#PHPassionRegionFinals Look At Top Performers
The #PHPassionRegionFinals was loaded with talent… let’s look at a few of the top performers from the weekend. Jaden Baker (6’0/CG) Team: Spartans Elite ’24 Instagram: N/A Twitter: N/A Jaden led his team to the #PHPassionRegionFinals 16u Championship. He is…
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Continue ReadingThe #PHPassionRegionFinals was loaded with talent… let’s look at a few of the top performers from the weekend.
Jaden Baker (6’0/CG)
Team: Spartans Elite ’24
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Jaden led his team to the #PHPassionRegionFinals 16u Championship. He is a 6’0 scoring machine and can get it done in whatever way you want him to. He can score at all levels and has his toolbox filled with tools to use. In the championship game on the biggest stage of the weekend, he dropped 32pts, with 12 coming from behind the arc. He’s agile, quick off the bounce, and has the ability to get into the lane and ultimately to the cup, using burst and solid ball handling skills. He’s a small guard, but he’s an efficient scorer and is difficult to contain, which teams throughout the weekend found out the hard way. He had one of the best offensive games of all players I saw, as he was almost unstoppable as he had it all going throughout the weekend. He is listed as a combo guard but will be able to be a PG at the next level that can score the rock if called upon. They will question his size but cannot deny his offensive prowess.
He had one of the best offensive games of all players I saw, as he was almost unstoppable as he had it all going throughout the weekend.
Terry J. Drake
Nate Boakye (6’1/PG)
Team: G1 ’24
Instagram: thenateboakye2
Twitter: @boakye_nathan
Nate is a dynamic and explosive athlete that is listed as a PG but has the capacity to play the lead spot and off-ball. He is quick off the bounce and has a burst when he gets going downhill, which allows him to get separation from his defender. His athleticism helps him get to the rim and constantly puts pressure on the defense off the bounce. He does not settle, but he does not force the action either. He is a difference maker and plays both ends of the floor. He comes off the bench for G1 and is a fantastic talent to have coming off the bench, as he can get it going in an instant. His playmaking skills were on display throughout the weekend, as he demands so much attention when the ball is in his hands that teammates are the beneficiary of good looks as their defenders have to stay aware of where Nate is at all times. He is a PG that can run the show and score the rock as he showed that he could actually be considered a score-first PG.
He is a difference maker and plays both ends of the floor.
Terry J. Drake
Xander Eason (5’9/CG)
Team: Team Dynasty ’24
Instagram: xandereason
Twitter: @EasonXander
I enjoyed watching Xander compete, but I know many at the next level would look at the 5’9 height and pass by this talent but let me share with you what they would be missing. Xander is listed as a CG, but at the next level, he would have to settle into the PG role, which he has the skill set to do. Xander is a player who can put up numbers and is at his best with the ball in his hands and when he has the freedom to orchestrate the offense. He shoots the ball well from behind the arc, knows how to come off screens into c&s opportunities, and can finish off the bounce when he is run off the line. Unfortunately, his size will be a question, but his focus cannot be on that but must be on what he can control. Getting in the weight room will be critical for Xander’s continued growth in his game, just as studying the game by watching film and building his IQ is going to be vital over the next two years as he tries to make his way to the next level.
Xander is a player who can put up numbers and is at his best with the ball in his hands and when he has the freedom to orchestrate the offense.
Terry J. Drake
Joseph Dorvilus (6’3/F)
Team: North Florida Hurricanes ’24
Instagram: dorvjo
Twitter: @dorvjo
Let me just say that Joseph played way below his potential. At times he showed just how explosive he could be, then at other times, he went back into a shell and lulled his way through stretches of the game. Let’s talk about what was seen when he showed his potential. He is a big creative wing with creative capabilities and is the best when attacking downhill off the bounce. His physical play off the bounce makes it difficult for smaller framed wings to defend him. If he was more assertive in the contest that I saw him play, there is no telling how much of an impact he could have had on the game. Late in the game, his squad forced a turnover, and he got the ball and had a monster dunk, probably surprising everyone but his teammates. I know it had me thinking where had that explosiveness been, which is why I say he under-performed yet did enough to still be a top performer. His 6’3 size isn’t going to get it done at the forward spot at the next level, but if he can begin to sharpen his perimeter skillset, improve his shooting skills, and develop a motor, he could make himself attractable to some programs.
Late in the game, his squad forced a turnover, and he got the ball and had a monster dunk, probably surprising everyone but his teammates.
Terry J. Drake
Tyson Wilson (6’0/CG)
Team: Athletes of Influence ’24
Instagram: tysonwilson._
Twitter: @tysonwilson_
Tyson is a small guard that has a good balance between scoring and facilitating. He is shifty with the ball in his hands and is tough when slicing his way through the defense to get to the rim. He has an impressive IQ and feel for the game and is gifted when finishing in the paint and at the rim. The defense has to respect his ability to attack off the bounce because his ability to create keeps the defense occupied, trying to find ways to keep him out of the paint, where he does his most damage. As much as Tyson is a threat off the bounce, he has to spend more time in the gym getting stronger. The next step of Tyson’s game is going to be realized when he gets stronger and can be more physical when getting in the paint.
The next step of Tyson’s game is going to be realized when he gets stronger and can be more physical when getting in the paint.
Terry J. Drake
Jackson Roberts (6’10/PF)
Team: Athletes of Influence ’24
Instagram: Jacksonroberts024
Twitter: @JacksonRob24
Coach Josh mentioned Jackson to me just a week earlier while we were at the #PrepHoopsLiveATL powered by @PUMA and @hibbettsports, and I made it a point to make sure that I checked out J.R. this weekend. When he came off the bench, not only my eyes but all eyes in the gym were locked in on Jackson. He checked the box very quick regarding his ability to stifle the offense as he blocked and challenged shots often, and he checked the box regarding his ability to dominate the boards. Offensively, he posted hard, and when he did get low-block touches, he was just too big for most teams, even when they sent the double. Jackson is going to get consideration and looks just because he stands 6’10. Still, there are things that he is going to have to improve on if he is going to be the dominant all-around player that he can be at the high school level and solid player he can be at the next level. He will have to work on being more agile and in better shape so that he can maneuver around the paint better and run the floor faster. He does not have a quick leap off the floor, and his second jump is even slower, but if he can just start working on his agility, getting in shape, and his explosiveness off the floor, he is going to see a tremendous jump in his game over the remaining two years of his high school career.
Offensively, he posted hard, and when he did get low-block touches, he was just too big for most teams, even when they sent the double.
Terry J. Drake
Zachary Brown (6’0/G |F)
Team: Team Stampede ’24
Instagram: zcuttadayoungan
Twitter: @zcutta22_
Zachary is a stout and physical guard that is also listed as a forward. You would think by looking at his size how could he be listed as a forward, but in the context of this tournament, he was able to be a dominant force at the forward spot. There are some tournaments/camps where it would be difficult for Zach to dominate at that spot because of the size differential and athleticism that he would face. He does possess perimeter skills that helped him pull forwards out into space and attack them off the bounce. He was a match-up nightmare as he was just too quick for the forwards trying to guard him, and he was too strong for the guards trying to defend him. He was an offensive threat every time the ball was in his hands, and defenses had to overload their coverage in trying to slow him down. Zach was also good at setting solid screens and posting up players on the low block. I encourage Zach to continue to hone his perimeter skills and his perimeter jumper as he prepares to find a place at the next level in the next two years.
He was a match-up nightmare as he was just too quick for the forwards trying to guard him, and he was too strong for the guards trying to defend him.
Terry J. Drake
Chris Cornish (6’5/SF/’24)
Team: SWFL 2024
Instagram: Chris_jamil
Twitter: @Jamil_chris
I will not spend much time on Chris in this eval because I just put ink on him a week earlier from the #PrepHoopsLiveATL powered by @PUMA and @hibbettsports. After watching him completely dominate with an unofficial 31pt performance against Elite Playmakers ’24, I had to go and talk to Chris after the game. I asked him about his recruitment, and he said he has only been having talks over the phone. He was perhaps one of, if not the best iso scorers I saw throughout the weekend. He is a ten eyes player, as he demands the attention of every defender on the floor to have their eyes on him when the ball is in his hands. One of the things that I absolutely love about part of Chris’ game is his ability to grab the defensive board and go coast to coast in about 5-7 dribbles and finish at the cup. He is explosive in the open court and can score the rock off the bounce. In all my times of watching Chris play, I have yet to see a team be able to stop him in the open court or in the half-court off the bounce. I was going to talk to Chris about one thing, but we only got a chance to speak briefly; he took some ill-advised shots off the bounce as several times, three defenders had collapsed in the paint to stop him, yet he still forced the action, when he had shooters around the arc. He did come back later in the game and make better decisions when he saw that same type of defensive coverage. I am not sure why the offers haven’t stopped flowing, but some program is going to pull the trigger soon; I guarantee that!
One of the things that I absolutely love about part of Chris’ game is his ability to grab the defensive board and go coast to coast in about 5-7 dribbles and finish at the cup.
Terry J. Drake