Run n’ Slam: Landon’s Standout 2023/24 Forwards

Run n&#8217; Slam: Landon&#8217;s Standout 2023/24 Forwards

Landon Bundy

May 8, 2021 @ 01:36 PM

After a long weekend of top-level talent at the Run n’ Slam in Fort Wayne, here are the top 2023 and 2024 forwards that stood out to me throughout a great weekend of hoops that did not disappoint.   [player_tooltip player_id="868228" first="Jermaine" last="Coleman"] - 6’7" - Indy Heat Black (2023) Coleman is a big wing who can pretty much do it all. His shooting ability has improved so much over the last year as he knocked down multiple threes in this one. He also has better ball handling which allowed him to get to the rim or stop short and hit a nice little teardrop floater. On the defensive end, he came up with two monster rejections inside and used his length to cause major disruptions for the opponent. He has a ton of skills in his arsenal which makes him a must-have recruit at the Division 1 level.   [player_tooltip player_id="868239" first="Cooper" last="Farrall"] - 6’5" - Indy Heat Black (2023) Farrall missed most of the regular season due to an injury, so this was one of my first chances to see him since. Farrall definitely didn’t disappoint. He struggled shooting from the outside, but he made up for it with his strong takes to the hole. He has an innate ability to create his own shot, and he knocked down the mid-range very well in this one. Farrall still has two years to grow, but his ceiling is pretty high.   Michael Griffith - 6’3" - Grand Park Premier Black (2024) Griffith is a big man who absolutely dominated the paint and was probably the most efficient player for GPP in their win. He was an aggressive rebounder on both ends of the floor and got quite a few easy buckets thanks to his hustle on the offensive glass. He also had a couple of good post moves inside and can finish really well. Griffith also showed off his athletic ability by throwing down a monster fastbreak jam late in the game.   [player_tooltip player_id="868240" first="Joey" last="Hart"] - 6’4" - Grand Park Premier UA Rise (2023) Hart is a big wing who can really do it all. He struggled mightily from the outside in this one, but he has a very good shot stroke. He has a smooth rhythm and a high release, but they just weren’t falling for him. In addition to his shooting, Hart is very athletic and can jump out of the gym. Hart already holds an offer from Indiana State, and he has a ton of potential. With [player_tooltip player_id="783147" first="Lincoln" last="Hale"] gone, Hart will have a true chance to be the number one player for Linton this season. This should elevate his game to new heights.   [player_tooltip player_id="1052781" first="Donovan" last="Hunter"] - 6’7" - Indy Heat Black (2023) At 6’7, Hunter is a 100% positionless player. My guess is that he is a wing at this moment in time, but he can be the point guard or play the post as well. He has a nice little pull-up jumper that he loves to go to. He also is very smooth around the rim and has great body control to always be in a position to score. His athleticism was on full display on the defensive end of the floor with a couple of rejections and steals that led to fastbreak dunks for his team. Hunter already holds offers from George Washington and Ohio, and this list is going to continue to grow.   [player_tooltip player_id="1042491" first="Sam" last="Orme"] - 6’3" - Grand Park Premier UA Rise (2023) Orme is a big forward who can really play all five positions on the floor. He can handle the ball and shoot the lights out of it. He struggled from the outside in this one, but he did not let this stop him. He went to the hole and made some nice moves around the rim to score it. At 6’6, Orme is a prospect with a ton of potential, and he should get a lot of recruiting attention in the coming years.   [player_tooltip player_id="868224" first="JaQualon" last="Roberts"] - 6’3" - Indiana Elite (2023) Roberts is one of the best players in this class, and he showed why on Friday night. Not only does Roberts have a ton of length that allows him to make plays, he is also extremely aggressive on the court. Every take to the rim is with strength and power, and he attacks the glass aggressively on both ends of the floor. In addition to this, he also does the little things of the game very well. He is a great communicator with his teammates, and I am pretty sure he boxed out on every single shot put up by their opponents. Roberts will have a ton of Division 1 offers coming his way very soon.   [player_tooltip player_id="1189495" first="Riley" last="Shepherd"] - 6’3" - Summit City Elite (2024) Shepherd is a wing with good size and a good amount of length. He is a scorer if there ever was one on this team. He has an outstanding shooting stroke and didn’t really miss in this one. He showed a nice little step-back jumper and knocked down a couple from the outside as well. On the defensive end, he came up with a couple of steals with his quick hands, but he did have a couple of mental lapses in which he just lost his man which led to easy buckets. Riley should continue to grow and develop into a very good scorer in the future.   Edward Thomas - 6’4" - Grassroots Indiana Blue (2023) Thomas is a bigger wing who is incredibly long and lanky. He uses this length on every one of his drives to get to the hole. He is aggressive and strong with the basketball, and he always attacks with authority. Thomas also rebounds the ball incredibly well. If Thomas can develop a mid-range jumper to keep his defenders honest, he will be a much more all-around player. That is really the next step in his game.   Austin Willoughby - 6’3" - Marlin Elite (2023) Willoughby is a wing who has a great outside shooting stroke and will never hesitate to shoot the ball. He is a knock-down shooter, and he loves the one-dribble pull-up jumper. In addition to his shooting, Willoughby is a good finisher in and around the paint, and he sees the court incredibly well. He gets his teammates involved and isn’t afraid to create for himself. Willoughby will be a player to keep an eye on in the future.