Crossroads of The South Standouts; Part 2
Here is part 2 of the standouts I saw at the #CrossRoadsOfTheSouth camp… Reginald Hopkins (5’7/CG/’24/Ridgeland HS) Instagram: sheluvvsreggie._ X/Twitter: @601_reggie Reggie was one of the smaller guards at camp but had a mature game. His lethal first step enables him…
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Continue ReadingHere is part 2 of the standouts I saw at the #CrossRoadsOfTheSouth camp…
Reginald Hopkins (5’7/CG/’24/Ridgeland HS)
Instagram: sheluvvsreggie._
X/Twitter: @601_reggie
Reggie was one of the smaller guards at camp but had a mature game. His lethal first step enables him to get by defenders at will. He continued getting to the cup and into the heart of the defense. I did not see much from Reginald when it came to his perimeter scoring, but if he can show that he can make the shot from outside, he will be able to shred drop coverages, forcing defenses to come up higher, which would only open up more passing and driving lanes. He is a pesky defender who applies tremendous pressure on the ball, and ball-handlers must be ready to work when orchestrating near him.
Jaden Leak (6’0/PG/’27/Pearl HS)
Instagram: jaybird_elite
X/Twitter: @jaybird_elite
Jaden is a two-way player and flashed his athleticism throughout camp. He is a slasher who can get to the cup, and when he does, watch out because he has a tremendous lift and really gets off the floor. He has a nice feel for the game and a good feel for getting his shot off the bounce. Jaden’s first step is quick, and he showed that he can shift gears at any moment of his drive. He makes effective use of hesitations and changes of pace dribbles to generate space, allowing him to keep defenders guessing. Defensively, he is aggressive in the deny position and plays the passing lanes with good instincts. Before I fail to mention, I must tell you that Jaden is just a freshman.
Morris Hammond (6’3/SF/’24/Ridgeland HS)
Instagram: sheluvs.morriss
X/Twitter: @mhammond133
Morris did a lot of blue-collar work while on the court at camp. The type of work not seen on the stat sheet but the kind of work every team needs a player to do. Morris is that type of player as he is active on the glass, goes after 50/50 balls, defends hard, and gives it all he can for the length of time he can. I say it like that because there are some areas that Morris needs to focus on as he takes the court for his final high school season. He has to improve his agility as well as his tools on the offensive end. He plays extremely well in the dunker spot and finishes very well around the rim. His active play was in spurts, but if he can add to the toolbox, get in shape, and get up and down the court without feeling the effects immediately, his impact on the game will only increase.
Braylon Barnes (6’3/SG/’25/Brandon HS)
Instagram: braybarnes0
Twitter: @braybarnes5
Braylon brought a lot of energy and effort to the floor and was absolutely dynamic at times. He is very skilled at getting his shot off in tight spaces/windows and was one of the best mid-range players in camp. He is so good at shot-making that defenders must be conscious of his every motion because he quickly gets the ball into his shooting pocket. Being one of the better rebounding guards at the camp, he rebounded at a high rate and was able to get his team out in transition, which helped in getting easy scoring opportunities. One area of Braylon’s game that I was highly impressed with was his understanding of how to use his dribbles to get to his spots and not over-penetrate. Too often, I see guards over-dribble and over-penetrate, ultimately leading to turnovers.
Charles Wesley Lindsey, III (6’6/SG/’25/Central Hinds Academy)
Instagram: only1wesley.Lindsey
Twitter: @WesleyLindsey07
Charles is a lengthy wing with good positional size. He was at his best during camp when in transition and slashing to the rim in the half-court to create scoring opportunities for his teammates and his own. He really did a phenomenal job driving, collapsing the defenses, dropping dimes, and spraying to perimeter shooters. He is a prospect who is very comfortable and confident on the perimeter and has high-level game instincts. Charles is a swingman who can attack inside and out, can make shots from different angles, and shoots the trey ball well, even though he struggled early from behind the arc. I honestly believe that the final two seasons of his high school career will be ones in which he raises his stock.
Ethan Long (6’7/C/’26/Petal)
Instagram: _edifferent
Twitter: @ethan1long1
Ethan was one of the most talked about players amongst the staff prior to camp starting. There was a lot of excitement surrounding him, and I was eager to watch him play. He is a highly versatile player who is a listed 6’7 Center. He is entering his sophomore season and has a dominant inside-out game on the offensive end of the floor. He scored off the low block, stepped out and knocked down the trey, put it on the floor, and scored off the bounce. He is not the most athletic nor the quickest, but he is a skilled player who, as he improves his handle, will move from being considered just a post player to a highly skilled wing. Ethan was one of the smartest and most skilled players who put in work inside the arc, and in the paint is where he did his best work. A lot of hype surrounds Ethan, but time will tell if it was just hype or true promise.