Southern Jam Fest 16U Standouts (Part 3)
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Every year Hoop Group puts on one of the best events in the country at the Boo Williams Sportsplex called the Southern Jam Fest, but this year it was a little bit different. Some of the best shoe company and…
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Continue ReadingEvery year Hoop Group puts on one of the best events in the country at the Boo Williams Sportsplex called the Southern Jam Fest, but this year it was a little bit different. Some of the best shoe company and independent programs from up and down the east coast came to Southern, including the number one team in the country Team Final featuring the top two players in the country.
There were double digit shoe company teams from all three major circuits, and plenty of other talented teams making it one of the most talented events I’ve ever been to. We will have tons of content from it, starting with part three of the many 16U standouts, with standouts from the DMV and PA areas.
DeShawn Harris-Smith DeShawn Harris-Smith 6'5" | SF Paul VI | 2023 State #53 Nation VA | 6’5” WF | Team Takeover
Harris-Smith is widely considered one of the best prospects in the DMV in the 2023 class, and it’s the way that he does all of the little things to me that makes him so valuable. He’s very athletic and tough and plays with a good motor, he thrives on the defensive end and rebounds well for his position and he’s a big energy guy that’s a leader as well. Offensively, he thrives in transition and as a slasher, but he seems to be getting more comfortable shooting it from deep as well.
Darren Harris | 6’5” WF | Team Takeover
Harris is going to play well with Harris-Smith at PVI over the next few years because while they’re similar in size their games are different and go very well together. Harris isn’t as athletic as Harris-Smith, but he’s a dead eye shooter from deep who can play multiple positions and has a very good feel for the game as well. He’s a 2024 that is playing up and one of their top scorers, and as he continues to get his body right, which PVI is well known to do, he’ll be one of the top scorers and shooters in the DMV area.
Donnie Freeman | 6’8” PF | Team Takeover
Freeman, another 2024 playing up, is going to make one big time duo with 2023 Amani Hansberry Amani Hansberry 6'7" | C Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State #52 Nation MD at St. John’s over the next few years as they’re both very good big men that will be tough to match up with. Freeman has an inside-out type of game with good athleticism making him a mismatch nightmare as he can take bigs out for driving guards but is also a good rebounder as he can crash hard and play above the rim. He showed good touch and competed on both ends of the floor, and he has a very high ceiling moving forward.
Robert Davis | 6’4” WG | Team Melo
Davis is a new name in the Baltimore area after moving here from Michigan, and he showed this weekend that he will likely be one of the best shooters in the area as he was lights out throughout the weekend. Even when I was watching other games, every time I’d look onto their court he was knocking down deep threes and his jump shot is picture perfect and very consistent. He has good size and works well to get open, he has a quick release and deep range and he hit over 4 three-pointers in multiple games.
Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA | 6’7” F | Team Final
Edwards is a budding superstar in the Philly area that will have high majors all over him and will potential be a nationally ranked prospect in the 2023 class. At 6’7”, he’s a versatile forward that is athletic and very skilled and is a mismatch nightmare with his size and all the tools he has. He can put it on the deck and create his own shot, he can shoot it from deep at a good clip and he’s a freakish athlete that can play way above the rim and guard multiple positions as well.
Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA | 5’11” PG | Team Final
Barno is is the straw that stirs the drink of this talented Final team that won the championship, as he’s a natural floor general who makes everyone better and sets the tone on both ends of the floor. He’s a wizard with the ball as he has a tight handle and good change of pace that allows him to get in the lane, he’s crafty around the basket to negate his size and he’s a natural playmaker with good vision and passing ability. He has all of the tools you want out of a small guard as he is a pesky defender and good shooter as well, and a natural leader that is easy to play with.
Kachi Nzeh | 6’8” C | Team Final
Nzeh is another guy along with Edwards on this group that will have high majors all over him moving forward, as he’s a high ceiling big man that is very good now but still has a ton of room to improve moving forward. He’s long and explosive around the rim allowing him to finish above the rim offensively and protect the rim defensively, he’s mobile and can run the floor and he plays with a great motor as well. While he’s still a little raw, he did show that he can step out and shoot it from deep and he was extremely productive on both ends of the floor.