Ticket To Greatness Combine Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Continuing my coverage of the Ticket to Greatness Combine, here are a few standouts that caught my eye…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2086761,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-DeMarcus-Williams-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-DeMarcus-Williams-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2086761" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398776' first='DeMarcus' last='Williams']</strong>&nbsp;(5'10/CG/'25/Fairfield HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: demarcus_williamsbabylebron</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @MvpDemarcus12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">DeMarcus had a solid combine, but I expected more from his play. He showed all his strengths with his ball-handling, playmaking skills, scoring off the bounce, and orchestrating, but I would have liked to have seen him be more assertive. He was solid, and to many, it would have been a good camp, but I have seen him put up huge numbers and be able to go get buckets at will. Last year, he went through the phase from being a score-first PG to emerging into a PG that knows how to score. Emerging into the latter will help his game long-term, but in the setting where college coaches were locked in, he could have done more to stand out, which I was raving he would early in the combine. As we look forward, I am looking forward to seeing how DeMarcus will adjust to the two new transfers he has coming in this upcoming season.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2086762,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Devin-Barksdale-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Devin-Barksdale-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2086762" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599936' first='Devin' last='Barksdale']</strong>&nbsp;(6'0/CG/'25/Jacksonville HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">School: Jacksonville HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: @devinbarksdale1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Devin came in still with the injury he suffered at Samford Elite camp lingering, but it did not show once the combine got into 5v5 play. Now let me go ahead and say this because I told Devin I would let the world know: he somewhat caught a body. He would have put the guy on a poster if the dunk had been a little cleaner. It was hard to see any weaknesses in Devin's game throughout the combine as he showed a prolific ability to score the rock and was a willing defender. He showed he can shoot, get to the line, and make plays for others, and with those tools amongst more, he will be the guy at Jacksonville this upcoming season. As he steps into the alpha position on his team, his offensive feel for the game and his teammates will be proven extraordinary and important with all that Jacksonville lost this past year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2086763,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Jeremiah-Wilson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Jeremiah-Wilson-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2086763" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599779' first='Jeremiah' last='Wilson']&nbsp;</strong>(6'3/PG/'25/Buckhorn HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: jwilso567</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Bucketboi_j</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jeremiah looks like he has grown a few inches and that his wingspan has expanded. He is a lengthy playmaker that has improved his skill set. Throughout the combine, he showed three-level scoring, strong defensive fundamentals, positional fluidity, and a high IQ. His game has matured, and he has become more productive in the scoring column with more tools in his bag. Jeremiah continues to morph into a player with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. With what I saw at the combine and his ability to be more of a scorer with a better ability to create his shot off the bounce, he will be able to carry more of the offensive load this upcoming season. If he can do that on the offensive end and be a lockdown defender utilizing his length and lateral quickness, he pushes Buckhorn into the favorite category in Class 6A.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2086764,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Quay-Lynch-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Quay-Lynch-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2086764" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1958557' first='Quay' last='Lynch']&nbsp;</strong>(5'8/CG/'26/Pinson Valley HS)<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Rockout__quay</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @Quay_Lynch2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have put ink on Quay before, but what I kept watching for when I looked at Quay was how he was going to fit into the Pinson Valley system. At the combine, he showed his balance between scoring and facilitating. He also showed his ability to impact the game on the defensive end of the floor. He was a floor general that set the stage for others while at the same time was able to create his own shot off the bounce. He's a crafty little guard who plays under control, and his speed and explosiveness are terrific in transition. He made good decisions with the ball and will fit well into the Pinson system and the stable of guards that Coach Barber has on his team. Quay definitely held his own at the combine and had some bright spots, and he will bring his solid play at the lead-guard spot to his new team, which he will be a great addition.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2086769,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Rashad-Bryant-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Rashad-Bryant-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2086769" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599938' first='Rashad' last='Bryant'] </strong>(6'7/G|F/'25/Shades Valley HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Etshadxo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @RashadBryant_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Rashad is highly versatile on both ends of the floor. His length is his biggest asset right now, and he uses it to impact every facet of the game. He scores from all levels and in a variety of ways. He scores off the bounce and with his back to the basket. His size at his position, along with his ball skills and finishing ability, will have many from the next level interested, as they were at the combine. He took advantage of the stage with his intriguing combination of size and shot-making ability from both inside and outside the arc. Offensively he is a match-up nightmare that can get a bucket whenever he desires. Defensively he can guard multiple positions, and he is at a point in his career where the weight room must be his friend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2086770,"width":256,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Fredrick-Derrick-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PH-Fredrick-Derrick-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2086770" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Fredrick Derrick&nbsp;</strong>(5'10/PG/'25/Buckhorn HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: Lf.fred2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Twitter: @FredrickDerric9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I kept saying one thing about Fred as I watched him play; his confidence has grown in all areas of the game. I could tell that the game has slowed down for him, and he is now in control of everything surrounding him. He is getting his teammates involved, shooting it extremely well from deep, creating off the bounce, and being a disrupting defender. He has excellent vision and passing abilities. He functions as a triple-threat player that can contribute as a shooter, passer, and driver. His stock rose at the combine, and if he can continue this new level of play throughout the season, look for Buckhorn to have a good chance to repeat as State Champions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->