Aces Coca Cola Nationals Recap: Wings And Bigs Part 1
The Coca Cola Nationals took place June 18th – 20th in Garden Grove California. The event featured nearly 500 youth teams ranging from 2nd grade all the way to the 11th. This huge tournament-style event featured 5 competitive divisions for…
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Continue ReadingThe Coca Cola Nationals took place June 18th – 20th in Garden Grove California. The event featured nearly 500 youth teams ranging from 2nd grade all the way to the 11th. This huge tournament-style event featured 5 competitive divisions for each age group. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Invite, which was the top division. I spent most of the weekend evaluating talent in the Invite division, which featured several talented wings, in this article we take a look at the top Wings from the event.
Jonny Collins 5’11 SG Vegas Elite 2026 – Collins caught my attention right from opening day. The explosive R&J athlete was unstoppable in transition and set the tone for the eventual 13U champs with his defense, driving, and transition scoring. He had a monster dunk on Friday and carried that momentum right into bracket play. In the Championship game, he showed off his new weapon, knocking down four treys to lead Vegas to the title. Collins took home MVP honors for his efforts.
Maleek Thomas 6’0 SG Heights 2025 – Thomas was so smooth, he reminded me a lot of the Malik Thomas that will be taking the floor for USC this year. He can really fill it up, Thomas showed a big-time 1 on 1 game, slashing his way to the basket. What impressed me most was his ability to score in big moments. In the Championship game, against a gritty Soldiers squad, he knocked down several crucial shots, finishing with 18, helping the Heights to the 14U title.
Dallas Washington 6’6 SF Sacramento Soldiers 2025 – It took a matter of seconds before I fell in love with Washington. The bouncy wing didn’t do much in the first game I watched, but his length, height, and ability to get off the floor, obviously stood out. It was when I saw him during bracket play, that I realized what I had. Washington has decent ball skills and is a better-than-average outside shooter. When you combine that with the other tangibles that I mentioned, you have an intriguing prospect on your hands.
Brandon Benjamin 6’2 SG JR Hoops 2025 (featured image) – You could make the case that Benjamin was the best player in the tournament. He’s a high motor player with a ton of skills. Benjamin never took a play-off, which meant you could find him rebounding, scoring, or running the floor. He isn’t a jaw-dropping athlete, but he works so hard on every play that production seems to come naturally for him.
Noah Dennis 5’10 PF Seattle Rotary 2027 – An absolute load! Dennis was not able to be played 1 on 1 for most of the tournament. I missed his Championship game matchup against Sneaker Steal’s Braxton Caruso, but Dennis dominated every matchup I saw. He was one of the best overall low post players, with an understanding of reposting and the ability to play through the chest of defenders.