Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest – Class of 2023 Standouts

<p>The Prep Hoops MD/DC team was posted up at Spooky Nook this past weekend for the <strong>Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest</strong>. I was able to get my eyes on prospects from three different age groups. In this piece I take a look at five of the top performers from the 2023 class that were in attendance.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1116019" first="Dylan" last="Blair"] | 6’0 | Philly Pride</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blair is a true lead guard that has a high basketball IQ that can truly make his teammates better. Blair knows his duties at the point guard position for his Philly Pride team and always stays in constant attack mode. He can get out quickly in transition and is overall constantly making the right plays for his team. </span></p> <p><strong>Corey Caulker | 6’0 | District Basketball Club</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I got my first look at Caulker this past weekend and I walked away very impressed with the lead guard. He has a nice skill set that allows him to set up his teammates well and has good vision for the lead guard spot. Caulker is a name to remember in the 2023 class from the state of Virginia. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991343" first="Khali" last="Horton"] | 6’7 | Wildcat Select</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Standing at 6’7, Horton had a major size advantage against his opponents and he used that well to his advantage. Horton is a knockdown shooter from multiple areas on the floor and is ready to shoot the basketball whenever he catches it. Horton can score efficiently around the basket well because of his size and is a monster on the boards. Robert Morris is the only school that has offered so far but expect his offer list to grow as spring rolls on.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="977623" first="Maki" last="Johnson"] | 6’4 | Wildcat Select</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnson was by far the best shooter I evaluated in the 16u age group at the Hoop Group Spring Jam Fest. Johnson has range that stretches a few steps back behind the three point line and that was on full display this past weekend. Look for Johnson to put up big scoring numbers on the Adidas Circuit later on in the spring and summer. </span></p> <p><strong>Horace Simmons | 6’6 | Philly Pride</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Simmons has a lot of upside and potential as he continues to get older. Simmons stands at 6’6 and has tremendous athleticism and versatility for the wing position. He can score the ball in a variety of ways and is a prospect that should see his recruitment heat up a lot once college coaches can start watching kids live again. </span></p>