Prospect Standouts From Thursday & Friday

<p>Seven standouts that I saw play on Thursday and Friday! I was able to catch Park Center vs Totino-Grace on Thursday and Blake vs Breck on Friday.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850710" first="Braeden" last="Carrington"] (6’4 2022 G, Park Center)- </strong>It was a big night for [player_tooltip player_id="850710" first="Braeden" last="Carrington"], specifically in the second half when he took over to help his team pull away in the win. At 6’4 he has the length to play either guard spot, and does a good job of controlling the pace of the game and creating shot opportunities for his teammates. He was also able to showcase his shooting touch from well beyond the arc as he hit a handful of deep threes off the catch on his way to 20 points and 6-7 assists. Continues to show why he has a variety of high major offers as a junior.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958729" first="Ayouba" last="Berthe"] (6’5 2022 SF, Park Center)- </strong>Ayouba put in a strong performance on both ends of the floor on Thursday, using his length and mobility to guard a variety of spots on the defensive end. He’s a grinder who can sit deep in a stance, contest at the rim, and can guard on the perimeter or the block at the high school level. On the offensive end he has touch around the rim to finish at a high rate, showed he can hit the open three, and is a threat to get out and score in transition. A strong performance from [player_tooltip player_id="958729" first="Ayouba" last="Berthe"] finishing with 18 points.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958638" first="Demarion" last="Watson-Saulsberry"] (6’8 2022 SF, Totino-Grace)- </strong>There was a short span of the game where Demarion started to take over, and showcased the potential that has landed him multiple high major offers. Demarion scored around the rim three times, once catching in deep position and twice more off of offensive rebounds. He showcased his ability to pull-up and hit the mid-range jumper, using his length to make it nearly impossible for other guards to contest when he gets a little bit of space. Defensively he showed excellent timing to get up and protect the rim.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958671" first="Theo" last="Liu"] (6’4 2022 W, Blake)- </strong>Even while missing some time in foul trouble, [player_tooltip player_id="958671" first="Theo" last="Liu"] put together a monster first half in a win for Blake. His length and mobility on the wing was too much for Breck to deal with, as he attacked the basket off the dribble, secured the ball in good position close to the rim, and showcased soft touch with a fadeaway jumper from 10-12 feet. His ability to score in a variety of ways kept defenders on their toes, and it led to him ultimately putting up 23 in a big win. He’s a high academic prospect who’s just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.</p> <p><strong>Grayson Okoronkwo (6’2 2024 G, Blake)- </strong>One of the most productive freshmen in the state this season, Grayson finished with 17 points in a win over Breck. He has a nice frame for a guard, with the ability to score at the rim or from beyond the arc. Grayson hit an impressive stepback three in the first half, one of multiple makes from beyond the arc, and also handled the ball the length of the floor for some transition scores. He’s a relentless player when he gets the ball around the rim, and fights for rebounds on both ends of the floor. Defensively he can guard a few different spots and he also altered a lot of shots around the rim with his timing to contest shots.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774797" first="Jaren" last="Morton"] (5’11 2021 PG, Breck)- </strong>When it comes to quickness and applying ball pressure on the defensive end, Jaren ranks above the best in the metro. His agility to move his feet while sitting deep in a stance creates havoc and helped to disrupt the Blake offense at times. Jaren is always giving 100% on that end of the floor, and the energy becomes contagious for his team. On the offensive end he impressed me with his ability to create some space with a step-back, and knock down some mid-range shots. Finished with 12 points against a tough Blake team.</p> <p><strong>Jalen Wilson (6’5 2025 PF, Breck)- </strong>No height listed for Jalen, but I’m guessing the promising 8th grader is in the 6’5-6’6 range. He has a strong frame already that allows him to compete with players 3-4 years older than him, but also has great mobility for an 8th grader that’s as tall as he is. Jalen handles the ball well, and showcased the footwork to create his own looks when isolated on the block. He has a soft touch to score around the rim and competes on the glass. Scored 8 points against one of the top teams in Class AA.</p>