, is more explosive and stronger around the rim when he gets downhill. His size is good for him as a ball handler, he makes good decisions and can probe when things break down and he has good instincts on the defensive end as well.</p> <p><strong>Cooper Keyes | 5’10” PG | VA Blaze</strong></p> <p>Keyes was the x-factor for Blaze on the day, as he was the one to keep defenses honest and made them pay when they chose to help off him or not guard him. The 5’10” guard is a guy who can be a secondary ball handler, he sticks it from deep regularly and he has a great basketball IQ and makes good decisions.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815590" first="Kenyon" last="Giles"] | 5’10” PG | Team Assist 2.0</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Giles-Kenyon-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082504" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Giles-Kenyon-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Giles is a guy who may not check the boxes as far as size, but any time he plays anywhere he just flat out competes and makes plays that help his team win. He’s a very skilled and gifted lead guard who can handle and has wiggle, he has deep range both off the catch and the bounce and he has a competitive chip and good IQ to go along with it. Where he’s really underrated is as an athlete, as he has become much more explosive as a finisher with good hang time and his first step looks much quicker when he’s in isolation.</p> <p><strong>James “Biggie” Patterson | 6’5” WG | Team Assist 2.0</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Patterson-James-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082505" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Patterson-James-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Patterson showed that he may be the breakout guy in the Richmond area this year, as he transferred to Carmel School from Meadowbrook and reclassified to the 2022 class, and he checks all the boxes for the next level at the wing position. He has terrific size and is an above the rim athlete, he can handle and create shots both in the half court and in transition and he can make shots when he gets open. If he can continue to improve and produce at a high level he could see his recruitment take off moving forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962785" first="Justin" last="Taylor"] | 6’6” WG | CBG 434</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Taylor-Justin-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1063288" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Taylor-Justin-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Taylor came to session 3 on a bad wheel as he rolled his ankle at the Morgan Wooten camp in Dallas a few weeks ago, but you couldn’t tell as he showed why he’s one of the top wings on the east coast as he showed the whole shot making package and his ability to create off the bounce as well. Taylor’s size is one of his best attributes as it makes him the prototypical wing at the next level, and his development and improve production is what has me thinking he deserves the hype and more. In his two games he averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds, and he hit an array of shots from multiple levels that shows his ability to score in a number of ways both on and off the basketball.</p> <p><strong>Spencer Hamilton | 6’10” C | Team Assist Orange</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Hamilton-Spencer.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082510" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Hamilton-Spencer-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Hamilton is an intriguing prospect from the western part of the state that made the trip to Richmond to play with Assist and showed flashes of brilliance despite playing with an entirely new team. He’s intriguing because he has good size and should continue to fill out, he has good hands and feet and caught and finished some very tough passes and he has touch out to the three-point line and can stretch the floor. He needs to continue to improve his foot speed and mobility but that should come as he grows into his body, and as he gets seen by more coaches he’ll become a more household name soon.</p>