CBG Prep Showdown Preview (Part 1)

The second annual CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown will take place this weekend at U Turn and Ben Wallace Gym, and it's one of the few events during the fall that division one schools can attend and evaluate in person. The consists of JUCO, post grad and private schools from up and down the east coast, as well as an Overtime Elite team too.   Here's a look at part one of some of the high school and post grad prospects from NC teams that will be in attendance.   Stephen Okoro | 6'9” PF | Combine 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/0E566C05-8D35-41EB-B232-9F7F263F245E.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/0E566C05-8D35-41EB-B232-9F7F263F245E.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1823414" /></a></figure>   Okoro is a very intriguing prospect who has had coaches from all over come to check him out this fall, and he has a chance to be one of the top players in post grad basketball this year. The 6'9” forward is exactly what coaches are looking for now a days in a big man as he has a long and strong frame coupled with good mobility and athleticism, he can finish above the rim and is a good rim protector and he has good hands and soft touch to finish on dump offs and post ups.   CJ O'Hara | 6'5” CG | Combine 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Ohara-CJ.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Ohara-CJ.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1240309" /></a></figure>   O'Hara is already off to a great start with Combine after being one of the top players in Minnesota over the past few years, and he'll have a lot of college coaches following him this weekend. The 6'5” combo is a big guard who gets downhill aggressively and is an excellent finisher through contact, he is a good rebounder for his position, he scores it in a number of different ways and he can make plays for others as well.   Yuri Manns | 6'3” CG | Combine 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1302372" /></a></figure>   Manns had a great high school career at LC Bird in Richmond where he was an All State selection his junior and senior season, and he's steadily gotten better and will be able to show his ability to score the ball in bunches this year. He's become more and more athletic over the past few years and plays above the rim consistently now, he can create space and drill it from deep off the bounce and off the catch and he has a great middle game with floaters and pull-ups too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1258313' first='Erich' last='Harding'] | 6'9” PF | Combine 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/C4B76DD0-1ADE-4226-98B8-BBDD82904160.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/C4B76DD0-1ADE-4226-98B8-BBDD82904160.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1945672" /></a></figure>   Harding has already seen his recruitment take off this fall picking up a few offers, and the Charlotte native will have coaches following him closely this weekend. The 6'9” big man is an inside force as he has a strong body and presents a big target for entry passes, he plays with a high motor and is a very good rebounder and rim protector and he is productive and efficient while doing the dirty work too.   Brett Dent | 6'10” C | Combine 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Dent-Brett.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Dent-Brett.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1765657" /></a></figure>   Dent is another former LC Bird player who has steadily gotten better over the past few years, and he still has a lot of room to improve moving forward as a project piece that could pay off big time for a coach who is willing to develop him. At 6'10” he has grown over four inches in the past few years and is becoming more coordinated and improved his timing as he's grown into his body, he runs the floor hard and gets off his feet well to finish above the rim and he is a paint presence defensively who challenges shots and fights for extra possessions on the glass.   Bobby Chandler | 6'6” CG | Winston-Salem Prep 2024   Chandler was one of the top guards in NYC the last few years and should see a lot of attention from coaches with an extra year of work to refine his skillset and play against high level competition. He is a big guard with a lot of grit and toughness to him, he attacks downhill and is a very good finisher above the rim and in transition and he can get to spots where he can use his size to elevate over defenders and knock down shots in the midrange.   Dean Simos | 6'8” PF | Winston-Salem Prep 2024   The Australian native has played high level basketball for years and comes over to Winston-Salem where he brings a lot of the tools you expect from a foreign big man with their style of play over there. He is a skilled and high IQ big who can deliver passes to cutters, he's a good screener and a threat as a pick-and-pop guy with his ability to knock down shots and his perimeter skillset will open things up and make them tough to matchup with.

The second annual CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown will take place this weekend at U Turn and Ben Wallace Gym, and it's one of the few events during the fall that division one schools can attend and evaluate in person. The consists of JUCO, post grad and private schools from up and down the east coast, as well as an Overtime Elite team too.