Prep Hoops 2K21 NC Standouts

<p>The Prep Circuit’s final live period event took place in Indianapolis this weekend and I was there to help cover the event. The Prep Hoops 2K21 had some of the top teams from across the country, and one of them in attendance were all 3 Team Loaded NC groups. Here’s a look at some of the top performers from the Loaded NC 15-17U teams.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="869600" first="LJ" last="Thomas"] | 6’2” PG | Team Loaded NC ’22</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Thomas-LJ-Loaded.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1178738" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Thomas-LJ-Loaded-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Thomas showed that he’s one of the top scoring guards in all of the 2022 class, as he’s one of the most consistent scorers and has one of the deepest bags I’ve seen from any guard this year. He’s a creative guy off the bounce who has a tight handle and can create space, he makes tough and contested shots from all over and he has a move and a counter for everything. He’s one of those players that can just flat out fill it up and knows how to score, and he’s done it almost every time that I’ve seen him play.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="848069" first="Cinque" last="Lemon"] | 6’4” WG | Team Loaded NC ’22</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/IMG_6361.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1111204" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/IMG_6361-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Lemon is one of the most underrated guys in the 2022 class in North Carolina, and he showed it this weekend as he stepped up and played very well consistently throughout the event. He’s a freak athlete who can defend multiple positions and play above the rim, he can make shots when he’s open and he showed improvement in his ability to create off the bounce. He’s the type of player with continued development will have a lot of coaches upset in a few years that they didn’t recruit him.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="577841" first="Freddie" last="Dilione"] | 6’3” CG | Team Loaded NC ’23</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dilion-Freddie.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1178737" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dilion-Freddie-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Dilione has recently reclassified to the 2023 class, and he’s shown that he’s a very intriguing prospect in that class now as he was already getting recruited at a mid major level and he is now getting interest from high major schools. He’s a scoring guard that can play on and off the basketball, he can make shots from multiple levels and he can get downhill and use his strength and athleticism to score at the rim and in the midrange as well. His energy on both ends of the floor is impressive, and he comes at you time and time again.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="577883" first="Mayar" last="Wol"] | 6’8” F | Team Loaded NC ’23</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Wol-Mayar.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1246283" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Wol-Mayar-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Wol has impressed me throughout the live periods when I’ve seen him, and it shocks me that he doesn’t have much recruitment going on and fully believe he’ll blow up with his transfer to Moravian Prep. At 6’8” he’s a super versatile forward that can put it on the deck, make shots from deep off the catch and he has good vision and playmaking ability for his size too. He’s athletic and a versatile defender that can guard multiple positions, and as he fills out and gets seen more he’s going to see all sorts of schools come his way.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1219852" first="Truman" last="Claytor"] | 6’5” CG | Team Loaded NC ’23</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Claytor-Truman.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1246285" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Claytor-Truman-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Claytor became one of the more focal points this weekend as their usual go-to guy Ja’Kwon Moore was out with an injury, and he showed his potential moving forward as a scoring guard. He’s a knock down shooter with good size and deep range, he can put it on the deck and get to spots to score it off the bounce and he can play above the rim as well. He’s a good playmaker on the ball as well and he’s a good on ball defender with his length too.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1217074" first="Michael" last="Nwoko"] | 6’10” C | Team Loaded NC ’23</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Nwoko-Michael.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1246294" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Nwoko-Michael-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Nwoko has recently reclassified to the 2023 class and will move to Burlington School, and he’ll have tons of college coaches heading his way as he showed terrific long term potential. He’s a big kid with a good frame and strength but he’s also mobile and athletic and plays well above the rim on both ends. He can run the floor and play in transition, he can catch and finish above the rim and showed good touch over the shoulder and he’s an excellent rim protector too.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1115509" first="Drake" last="Powell"] | 6’5” G | Team Loaded NC ’24</strong></p> <p>Powell is the most intriguing prospect on the Loaded NC 15U team, as he has the size of a young wing or power forward but he has the skill set of a guard with his playmaking and shot making ability. He’s a smooth ball handler and has excellent vision and can see and deliver passes over the defense with his size, he can make shots from all three levels and he can guard multiple positions. He’s likely still growing and will fill out as he grows into his body and he will be a very tough matchup in the next few years.</p>