AAU Workout Visit: ENG United 2024

<p>It’s always an intriguing stop when you drop in on one of the many small independent programs in the ATL-Metro, the talent pool in town is so deep you’re bound to find some players who have the look of those primed for breakout status.</p> <p>Such is ENG United 2024 and Coach Shaine Freeman, even with three of their feature players not in attendance Tuesday night, there was intrigue to be found from this group that covers a lot of different schools. Let’s have a look at a few of the standouts:</p> <p><em><strong>Gabriel Mason, 6-4, SF, Kennesaw Mountain</strong></em></p> <p>Has the look of a future star prospect, great length for the long strider, sinewy strong getting to the basket, nice looking stoke from multiple levels, glides to the glass and has sticky hands, can play as a rim-protector even if that’s not what they ask of him much, can see him adding a few inches and really stepping into a high-level category.</p> <p><em><strong>Quentin Rakestraw, 6-1, SG, Woodstock</strong></em></p> <p>Sweet stroke from distance, spot-up shooter with quick and efficient release, good size and frame to create space for his own shot, can use the bounce to get downhill, good athlete can defend multiple spots, when the 3 absent bigs are in the lineup he’s sure to see good looks.</p> <p><em><strong>Charles Kimani, 6-1, SG/SF, Harrison</strong></em></p> <p>Plays a little more like a forward than a guard, really gets a head of steam off the dribble and is powerful at the basket, being lefty gives him that little edge savvy lefty scorers tend to utilize, goes to the glass hard as well making him seem a lot bigger, nice motor.</p> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1054793" first="Marquan" last="Murray"], 5-10, SG, McEachern</strong></em></p> <p>As we’ve come to expect all over town when you encounter a McEachern product he’s a tremendous athlete, has notable basketball acumen but still appears very much in his learning stage, which is to say he’s not "a project" as it is to say his upside is tangible and the kind of driving and high-rising skills he shows now can become special, as he kicks up his motor he’s got a shot to crack what will be a new but still deep Indians pool of talent. </p> <p><em><strong>Jace Freeman, 5-6, PG, Cornerstone Prep</strong></em></p> <p>The engine for this group, quite content in pass-first mode with wings and options like he has, with the missing bigs his work off the dribble getting by people must reward them well, more than willing to pull it from past the arc if teams slack off and don’t respect his scoring chops, sound defender makes up for diminutive size with good feet and savvy.</p> <p><em><strong>Jordan Brabham, 6-2, SG, Sprayberry</strong></em></p> <p>Reminds a bit of an earlier version of talented 2021 Sprayberry guard [player_tooltip player_id="1020673" first="LePra" last="George"], perhaps not the downhill explosion of George just yet but the athletic talents are similar, showed off shooting touch from range and some definite slashing ability, with time and drilling he can translate his inherent gifts into the kind of all-court game from the perimeter down to the bucket that George has come to show us.</p> <p><strong>OTHERS TO WATCH: Vernell Jones (Dominion Christian), [player_tooltip player_id="1049240" first="Jakenes" last="Heard"] (Model), Jeremias Heard (Model), Christian McAboy (Florida) </strong></p>