Grind Region Finals: Players To Watch

Grind Region Finals: Players to Watch

Jae’Coby Osborne Jae’Coby Osborne 6'5" | SF Bella Vista Prep | 2024 State AZ | G | 2024 | Fresno Flyers
Osborne is one of those generational players. His athleticism is already collegiate ready. His ability to match his game to any tempo is a thing of beauty. Standing at 6’5 he’s long, athletic and plays with lots of fluidity. Osborne will be one of those players that will have the coaches and crowds going wild. His ability to finish with power over the top of his opponents at any given moment is next level. When he wants to, he can finish with grace with a variety of different layups finishing with either hand. Though his team isn’t just reliant on him, they go as he goes. Look for Osborne to be one of the top three players in the Grind Region Finals.

Akintola Akinniyi Akintola Akinniyi 6'7" | PF Denton Guyer | 2023 State TX | F | 2023 | Texas Titans
At 6’8 240 Akinniyi is a force. He runs the floor like a deer and is hard to stop in the open court. Akinniyi is active on the boards and when in the have court hard to stop in the pick and roll. Akinniyi is not afraid to get down there and bang with the big boys as well as switch out on a guard and defend the wing. He finishes around the rim strong with either hand. His defense is really going to be on display this weekend as he will be one of the top defenders in the building at the Grind Region Finale.

Kole Verdadero | G | 2022 | BBSS NATIONAL
Verdadero comes in with a plethora of skill. He can score on all three levels as well as facilitate and defend at a high level. Verdadero is long, agile and smooth. A knock shooter when his team needs him to be or a creator of offense for the SharpShooters. Though he holds interests and offers by a couple of universities. Verdadero plays like someone starving for the attention of college coaches. He dives on the floor, into the stands and even gets in there and bang with the bigs. He can play and guard all five positions on the floor.

Aidan Partee | F | 2022 | Teams ESBY
Partee is a work horse; he gives his team whatever is needed of him from the floor. His tenacity on the defensive is what makes him one of my players to watch. He doesn’t mind mixing it up with the big men or stepping out on a point guard and showing he can move his feet. On the offensive end he is an exceptional offensive rebounder as well as finisher around the rim. Whether it is off the dribble or off the pick and roll Partee gets to the rim at will and finishes.

Damon Jones| G | 2025 | Dreams Leaders Elite
Jones who is a two-sport star comes in young but with the physicality of a seasoned player. He will be someone to look out for as he can shoot the basketball with the best of them. Jones ability to stretch the floor with his three ball is a thing of beauty to watch. What is even more impressive is that Jones can not only catch and shoot it from the three but that he can also put the ball on the floor and create to get his shot off. He may be one of the youngest on the floor but he will also be one of the most impressive this weekend.

Macaulin Rollison Macaulin Rollison 5'10" | PG Sulphur Springs | 2025 TX | G | 2025 | Dream Leaders Elite
Rollison will be another marksman on display this weekend in the Grind Region Finale. A back court teammate of the Damon Jones. I look to see a lot of good basketball in the backcourt for Dream Leaders Elite. Rollison has good fluidity on his three ball along with his pull up. His patent step back left jumper is one of a kind.

Marcus Williams Marcus Williams 5'10" | PG Taft (San Antonio) | 2024 TX | G | 2024 | BBSS NATIONAL
Williams will be new to the Prep Hoops Circuit but not to this game. The fast, quick, explosive guard will be on full display for one of the top teams in the Grind Region. Williams ability to lock in on his defender and force turnovers is going to be something to watch this weekend. Williams is tenacious, physical and smart on the defensive end. Watching him play defense reminds me of a local Dallas legend who just won Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA, Marcus Smart. As tenacious and great Williams is on the defensive end he is just as great on the offensive end. A pure point guard that sees the floor and looks for his open teammates. Williams can also get it off the dribble on his own with his shifty handle as well as play-off the ball and knock down the open three. Williams will help to navigate the high paced SharpShooters offense.