Players to Watch: National Prep Showcase

The National Prep Showcase returns this week to crown an undisputed National Champion of the post grad world, and like every year the field is absolutely loaded with 16 teams from all over the country. The event will be held at Clark University in Worcester, MA this year, and the games start at 10 AM on Wednesday and it will be a bracket style play with a consolation bracket for teams to play at least 3 games.   There are so many talented players and teams in this year's event, we'll be looking at some of the players to watch in each area the teams are coming from. Here's a look at some of the players from the two Virginia schools.   You can watch the entire tournament here on the <a href="http://cbglivenetwork.com">CBG Live Network</a>.   Kailon Nicholls | 6'0” PG | Hargrave '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Nicholls-Kailon-EPL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Nicholls-Kailon-EPL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1778502" /></a></figure>   One of the best available PGs in the country and one of the prospects who will stand to benefit the most from playing in front of all the coaches at the NPS, Nicholls led Hargrave to a terrific season including an EPL Championship and a 1 seed at the tournament. The Toronto native is a super dynamic guard who is quick off the bounce and changes speeds and directions well, he can create space and knock down shots from the midrange, he's an explosive finisher well above the rim and he makes plays for others as well.   Jaden Daughtry | 6'7” PF | Hargrave '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Daughtry-Jaden-Certified.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Daughtry-Jaden-Certified.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1788890" /></a></figure>   Daughtry was the Elite Prep League Player of the Year, and the Indiana State commit has been one of the most productive players in post grad basketball all season for one of the best teams in the country. The 6'7” forward has brute strength and a high motor that allows him to get downhill and finish at the rim or hit the offensive glass for extra opportunities too, he can put it on the deck in transition and make shots when he's left open and he always seems to step up and make big plays in big situations.   De'Shayne Montgomery | 6'5” WF | Hargrave '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/image3-1-1-rotated.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/image3-1-1-rotated.jpeg?w=480" alt="Deshayne Montgomery | The Traveling Hoopers" class="wp-image-1389300" /></a></figure>   Another available player that will be looked at by many coaches this week, Montgomery is a high flying wing with great athletic and physical tools that has a very high ceiling moving forward. The 6'5” wing has a great wingspan and is able to use that to jump passing lanes and turn defense into offense, he has improved a lot in his ability to knock down open shots from deep and he's devastating when he gets downhill as a big time finisher above the rim and in traffic.   Diovion Famakinde | 6'5” CG | Hargrave '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Famakinde-Diovion.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Famakinde-Diovion.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1798784" /></a></figure>   Famakinde is Hargrave's x-factor and often comes off the bench for them to change the course of the game, but don't get it twisted he is one of their most talented and skilled players as well as one of their most productive players. The available guard was Second Team All Elite Prep League and is a walking mismatch as he has the build of a forward but the shift and ball handling ability of a point guard, he can create for himself and others off the bounce in isolation situations and he can make shots from all over and gets to the line often.   [player_tooltip player_id='1241885' first='Adrian' last='Myers'] | 6'7” F | Massanutten '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Myers-Adrian-EPL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Myers-Adrian-EPL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1785449" /></a></figure>   The Mississippi State commit was a First Team All EPL selection and the way he's improved from two years ago to now is night-and-day. The 6'7” forward is a talented shot maker who can get hot from deep and knock down multiple in a row and to take over a game, he's able to make tough fall-aways in the mid-post and he's a big time athlete who can finish above the rim with authority and protect the rim defensively too.   Mike Gray | 6'1” CG | Massanutten '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Gray-Mike-Mass.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Gray-Mike-Mass.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1821166" /></a></figure>   Gray emerged throughout the season as Massanutten's third option as a scorer, and his ability to make tough shots makes him very frustrating to guard. The available combo guard is a knock down shooter from deep who doesn't need a lot of space to get his shot off, he can get to the midrange off the bounce where his high release and arc allow him to make shots over bigger defenders and he's a good playmaker too who can find guys in transition and when he touches the paint for easy buckets.   [player_tooltip player_id='1403917' first='Troy' last='McKoy'] | 6'5” WF | Massanutten '24   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/McKoy-Troy-EPL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/McKoy-Troy-EPL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1785453" /></a></figure>   McKoy is one of the most underrated and best all-around 2024 players you'll find in the country, as he was voted First Team All EPL and came in second in EPL Player of the Year voting. The 6'5” wing is well built and very strong so he can get downhill and finish through traffic or get to the line often, he's a knock down shooter from deep off the catch, he can create and make shots from multiple levels in isolation situations and he's a dog who rebounds in the double digits every game and wins 50-50 balls while defending the other team's best player too.

The National Prep Showcase returns this week to crown an undisputed National Champion of the post grad world, and like every year the field is absolutely loaded with 16 teams from all over the country. The event will be held at Clark University in Worcester, MA this year, and the games start at 10 AM on Wednesday and it will be a bracket style play with a consolation bracket for teams to play at least 3 games.