2023 Forwards & Wings from the PH Exclusive

The Prep Hoops Circuit has had some impressive players from the class of 2023 participating in these first two live period events. While The Platform was huge, The Exclusive was no slouch either. Here are a few of the impressive rising sophomores that I saw during the weekend in Dallas. Kadyn Betts (6'7") / P.L.U.T.O. Prospects 2023 Betts was definitely the most skilled big man that I saw over the weekend in Duncanville. He dominated the paint whether the team did or did not posses height and he had fun doing it. Betts used his body as a big man should. He sealed defenders easily and scored with short hooks and layups. He also powered through defenders for And-1 opportunities. Betts even shoot from downtown (and made a couple) with confidence. There was definitely not another big on his level this past weekend. London Jones (6'7") / Texas Takeover 2023 Hoarch Jones is one of those players who has a ton of potential because of his skill set. During the games I saw at The Exclusive, Jones was active around the basket. He has a quick bounce off the floor and will dunk the ball when he has the opportunity. Jones can also handle the ball on the perimeter and is good when he gets a downhill lane to the basket. He must get stronger as he had an issue with guards swiping down and knocking the ball away from him. That withstanding, Jones has an upside that can be special when he get stronger. Jermireck Jordan (6'5") / Showtime Elite 2023 Jordan has improvement greatly from the spring grassroots season to now. During April and May, Jordan had trouble gathering and finishing and would never put the ball on the deck. During The Exclusive, Jordan had little trouble with catching and finishing in the paint. He even attempting a couple of threes (making one) during Saturday game play. Jordan displayed a level of confidence not seen before in his play and it showed on both ends. Definitely another reason why Showtime Elite '23 had an unblemished weekend. Michael Johnson (6'3") / Buddy Buckets Bahamas 2023 Johnson was a load for teams to handle during the weekend in DFW. He was a player who scored from multiple levels and displayed a lot of versatility when it came to defending. Johnson knew how to finish in the paint using is strength along with a series of fakes. He displayed spot up shooting ability by nailing three balls from draw and kick situations. Johnson knew how to use his body on drives to create angles for finishing. He is a skilled 6'3" how will be a player to watch the rest of the live period and next season. Cameron Phillips (6'3") / Team United Texas 2023 Yellow Phillips spent most of his time either at the rim or behind the arc during games at The Exclusive. He is athletic and wiry wing who can get to the rim in a short amount of time from behind the three point line. He is not one to absorb contact but uses his length to finish around and over defenders. Phillips proved to be solid from behind the arc also. He is not a volume shooter but will make the three with consistency. Phillips was also good at finishing in transition. He is one of those athletic wings that can do multiple things to help his team on offense and defense. Jalan Washington (6'2") / Showtime Elite 2023 Washington was one of the players missing when Showtime Elite played at The Platform. With him in the lineup at The Exclusive, the team played much better offensively. Washington loves to attack defenders using fakes, screens, and his handles to gain the advantage. From there he will use the mid-range pull up or finish at the rim. He uses the rim to protect from blocks when he is in the paint as well which is a sign of his IQ as well. Washington can make the three as well which further keeps defenders honest. When he does not over dribble and makes concise moves, he is hard to guard. Jaedon Foreman (6'4") / FOE OKC 2023 Football may be his primary sport but Jaedon Foreman is a handful on the basketball court as well. He was a dominant inside force for Team FOE OKC. Foreman was practically impossible to keep off the boards and he let his opponents know about it after each rebound and finish. Not only did he pummel defenders on the board, he used a quick left to right crossover to finish around the rim as well. Then he stepped outside and made a couple of jumpers. If Foreman is in the paint, he is a load and proved it on Saturday at the PH Exclusive. Other 2023 Wings and Forwards to watch: Kejuan Payne II (6'3") / FOE OKC 2023 - Can beat teams from the perimeter but loves to drive and get to the rim Jesiah Cornwell (6'5") / 2023 / P.L.U.T.O. Prospects 2023 - Has a perimeter game that is deadly from 15 feet out. Can put it on the deck also Ved Bulusu (6'7") / Team United Texas 2023 Yellow - Big man with good hands; finishes around the rim and is very good running rim to rim With the last live period coming this weekend, watch for these players as they participate in various tournaments in Texas and other areas in the United States.

The Prep Hoops Circuit has had some impressive players from the class of 2023 participating in these first two live period events. While The Platform was huge, The Exclusive was no slouch either. Here are a few of the impressive rising sophomores that I saw during the weekend in Dallas.

Kadyn Betts (6'7") / P.L.U.T.O. Prospects 2023

Betts was definitely the most skilled big man that I saw over the weekend in Duncanville. He dominated the paint whether the team did or did not posses height and he had fun doing it. Betts used his body as a big man should. He sealed defenders easily and scored with short hooks and layups. He also powered through defenders for And-1 opportunities. Betts even shoot from downtown (and made a couple) with confidence. There was definitely not another big on his level this past weekend.

London Jones (6'7") / Texas Takeover 2023 Hoarch

Jones is one of those players who has a ton of potential because of his skill set. During the games I saw at The Exclusive, Jones was active around the basket. He has a quick bounce off the floor and will dunk the ball when he has the opportunity. Jones can also handle the ball on the perimeter and is good when he gets a downhill lane to the basket. He must get stronger as he had an issue with guards swiping down and knocking the ball away from him. That withstanding, Jones has an upside that can be special when he get stronger.

Jermireck Jordan (6'5") / Showtime Elite 2023

Jordan has improvement greatly from the spring grassroots season to now. During April and May, Jordan had trouble gathering and finishing and would never put the ball on the deck. During The Exclusive, Jordan had little trouble with catching and finishing in the paint. He even attempting a couple of threes (making one) during Saturday game play. Jordan displayed a level of confidence not seen before in his play and it showed on both ends. Definitely another reason why Showtime Elite '23 had an unblemished weekend.

Michael Johnson (6'3") / Buddy Buckets Bahamas 2023

Johnson was a load for teams to handle during the weekend in DFW. He was a player who scored from multiple levels and displayed a lot of versatility when it came to defending. Johnson knew how to finish in the paint using is strength along with a series of fakes. He displayed spot up shooting ability by nailing three balls from draw and kick situations. Johnson knew how to use his body on drives to create angles for finishing. He is a skilled 6'3" how will be a player to watch the rest of the live period and next season.

Cameron Phillips (6'3") / Team United Texas 2023 Yellow

Phillips spent most of his time either at the rim or behind the arc during games at The Exclusive. He is athletic and wiry wing who can get to the rim in a short amount of time from behind the three point line. He is not one to absorb contact but uses his length to finish around and over defenders. Phillips proved to be solid from behind the arc also. He is not a volume shooter but will make the three with consistency. Phillips was also good at finishing in transition. He is one of those athletic wings that can do multiple things to help his team on offense and defense.

Jalan Washington (6'2") / Showtime Elite 2023

Washington was one of the players missing when Showtime Elite played at The Platform. With him in the lineup at The Exclusive, the team played much better offensively. Washington loves to attack defenders using fakes, screens, and his handles to gain the advantage. From there he will use the mid-range pull up or finish at the rim. He uses the rim to protect from blocks when he is in the paint as well which is a sign of his IQ as well. Washington can make the three as well which further keeps defenders honest. When he does not over dribble and makes concise moves, he is hard to guard.

Jaedon Foreman (6'4") / FOE OKC 2023

Football may be his primary sport but Jaedon Foreman is a handful on the basketball court as well. He was a dominant inside force for Team FOE OKC. Foreman was practically impossible to keep off the boards and he let his opponents know about it after each rebound and finish. Not only did he pummel defenders on the board, he used a quick left to right crossover to finish around the rim as well. Then he stepped outside and made a couple of jumpers. If Foreman is in the paint, he is a load and proved it on Saturday at the PH Exclusive.

Other 2023 Wings and Forwards to watch:

Kejuan Payne II (6'3") / FOE OKC 2023 - Can beat teams from the perimeter but loves to drive and get to the rim

Jesiah Cornwell (6'5") / 2023 / P.L.U.T.O. Prospects 2023 - Has a perimeter game that is deadly from 15 feet out. Can put it on the deck also

Ved Bulusu (6'7") / Team United Texas 2023 Yellow - Big man with good hands; finishes around the rim and is very good running rim to rim

With the last live period coming this weekend, watch for these players as they participate in various tournaments in Texas and other areas in the United States.