3SSB Birmingham: 2022 Standouts (Part 2)

After almost two full years, we finally were able to have an AAU live period with division one college coaches in attendance, the first one happened this past weekend with a four day live period ranging from July 7-11. I made the trip to Birmingham, AL where there were a number of events I attended including the Adidas 3SSB Session One and the Prep Hoops Circuit "The Platform." With so many talented players in one area for coaches to see, it will be tons of content coming out with standouts from both events. Here’s a look at part two of the 2022 standouts from 3SSB, looking at players from Maryland and Virginia. [player_tooltip player_id="777061" first="Favour" last="Aire"] | 6’9” C | New World <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Aire-Favour-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1149219" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Aire-Favour-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Aire had college coaches buzzing around him this past weekend as the 6’9” center not only showed off his ability to rim run, protect the rim and rebound, but showed his toughness as well as he was getting hammered in the paint every time I watched him. Aire is physical in the paint and doesn’t shy away from contact, and even after getting cut in the face multiple times he still shook it off and continued to play hard while producing at a high rate. He has soft touch in the paint and goes to the line often where he’s a good free throw shooter, and he is one of the top rebounders and shot blockers at the event too. [player_tooltip player_id="815613" first="Saxby" last="Sunderland"] | 6’2” PG | New World <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Sunderland-Saxby-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148103" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Sunderland-Saxby-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Sunderland had a huge June at DMV Live at DeMatha, and you could see how confident he was heading into this event as he played aggressive on the offensive end and showed leadership qualities as well. He shot the ball well off the catch and off the bounce, he made good reads in the pick-and-roll and he got straight to it every time he was one the floor. He’s going to continue to see his stock raise if he can continue to produce at a high level in front of coaches. [player_tooltip player_id="736190" first="Jaden" last="Daughtry"] | 6’5” WF | New World <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daughtry-Jaden-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148658" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daughtry-Jaden-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Daughtry was a new addition to this New World group and he fit in like a glove as he brought a scoring and physicality punch to this group. He impressed a number of coaches with his ability to produce as both a scorer and a rebounder, and he’s a walking mismatch with his ability to put it on the deck and get downhill where he can use his frame to finish through traffic and get to the rim at will. He averaged in double figures throughout the event and showed good toughness to go along with his scoring. Jayden Epps | 6’1” PG | Team Loaded VA <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Epps-Jayden-Loaded.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1172943" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Epps-Jayden-Loaded-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Loaded VA had as many or more college coaches following them than anyone else this weekend with five uncommitted high major targets in the starting lineup as well as a number of division one prospects coming off the bench, but it was still all yes on Epps as he showed his takeover ability as a scorer. The 6’1” guard can touch the paint at will and is a strong finisher in the midrange and at the basket in traffic, and once he gets it going he can ring them off from deep as well. He brings it on the defensive end and has a moxxy and toughness about him you can’t teach, and he always brings it in big games and in big moments. Donald Hand Jr. | 6’4” CG | Team Loaded VA <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Hand-DJ-Loaded.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1172946" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Hand-DJ-Loaded-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Hand Jr. had perhaps the best showing I have seen from him this summer and it comes at a good time with all the college coaches that were following him and were very impressed with his skill set and size at the guard position. While he’s a two guard, Hand showed that he can attack and put the ball on the deck and make good decisions when he gets in the paint, and he did a good job not settling and looking to make the extra pass for an easier shot. He also scored it well from multiple levels and showed his innate ability to get to the free throw line for easy points as well. [player_tooltip player_id="815579" first="Tyler" last="Nickel"] | 6’7” WF | Team Loaded VA <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Nickel-Tyler-Blaze.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1063291" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Nickel-Tyler-Blaze-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Nickel had head coaches from multiple programs that have made him a priority in attendance including West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Iowa and UNC at multiple games of his this weekend. Nickel is a smooth scorer that really thrives as a guy who can get open off the ball and make shots on the move, but he’s also able to isolate and get in the paint where he can play through traffic too. He’s a tough kid who will bring it against anyone put in front of him, and when he gets it going he’s so difficult to slow down as he can make contested shots from all over the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="815588" first="Alphonzo" last="Billups"] | 6’7” WF | Team Loaded VA <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Billups-Alphonzo-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148654" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Billups-Alphonzo-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Billups is the x-factor for this group because with so many alpha scorers in the guys mentioned above, he can get lost at times but when he gets touches the team tends to play better. At 6’7” Billups is long and athletic but what he does extremely well is make plays with the ball in his hands whether it’s in transition, in pick-and-rolls or seeing over the defense with his size to hit cutters or see skip passes. For most of the event, he was aggressive on the offensive end and showed he can both score it and make others better while also rebounding at a high rate and defending multiple positions. [player_tooltip player_id="815577" first="Maliq" last="Brown"] | 6’8” PF | Team Loaded VA <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Brown-Maliq.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201730" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Brown-Maliq-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Brown is another impressive prospect for Loaded who won’t ever be their top scorer, but he is one of their most important pieces with his versatility defensively and his efficient play in the post. Whether he touches the ball a lot or not, he will always play hard and rebound at a high level, he can switch in pick-and-rolls and sit down and guard wings and guards and he can challenge at the rim as well. He has great hands in the paint and can finish above the rim and through contact as well.