Breakout Players At Balling On The Beach: Class of 2025 WGs

Deerfield Beach, Fla. — The list of breakout performers from the 2021 Balling On the Beach tournament continues a group of eighth-grade prospects that steadied the backcourts for their teams throughout the weekend in South Florida. Here’s another collection of names to become familiar with from the Class of 2025 as they prepare to enter the high school level in the approaching months…

Kiyan Anthony | Manhattan, NY | Class of 2025

The son of future NBA Hall of Famer, Carmelo Anthony, and television personality, Alani “La La” Anthony, Kiyan Anthony has been in the public eye from a young age and his exploits on the hardwood are well-documented as a result. Considering his pedigree and youthful appearance, the thought is that the 5-foot-11 Anthony should sprout several more inches in the coming years. Playing with Black Ops (NY) at the 2021 Balling On The Beach tournament, the gangly prospect displayed a feathery touch, and some high-level flashes when attacking the rim off the bounce. Any evaluations of his game should certainly be viewed with a long-term approach in mind.

Carrick ‘CJ’ Dorreliand | Mount Vernon, NY | Class of 2025

A skilled, 6-foot-3 guard with scoring ability, CJ Dorreliand was easily among the top performers at his position among the eighth-grade division during the 2021 Balling On The Beach event. Dorreliand was tough to contain with the ball in his hands, demonstrating a reliable handle, and the vision as well as the feel necessary to create plays for himself and others. His two-way versatility was a crucial element for his Black Ops (NY) team as Dorreliand often found himself defending taller, interior opponents on this particular weekend. His constant pursuit of the ball and patience to remain involved when the ball was not in his hands were noteworthy qualities.

Benny Fragela | Miami, FL | Class of 2025

Fragela has grown to a legitimate 6-foot-2 and his measurables lend to the thought that he’ll continue to stretch out into quality-sized guard in due time. Although known as a reliable perimeter marksman, Fragela is quietly blending other skills into his game, and was impactful on both ends of the floor during the 2021 Balling On The Beach tournament. During his team’s championship run, Fragela’s understanding of spacing helped the Nightrydas Elite (FL) offense flow freely throughout the weekend, while his passing touch and ball-handling allowed him to fill much more than a designated spot-up role in halfcourt settings.

Christian McAllister | Fayetteville, GA | Class of 2025

It’s no secret that the state of Georgia enjoys an embarrassment of riches when it comes to hoops talent. That said, due to the number of players from the metro Atlanta area, rural recruits are sometimes overlooked before ultimately falling into the “sleeper” category later in their high school careers. It’s still too early to know if that will be the case for the 6-foot-3 McAllister who exhibited an array of offensive skills at the 2021 Balling On The Beach event while playing with AE5 Rimrockers (GA). The Peach State prospect is crafty with the ball in his hands on the perimeter and consistently found ways to score throughout the tournament.

Herman ‘Trey’ Powell | Memphis, TN | Class of 2025

It’s difficult to say why Powell has yet to receive the respect that he’s deserving of on the youth hoops circuit but don’t count us among his detractors. The Tennessee product and his Memphis Bulldogs (TN) team have unrelentingly traveled the country, seeking out the best competition, and have done so without the presence of a major sponsor. The program and its directors deserve a lot of credit for earning their way into the national conversation, as does the 6-foot-3 Powell, a skilled and slithery guard who has been his squad’s most consistent performer this season while playing on both the eighth and ninth-grade rosters.

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