#PHATownShowdown: 15U Day 1 Standouts
This weekend, the #PHCircuit has invaded Atlanta, GA, and teams from across the country have come to compete in what some say Hot-Lanta. There were quite a few standouts on day one, and here are a few… Walter Giesen (6’8/C/’26/One Dream…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend, the #PHCircuit has invaded Atlanta, GA, and teams from across the country have come to compete in what some say Hot-Lanta. There were quite a few standouts on day one, and here are a few…
Walter Giesen (6’8/C/’26/One Dream Elite ’26)
Instagram: waltgiesen
Walt is a developing post player that not only owned the midline but the low block as well. He played with his back to the basket and showed signs of a throwback big in the making. With his overwhelming size over his competitors, Walt was virtually unstoppable in the paint, at the rim, and on the glass. A lot of the production that Walt provided was due to his size, but you did see the flickering ability that will one day be trusted to make the right play when the ball is in his hands. He has something that can’t be taught, and that is size, but if he can work on his agility and explosiveness and continue adding to his bag, he can be a frontcourt prospect that will garner attention.
Nazarious McDowell (5’7/SG/’26/Metro Elite Basketball ’26)
Instagram: zmccdowell_
Twitter: @NazariousMc2026
Nazarious showed flashes of greatness as he lit it up from behind the arc, was a playmaker off the bounce, got his teammates involved, and orchestrated the offense. He is in such control of the ball when it is in his hands that it is very difficult to force him into turning the ball over. He showed that he could get whatever he wanted off the bounce, and he kept defenders guessing because they have to respect the pull-up trey just as much as they have to respect the drive off the bounce. Being such a talent that he is, I was disappointed with a moment in the game where he drove to the basket, didn’t get the call, ended up on the floor, then got up and walked back on defense. He is too good of a player to do that, so hopefully, he learns to give maximum effort throughout.
Chris Lampkins (6’4/PG/’26/Cole World Elite ’26)
Instagram: chrislampkins22
Twitter: @chrislampkins22
Chris showed early that he was a frontcourt player that was extremely athletic and quick off the floor. He finished well around the rim and was getting a lot of putbacks and kick out for open threes from his activity on the glass. As the game went on, he began to show his handles in the open court as he grabbed the boards and started the break. As the game continued, he showed his ability to play out on the perimeter, put the ball on the floor, and attack from outside. He is really versatile on both ends of the floor and showed a lot of promise throughout the day.
Jacob Mayberry (6’2/PG|C/’26/Texas Takeover ’26)
Instagram: J4ymannnn
Twitter: @Jacob_maybery
Jacob was Mr. Do-It-All for his squad, as he was their primary scoring option. He needed to do quite a lot for his team as he had to create his own shot as well as set the table for his teammates. He was aggressive off the bounce, and after some time passed, I realized it was the strength of his game. He shot the ball from deep but did not take many opportunities from the outside. He is on a team where he has to have monster games every time out in order for his team to compete, and he showed that he is capable of carrying that load. He brings a lot to the game with his length and ability to score off the bounce in a variety of ways.
Jamarcus McCalebb (5’7/PG/’25/KOTC ’26)
Instagram: _jam.mccalebb
Twitter: @showtime.jam
Jamarcus is one of the most exciting lead guards I saw on the first day. He had the entire bag open and was showing off all the tools that were at his disposal. He is a shifty PG that balances scoring and facilitating, and he showed that he can do both exceptionally well. He handles with an unpredictable cadence, he’s dangerous in ball screens, is efficient in catch-and-shoot opportunities, and can lean on a reliable in-between game when he can’t get to the rim. He is a small guard who isn’t afraid to battle in the paint off the bounce and contest bigs in the paint, and he is not afraid to get in on the glass. He is very valuable to his team as he is the primary ball-handler and the primary scorer.
RJ Dunlap (6’4/PF/’26/The Golden Franchize ’26)
Instagram: @rj.dunlap
RJ could be an undersized post player, but his size was tough for opponents to deal with in the match-ups today. He was a bruiser, a rebound eater, and a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. When he was on the floor, his presence and physical play at times dissuaded ball handlers from trying him in the paint off the bounce. Even though RJ has to continue to work on his finishing around the rim, as he missed some easy buckets right at the rim, he is still a legitimate problem for opponents in the paint on both ends of the floor.