Elite Grassroots Prep Showcase: Eye Openers
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The Grassroots Elite 100 Camp, took place in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 22nd. The camp is a premier basketball event that showcases the remarkable talents of young athletes from the class of 2028 to 2033. This camp represents the…
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Continue ReadingThe Grassroots Elite 100 Camp, took place in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 22nd. The camp is a premier basketball event that showcases the remarkable talents of young athletes from the class of 2028 to 2033. This camp represents the future of Las Vegas Basketball, offering a platform for the rising stars of the basketball world to shine. With Hoop City as the backdrop, the camp provides promising players with an invaluable opportunity to develop their skills, while competing at a high level, and gaining basketball exposure. Scouts, coaches, and enthusiasts will be in attendance all looking to uncover the next generation of basketball excellence, and setting the stage for a thrilling journey into the world of competitive basketball. With so many young players in attendance, it provided the perfect opportunity for us to see some new players and new skills. Here’s a look at some of the eye openers from the event.
Payton Fowler Payton Fowler 6'6" | PF Green Valley | 2025 NV
Payton Fowler Payton Fowler 6'6" | PF Green Valley | 2025 NV
Fowler is an impossing player because of his size and strength. In an up and down camp setting, it’s also interesting to see if a big guy can keep up. I thought Fowler comported himself well. When he set up on the block, he couldn’t be moved. He was able to turn over his left shoulder and finish around the rim, and his best strength was just that. He displayed ridiculously strong hands, grabbing more than his share of in traffic rebounds.
Tiago Morales
Tiago Morales
Morales didn’t do anything that I haven’t seen him do before, however he opened eyes with how consistently and how well he did it. He’s the ultimate doesn’t need the ball in his hands to score guy. Morales sprinted the floor every time, and showed good hands, and feet in the process. The forward was effective catching the ball on the run, and using 1-2 steps to finish around the rim.
Kaemon Thomas
Kaemon Thomas
Thomas’ ability to finish opened some eyes. The lefty fearlessly attacked the rim, showing the ability to beat the first defender, while shielding the ball from the helper at the rim. When I see him play for his AAU team, he’s more of a facilitator, but during this event he was able to showcase his scoring ability.
Vari Floyd Johnson
Vari Floyd Johnson
VFJ opened some eyes with what he did on the defensive end. The normally unique scorer decided to do it on the other end of the floor. The high energy guard defended multiple positions, harrasing ballhandlers, while finishing plays with defensive rebounds.
Breenen Cuello
Breenen Cuello
Really been impressed with Cuello’s playmaking the last few times I’ve seen him play. He played with terrific ball speed today, using the dribble to go by players that pressured him in full court. He’s always been known as a shooter, however now the threat of shot has opened the floor for him as defenders have crowded him and he took advantage by getting into the lane and creating.
Josiah Johnson
Josiah Johnson
I’m always looking for defenders in camp setting, so Johnson stood out with his efforts. It wasn’t simply his willingness but also his production. Johnson mixed it up for 50/50’s and also did a good job using his length to protect the rim, getting multiple blocked shots.
Jayden Hall
Jayden Hall
I didn’t get an exact height on Hall which is a shame because he was one of the bigger players on the court. His size probably went unnoticed because he performed like a guard. Hall showed good offensive skill, using a suprisingly good handle to navigate defenders, opening eyes with his skill.
Aaron McMorran Aaron McMorran 5'11" | PG NV
Aaron McMorran Aaron McMorran 5'11" | PG NV
It feels like McMoran has been so good for so long that sometimes he is held to a different standard. The lefty showed off a handle, playmaking and terrific shot making ability. He was one of the best deep range shooters at the event.
Jerry Anderson
Jerry Anderson
I didn’t recognize Anderson right away, but then he started playing and I instantly remembered him. He’s a scrappy competitor that plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. The guard was a pest on the defensive end, and used his quickness to blow by defenders on the offensive side of the ball.
Darius Mcgee Darius Mcgee 5'6" | PG NV
Darius Mcgee Darius Mcgee 5'6" | PG NV
Mcgee was a terror on the defensive side of the ball. The jitterbug PG used great lateral quickness, quick hands and instincts to harrass ballhandlers into turnovers. He created several steals throughout the camp, en route to winning the Clam God award for top defender.