CBG Prep Showdown Standouts (Part 1)
In this article:
The CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown took place in Richmond, VA this past weekend, with over 30 teams ranging from Junior Colleges to post grad and prep programs from across the east coast in attendance. It was one of the few events…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe CBG JUCO/Prep Showdown took place in Richmond, VA this past weekend, with over 30 teams ranging from Junior Colleges to post grad and prep programs from across the east coast in attendance. It was one of the few events where division one programs could attend and evaluate in person, and boy were there tons of prospects for them to watch.
Here’s a look at part one of some of the high school and post grad standouts from the NC teams in attendance.
Sebastian Akins Sebastian Akins 6'2" | PG 1 of 1 Academy | 2024 State NC | 6’2” PG | 1 of 1 Academy 2024
Akins has become known as one of the top available guards in all of North Carolina, and he was tremendous for a 1 of 1 team that competed against some very talented teams this past weekend. He did a little bit of everything as he set the tone defensively, made plays for others off the bounce and picked his spots and scored it well from all three levels. He’s a shifty ball handler and natural leader that makes plays both within the sets and in isolation situations, and he simply makes his team better across the board when he’s in the game.
Gevonte Ware Gevonte Ware 6'9" | C 1 of 1 Academy | 2025 State #150 Nation NC | 6’9” C | 1 of 1 Academy 2025
Ware has blown up nationally over the past year, solidifying himself as one of the top big men in the country and becoming a well known name for high major colleges across the country. The 6’9” big man showed his athleticism with the ability to run the floor and play above the rim, he has great touch both in the post and out to the elbows and he protected the rim defensively. He’s a monster in the paint who showed good versatility and can dominate on the glass as well.
LJ Rush LJ Rush 5'10" | PG 1 of 1 Academy | 2026 State NC | 5’10” PG | 1 of 1 Academy 2026
Rush has quickly become one of my favorite players in the NC Class of 2026, as he may not be the biggest guard but he’s super talented and fun to watch with how explosive he is. He’s a pit bull of a defender who gets under ball handlers and makes them uncomfortable guarding them the length of the floor, and he can shoot passing lanes and force turnovers. He’s shifty off the bounce with a quick first step, he can play above the rim on put backs and lobs and he can knock down open shots from deep with ease.
Yohance Conner | 6’2” CG | 1 of 1 Academy 2026
Conner is undoubtedly one of the top young prospects in NC, and playing against older players throughout the event he showed he can not only hang but was one of the top guards on the floor consistently. The 6’2” combo has great end-to-end speed in transition, he has a shifty handle and big time burst to blow by defenders and he’s an excellent finisher at the rim. Throw in the fact that he can stroke it from deep and he plays with great energy on both ends of the floor and it’s easy to see why he’s such an impact player at his age.
Armani Henderson Armani Henderson 6'1" | CG Hickory Grove Christian Academy | 2024 State NC | 6’1” PG | Bull City National 2024
Henderson led a super talented Bull City team that absolutely got after it on both ends of the floor, and he was their tone setter and leader on both ends of the floor. He guarded the ball well the length of the floor and made life miserable for ball handlers, while also making good rotations in help and in the press. Offensively he showed good wiggle off the bounce to touch the paint and make plays, he created space and made shots from multiple levels and he pushed the ball in transition and made plays for others.
Trey Shephard | 6’6” WG | Bull City National 2025
Shephard was one of the most intriguing high school prospects in attendance, as the 6’6” two guard checks a lot of boxes for the next level and should see his recruitment take off when coaches become familiar with him. He has a basketball frame with long arms and he should fill out when he gets to a college weight room, he showed deep range and a quick trigger from deep and he got downhill and finished well around the basket. He’s a naturally talented wing who has prototypical size for the next level and showed he can play with the best of them this weekend.
Nate Malosa | 6’8” WF | Bull City National 2025
Another very intriguing prospect for this Bull City team that coaches should get familiar with, Malosa has a translatable game with a lot of qualities coaches are looking for in a modern day wing. He has great size and a strong frame to compete on the glass and bang in the paint, and he has good ball skills on the perimeter with the ability to put it on the deck and drain it from deep consistently. He’s a versatile defender who can play and guard multiple positions and still has a lot of room to get better moving forward.