#TerryTalks: Top Spot World Championships Day 2 Standouts

The Top Spot World Championships had a lot of talented players on the court on day two, and here are a few that stood out to me… 

Braylen Cole (4’8/PG/’30/NYBA ’30)

Instagram: tlaroncole

One of the most exciting players that I got a chance to watch was Braylen. He is a young, dynamic playmaker that played with a lot of passion. Despite being young, he is a crafty little guard who plays under control. He energized his team with huge trey balls and nice drop-off dimes. I was surprised with his range, as he showed that he is not to be given a lot of space from beyond the arc. He even showed vocal leadership as he competed at a high level. As I do with all young players around this age, I encourage Braylen to keep working on all aspects of his game and continue mastering the fundamentals.  

Mike E. Holloway (5’6/PG/’28/NYBA ’28)

Instagram: mikeeholloway

I have followed Mike E. over the years, and he just keeps getting better every time I see him. His confidence is off the charts, as he has the keys to the team and has emerged as a trustworthy floor general. He is terrific in the open floor, and when it comes to his speed, he has grown in his ability to accelerate and decelerate, knowing when to speed up and blow by a defender and when to slow down and read the floor. His all-around game just continues to emerge, and he is showing the kind of promise that could cause him to end up as one of the top guards in TN. 

Aree Jack-Johnson Hines (5’4/Wing/’29/Hoops Elite ’29)

Instagram: areegetnbuckets

When his squad was flat, Aree came in and injected them with energy. He provided much-needed scoring as his team struggled to put points on the board. He scored at multiple levels and showed his craftiness in the paint and at the rim. He asserted himself off the bounce and put pressure on the defense, causing the defense to have to make adjustments to his ability to manufacture points. Even though his team was flat, Aree competed with tremendous effort. He was very comfortable and confident on the perimeter as he played with no fear.  

Jonovan Leavell (5’7/CG/’28/J5 Elite ’28)

Instagram: __novaa3

Twitter: @__novaa3

Jonovan proved to be a high-profile scorer who could absolutely get it done off the bounce. He is a slippery scorer who could get to any spot he wanted on the floor and, from there, score with an array of finishing moves. He showed the ability to create his own shot without getting his team out of rhythm. He is the primary ballhandler on his squad, capable of going coast to coast and breaking defenders down in the half-court. He is a prolific scorer who can make tough shots. He impacts the game by asserting himself on the offensive end of the floor and being a threat every time he touches the rock.  

Andru Pritchett (5’6/SG/’28/Music City Bulls)

Instagram: 2x.plot

Andru showed a knack for being able to produce in the scoring column even though he was not the biggest on the floor. Early he manufactured points by just being active on the offensive end of the floor, which in turn got him going in the flow of the offense. He picked his spots to create off the bounce as he did a good job collapsing the defense and spraying to open shooters. Once he got going, Andru finished at the rim with efficiency, and he had success attacking gaps off the bounce. There’s plenty of room for growth in his game, but he showed today that he has tools in his bag that he can use to be very productive. 

Francis Nwoye (5’9/F/’29/NYBA ’29)

Instagram: d1_francis

One of the most impressive players during the day was Francis. He has a ceiling that could end him up being a high-profile player garnering a lot of attention. Now so much could happen between now and then, but if he stays on the trajectory he is on right now, I like his chances. His 5’9 listed height is good positional size for his age, and it gives him an advantage over most opponents. Considering his height, along with his perimeter skills and ability to score off the bounce in the paint and at the rim over defenders, he appeared to be unguardable at times. He is very skilled to be his size at his age, and he has good playmaking abilities. He is a match-up nightmare, as I saw no one able to put up real resistance against him. He has to continue to work on his perimeter shooting, and when he gets that as a consistent weapon in his arsenal, his stock will rise even more.