St. James NIBC Invitational: Tennessee Top Performers

<p>Now that the NIBC Invitational is in the books, it’s time to reflect on what we learned during our time in the gym the past couple of weeks. Here are 12 of the top performers from Tennessee schools. </p> <p><strong>Camden Andrews | Hamilton Heights ’23</strong></p> <p><strong>Camden Andrews</strong> is known as a shooter and he lived up to that reputation, shooting 43 percent through 6 games, <a href="https://69ad399c-23e4-47f3-930a-73f985e71199.filesusr.com/ugd/d7e680_723010f5a3b74e748e0218653e9afa19.pdf"><strong>per Legit Stats</strong></a>. What should not go overlooked about Andrews is his scrappiness. He routinely dove on the floor for 50/50’s and was a pest on the ball defensively.  </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="684374" first="Jerrell" last="Colbert"] | Houston ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="684374" first="Jerrell" last="Colbert"]</strong> is headed to LSU after graduation. The big fella is a bonafide lob threat. Colbert tends to convert the most awkward of finishes in part because of his coordination. He’s still filling out but has a broad frame that will carry the additional muscle mass well. </p> <p><strong>Cole Farrell | Hamilton Heights ’21</strong></p> <p>The first thing you’ll probably notice about<strong> Cole Farrell</strong> is that he’s a terrific athlete. He plays above the rim on both ends and is a versatile defender. Farrell excels in transition and is a confident pull-up shooter but also a crafty finisher. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775535" first="Johnathan" last="Lawson"] | Houston ’21</strong></p> <p>Oregon bound <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775535" first="Johnathan" last="Lawson"]</strong> oozes upside. He’s a big guard who rebounds exceptionally well and will look ahead to initiate the break. Lawson is a creative lob passer. He is a versatile scorer who can get buckets in the post or stop on a dime and pull-up from 15 feet. Lawson’s defensive potential is through the roof. He’s long, guards multiple positions, makes foes uncomfortable on the ball, but is also active and alert off the ball.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775538" first="TJ" last="Madlock"] | Houston ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775538" first="TJ" last="Madlock"]</strong> is the son of a coach who was a point guard, and that makes total sense when you watch him compete. He’s a heady player who is decisive. Madlock does all the little things that help win games. He rebounds well for a guard. Madlock sees the floor well and plays unselfishly, but if you’re not careful he will put it on your head.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="537278" first="Yerald" last="Mieses"] | Hamilton Heights ’21</strong></p> <p>One could argue that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="537278" first="Yerald" last="Mieses"]</strong> was the single biggest stock riser in the 2021 class at the NIBC Invitational. Mieses was among the event’s leaders in scoring and free throw attempts. He excels in transition where he is a grab-and-go threat who can score or make plays. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="548394" first="Mason" last="Miller"] | Houston ’21</strong></p> <p>Creighton is getting a workhorse in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="548394" first="Mason" last="Miller"]</strong>. The 6-foot-9 lefty finished 8th in scoring average (17.5 ppg) and field goal percentage (60%) respectively. Miller was very aggressive on the offensive boards. He’s got a good feel for the game and knows how to move without the ball. They did a very good job allowing Miller to get downhill to his strong hand and attack the basket on straight-line drives. He showed that he can get up off one foot and dunk the ball in traffic. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850501" first="Bretner" last="Mutombo"] | Hamilton Heights ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850501" first="Bretner" last="Mutombo"]</strong> was one of the most productive rim-protectors at the NIBC. He finished 7th in the event in blocked shots (1.7 bpg). Mutombo also has a developing post-game, which is encouraging. </p> <p><strong>Ahmad Nowell | Houston ’24</strong></p> <p>Philly native <strong>Ahmad Nowell</strong> was one of the top freshman performers at the event. He is a compact guard who handles pressure well and gets to his spots. Nowell is a very good playmaker out of pick-and-roll. He can knock down standstill threes. His breakout performance came against Paul VI where he recorded 15 points (5/7 FG, 3/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, and 3 turnovers.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="996898" first="Felix" last="Okpara"] | Hamilton Heights ’22</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="996898" first="Felix" last="Okpara"]</strong> showed why he is considered the top shot-blocker in the country at the NIBC. He led the event, averaging a ridiculous 3.3 blocks per game, but altered dozens of other shots. Okpara was relentless on the offensive glass. He averaged 3 offensive rebounds per game, which ranked 4th overall. </p> <p><strong>JaMichael Stillwell | Hamilton Heights ’21</strong></p> <p><strong>JaMichael Stillwell</strong> is a 6-foot-7 forward who guard multiple positions and plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He is a very good rebounder. Stillwell averaged 8.2 boards per game with 3.3 coming on the offensive glass.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="775539" first="Zander" last="Yates"] | Houston ’21</strong></p> <p>Yates is an athletic 6-foot-7+ forward who is a difference-maker on both ends of the court. He is a vigilant rebounder who can also block shots. Yates hedges ball-screens hard. He’s a smart cutter who tends to come up with offensive boards and finish consistently through contact. Yates plays unselfishly and is a very good passer. He led Houston High with 7 assists in their win against Paul VI. </p>