NEXT Circuit: 2028 Stock Risers
This year’s Prep Hoops NEXT Circuit has been one of the best yet, filled with excitement, high-level potential recruits, and a lot of national talent that’s continuing to grow. The NEXT Circuit had every type of prospect you could possibly…
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Continue ReadingThis year’s Prep Hoops NEXT Circuit has been one of the best yet, filled with excitement, high-level potential recruits, and a lot of national talent that’s continuing to grow. The NEXT Circuit had every type of prospect you could possibly dream of from 11U to 14U. Here we take a look at a few of the biggest stock risers from the 12U division.
Kameron Ijeh | CG | Dallas, TX | Texas Summitt 2028
Kameron Ijeh is widely known as a remarkable score-first guard who is amazing at utilizing angles and does a phenomenal job of gaining and keeping space from his defender. Throughout this summer Ijeh has proven to be a masterful and instinctual bucket getter, every move he makes and shot he takes is a reaction to what the defense throws at him, Kameron is always prepared to shake up defenders that attempt to play him too tight and once he has his man on his hip Kameron is usually off to the races. Even when Ijeh left his feet he has shown craftiness with up and under layups underneath the basket. Very efficient, whether he’s shooting a free throw, scoring inside at the hoop, shooting a mid-range pull-up, or knocking down a shot from beyond the arc. On the defensive side of the ball, the Texas Summitt guard has been a crucial asset, applying intense on-ball pressure when needed and forcing game-changing turnovers, showing a strong defensive prowess as he rips opposing guards clean often disrupting ball-handlers with quick hands.
Damonte Owens | CG | Moffett, OK | Hoyas Elite 2028
Damonte Owens is the type of player who is highly confident in his on-court abilities. The lefty bucket getter is a proven threat to score from the moment he crosses half court whether he has the ball in his hands or not. He’s a truly creative ballplayer with crafty super smooth handles and footwork to go along with his special ability to shoot it from anywhere on the floor. This sharpshooter moves well without the ball and effortlessly knocks down shots from well beyond the perimeter on a regular basis in a variety of ways, pulling up after a mixture of dribble moves, spotting-up, and catching and shooting while coming around a screen, Owens steps into every shot with poise and his feet well balanced. Remember the name Damonte Owens, this kid has the chance to become one of the most feared three-point shooters around as time goes on.
Brian Cal Jr. | PG | Pine Bluff, AR | Bryson Warren United 2028
Brian Cal Jr. has displayed an incredible offensive skillset at each event. His shiftiness and quickness kills defenses, he shreds full-court pressure and annihilates the zone. Smooth deceptive footwork, Cal Jr. gets inside and to his spots with hop steps, pro hops, and eurosteps on the drive, even if congested lanes he’s effective due to his sheer creativity at the rim, his love for finishing with reverse lay-ins, and pulling out the up and under makes his shot insanely difficult to block on contest successfully.
DeWayne Williams | PG | Tulsa, OK | Tulsa Hawks 2028
This Tulsa Hawks lead guard sees the game two steps ahead of everyone, a very good, intelligent, and instinctual passer who puts the ball where only his teammate can get it. Williams plays with a great feel for the game and his unselfishness allows him to make the players around him better by setting them up perfectly with well-timed throws for easy baskets. He’s already an elite drive and dish guard, Williams is great at making a defensive man think he’s going all the way to the rack before kicking out to his corner shooter, sometimes without even looking at them. Insanely gifted and skilled ball-handler with an abundance of moves that can get him to any spot at any time. Lethal in isolation situations, Williams uses jab steps to size his man up before putting the ball on the floor and showcasing his bag of handles for the blow-by
Soane Hola | Post | Euless, TX | Team Ferrari
Soane Hola shows glaring potential as a high-level run and jump athlete who’s a beast on both sides of the ball. You won’t find many low post players that can constantly run the floor quite like Soane, he brings an amazing hustle and effort to each possession, he isn’t afraid to take a charge and he’s always willing to be the first player to the floor for loose balls. Hola is an insanely active and productive paint protector who alters shots inside and deflects interior passes on a consistent basis, he walls up and makes his opponent have to go around him for a tough fall-away shots. This 6-foot postman uses his size, length, and lateral quickness to cover ground extremely well, allowing him to shut the paint down without bailing the opposing team out with bad last-second fouls. Also, Soane Hola is always in full control of the boards, he even has times where he flat-out dominates the glass and grabs multiple offensive rebounds in a row giving his team second, third, and fourth chance scoring opportunities. With the ball in his hands, Hola shows great poise a good court vision, he never gets rattled or flustered by traps, doubles, or the defense closing in on him, he stays calm and hits the open man on the perimeter with powerful passes right into their shooting pocket. The Texas native has a strong, fearless, competitive spirit, he truly gives you everything he’s got from beginning to end, especially on the defensive end. This kid has got to be the toughest 6th-grader I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, Soane Hola will be a name to remember for years to come.