High School Division Standouts at #TheMainEvent

ONCE AGAIN, the NYBA organization based out of Nashville, TN, brought high-caliber basketball to the grassroots platform with #TheMainEvent. The two-day weekend event provided a camp on Saturday for grades 6-12, then a high-level game, with some of the nation’s top rising talent, along with activities throughout the event on Sunday. Players from as far as TX came to participate and show what they bring to the game. Some players immediately caught my eye, and here is the first round of players that stood out.

Adam Barksdale / 6’3 / Point Guard / AAU: N/A 2025 / Vestavia Hills High School (Vestavia Hills AL)

Instagram: adambarksdale_13

Adam is a rising 9^th grader standing at 6’3, and I think that Vestavia Hills HS has found a gem. He was being pushed to play the post during camp as he was one of the tallest kids on his squad. However, at times he showed what he could do at his natural PG spot. He is very confident in handling the ball in the open court and against pressure. As I watched Adam play according to how the coach asked him to play, he was very teachable, and he showed that he could make adjustments playing out of his usual position. The coach asked Adam to play in the P&R game and pop out of the screen, and it was then that people saw that Adam is lethal from behind the arc. He has a nice form and gets his shot off quick. With his size, he did not back down from getting physical in the paint and working on the boards.

I see why there was a lot of noise surrounding Adam coming out of the University of Alabama-Huntsville’s Elite camp.

Adam is a kid that coaches definitely want to start following, as he will be a future asset to a team looking for a versatile player. Opportunities for Growth: As Adam crosses over to the high school scene, he will have to learn how to do more with less, something that many kids struggle with as we live in a society with ball-dominant players that love to dribble. I want to see Adam continue to tighten up his handles as he continues to elevate his game.

Skylar Lykes / 6’2 / Combo Guard / Pinnacle Basketball 2022 / Ramsay High School (Birmingham AL)

Instagram: N/A

Skylar is another player that had a good showing at the University of Alabama-Huntsville’s elite camp. As a rising Senior, Skylar has the body, skills, and athleticism to find a spot on a roster at the next level. He can get it done from behind the arc as he has a nice perimeter jumper. He is highly competitive and aggressive on both ends of the court. A team will get a player that can make plays and stretch the floor on the offensive end and a player that can be a defensive stopper on the defensive end.

Skylar brings a lot to the game and is poised to have a breakout senior year with his high school squad as he tries to lead them back to the Final 4.

Opportunities for Growth: When it comes to being a player who can score at all 3 levels, I would love to see Skylar improve his mid-range game because I believe with what he brings to the court, this will expand his impact on the game whenever he is on the court. Continue to work on his handles and work in the weight room to prepare his body for a shot at the next level.

Chanx Martin / 6’5 / Forward / AAU: N/A 2024 / Dickson County HS (Dickson TN)

Instagram: omgitschanx

Just a rising sophomore, Chanx took advantage of the stage and presented a case that he should be considered one of the best players during the camp. He has good length and a long wingspan, which caused problems on both ends of the court. Let me go ahead and get out what is expected, and that is he was highly active on the glass and protected the rim when small guards came in looking to finish at the rim. When it came to Chanx’s toolbox, it was loaded, and he put a lot on display. He has a nice jumper in which he showed a lot of consistency from behind the arc and from the mid-range area. He showed several times that he can create his own shot by using the step back to get his shot off. I did not see Chanx play with his back to the basket on the low block, but he has the skillset to expand his inside-out game.

Posting smaller guards can lead to an increase in his productivity.

Opportunities for Growth: Chanx’s handles proved to be good enough right now to be effective at camp, but I would love to see him get a stronger and tighter handle as he continues to find himself on higher levels of play. He has to continue to get stronger. 

Isaiah Brown / 6’3 / Small Forward / Buckeye State Elite 2024 / Olentangy Berlin (Delaware OH)

Instagram: nolimitzay32

No one put pressure on the defense like Isaiah did throughout camp. He was a tough cover off the bounce as he was constantly getting two feet in the paint, collapsing the defense, and making plays either for teammates or himself. When he gets going, he gets downhill quick and attacks the rim extremely hard. He is an excellent playmaker and with enormous scoring potential. He sees the floor and set teammates up in a position to be successful once they got the ball in their hands. He flashed his athleticism and has a strong game that will only get better as he stays in the lab.

 

Isaiah is an emerging prospect that can find himself at the next level someday.

Opportunities for Growth: At 6’3 and listed at the small forward position, I would love to see Isaiah continue to expand his game to the combo guard position.

Malik Olafioye  / 6’2 / Combo Guard / Bates Fundementals 2023 / Ecorse High School (Ecorse MI)

Instagram: malik.1388

Looking for perhaps the most explosive player at #TheMainEvent, well, look no further than Malik. I have seen Malik several times, and he continues to impress. I still can’t help but think about conversations I’ve had with Malik and the confidence that flows from him. He is constantly asking where the top players are at, as he wants to play against the best, as he feels he is amongst the top guards in the country at his position. He tried making his case at this camp as he put on a full display of what he can do. Honestly, I only checked Malik out for one game, and I kept my eye on him during the drills. He is an elite athlete that attacks the rim like he is mad at it. Many people saw Malik putting on a dunk show during a break, so many gathered around the court he was playing on to see if he would throw one down or catch a body. He did not give us a dunk during the game I watched him, but he came out ready to punish his opponents. He was virtually unstoppable off the bounce and was terrific in the open court. He can score the rock as well as dish out dimes.

He has an arsenal of weapons that he is working with on the offensive end.

When I say Malik came ready to play, after the game, he came over and sat by me and was exhausted as he gave that game his best and did not hold anything back. Opportunities for Growth: As I mentioned, I have seen Malik before, so I know he can get it done from behind the arc, but they were not falling when I saw him, but I like that it did not affect his game. So I would like to see Malik keep working on his perimeter J. He also needs to continue working on his body in the weight room, getting ready for an opportunity at the next level. 

This is just the beginning as more is coming of standouts from #TheMainEvent.