PH Easter Classic: 16U Out of State Standouts
In this article:
The Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Easter Classic in Fort Worth. Nineteen teams competed in the 16U division, and I had the opportunity to see each of them at least once. There was a lot…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Easter Classic in Fort Worth. Nineteen teams competed in the 16U division, and I had the opportunity to see each of them at least once. There was a lot of talent in the building. So, I will be highlighting standout prospects from the event throughout the week.
With that in mind, here is a quick look at eight out of state prospects who showed up and showed out in Texas this weekend:
Taj Jackson Taj Jackson 6'2" | CG Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA | 2024 | 6’2’’ Combo Guard | HP Ballers 2024 | Liberty Magnet HS – Jackson was terrific at muscling his way into the paint for close-range looks on Saturday. He proved that he could finish against multiple defenders on numerous occasions. The Liberty Magnet guard was consistently in attack mode on offense. He was also good about following his shots, showing good activity on the boards at both ends of the court. Additionally, he showed some ability from the mid-range with a good-looking stop-and-pop jumper from the foul line.
DeMichael Chew | 2024 | 6’3’’ Shooting Guard | Cenla Storm 2024 | Peabody Magnet HS – Chew possesses a sturdy frame and solid size at 6-foot-3-inches, not letting anyone push him around on the court. He does a good job of using his size to contribute on the glass. Beyond that, the 2024 two-guard is an excellent spot up shooter from mid-range and behind the three-point line. He runs the floor and finishes well in transition too. Chew Put up 16 points in a blowout win Saturday afternoon and helped his team achieve an undefeated record this weekend.
Kelan Jackson | 2024 | 5’11’’ Combo Guard | JEB Elite 2024 | Santa Fe HS – Jackson boasts a solid build and was great at playing through contact when I saw him Friday evening. He plays hard too, hitting the deck multiple times for loose balls. The 2024 guard rarely settled, aggressively attacking the basket and absorbing bumps on the way. He let the game come to him while maintaining his aggression. Furthermore, he did knock down a mid-range jump shot from the baseline, showing some potential in that area of his game.
Daniel Jacobsen Daniel Jacobsen 7'2" | C Brewster Academy | 2024 State New E | 2024 | 6’11’’ Power Forward/Center | New Mexico D1 2024 | La Cueva HS – Jacobsen possesses overwhelming height that simply can’t be defended. He is fairly mobile for his size too and is willing to stretch out and shoot it from mid to long-range. The 6-foot-11-inch big man made timely cuts to the basket, displayed a soft touch in the paint, rebounded well, and was a deterrent to opponents as a rim protector. Don’t let his wiry frame fool you, he can challenge shots and send them back with authority if tested down low.
Dylan Paddio | 2024 | 5’6’’ Point Guard | Xtreme Hoops 2024 | Carencro HS – Paddio exhibited the ability to score vs. size with some crafty finishes when attacking off the drive. He is a shifty ball handler with good speed and quickness. The Carencro floor general is wired to score and relentless in his efforts. He also showed that he is capable of draining the three ball when spotting up. If he adds a playmaking dimension to his game, he could become even more dangerous moving forward.
Jordan Mathews Jordan Mathews 6'5" | SF Peabody | 2024 State LA | 2024 | 6’5’’ Power Forward | Cenla Storm 2024 | Peabody Magnet HS – Matthews had himself a block party in his Saturday afternoon matchup, sending back nearly anything thrown up in his vicinity. He was so good at timing his jumps and disciplined when it came to not biting on shot fakes. The 2024 forward was effective as a scorer and rebounder as well, notching 10 points when I saw him. He has good touch down low and even drilled a three in transition when left open. There is a lot to like about his game.
Ricky Williams | 2024 | 5’11’’ Point Guard | New Mexico D1 2024 – Williams faced some suffocating on-ball pressure in his Sunday afternoon outing but pushed through and was still able to be productive. He displayed outstanding vision and made some brilliant passes, highlighted by a beautiful no-look assist that he zipped into the paint. The 2024 guard also showed he can be dangerous from mid-range by knocking down some off-balanced jumpers. In addition, he flies around on defense and does a nice job getting into passing lanes for deflections.
Byron Smith | 2024 | 6’3’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Xtreme Hoops 2024 | North Central HS – Smith was outstanding as an offensive rebounder. He consistently got good positioning down low to clean up misses. He was solid as a paint scorer, accounting for three straight buckets down low that ultimately sealed the victory for his team on Sunday. Beyond that, the North Central forward looked comfortable handling the ball in transition and defended numerous positions.