Road Trip: Impact Players
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With the high school basketball season being upon us throughout the United States, I thought it would be a good idea to go back and highlight the most impactful players that I have seen while traveling on the road this…
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Continue ReadingWith the high school basketball season being upon us throughout the United States, I thought it would be a good idea to go back and highlight the most impactful players that I have seen while traveling on the road this past 6 months. These players reign in from a handful of different states across the US and they all have some serious game. The type of game that they are all capable of taking back to their perspective high schools this winter, so that they can put together a successful year.
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Tyler Wagner Tyler Wagner 6'6" | SF Totino Grace | 2025 State #366 Nation MN – 2025 – 6’6 – SG – Totino Grace High School – Howard Pulley EYBL (MN)
I first had the chance to see Tyler Wagner Tyler Wagner 6'6" | SF Totino Grace | 2025 State #366 Nation MN play this summer on the Prep Hoops Circuit in Minnesota and he did not disappoint. Wagners mixture of skill, size, and athleticism is truly impressive. He is a big-bodied guard, that is smooth with the ball and displays elite coordination. Most of the time, het gets whatever looks he wants to on his first attempt on offensive because of his jumping ability and knowledge of space on the floor. Defensively, he is quick enough to stay with a guard or he can move to a forward and hold his own near the rim a majority of the time. This winter is going to be another one to remember for Totino Grace from what I’m seeing. They will have the personal and team chemistry to dominate most matchups they come across but anything can happen so we will have to wait and find out. As for Wagner’s future, he has recently visited a handful of D1 colleges for recruiting purposes. If you have a chance to watch him and and his TG team compete with winter, do it. Before you know it, he will be competing at the collegiate level.
Derrick “DJ” Hudson – 2026 – 6’7 – F – Fayetteville High School – ABC Elite AAU (LA)
Derrick Hudson stood out because of his size when I first approached him this summer but he kept me interested with the ability he has, combined with that natural size. In the contests that I saw him compete in, Hudson was flying all over the court, making impactful plays on both sides of the floor. It didn’t matter if it was a monstrous dunk or a game-saving block against the glass, Hudson demonstrated that whenever he goes up at the rim, he has a chance to change the game in some sort of way. The future is very bright with Hudson as he is only a Sophomore at the high school level. If he stays dedicated in his off-season and takes care of his body, he might be someone we see on ESPN one day, making a big play for a Power-5 University. That is still a few years away but the promise is there, that’s for sure.
Brady Wooley Brady Wooley 6'9" | C Orono | 2025 State #187 Nation MN – 2025 – 6’9 – F – Orono High School – D1 Minnesota 3SSB (MN)
If you want to talk about a high-flyer and impactful player on the court, look no further than Brady Wooley Brady Wooley 6'9" | C Orono | 2025 State #187 Nation MN of Orono High School. Wooley is a 6’9 Forward and he is quite the player. He is obviously tall but he also has the ability to square up and shoot or take his defender off of the dribble, making him an ideal candidate for pick-and-roll situations at any level. This summer I saw Wooley absolutely take over one weekend in Minnesota and ever since, i’ve seen his recruiting interest picking up more and more. He is prepped for a big winter coming up and after that, he will lace up in the Spring with D1 Minnesota 17U 3SSB. An opportunity I’m sure will open up even more doors moving forward, as it pertains to his basketball future.
Kinyun Johnson – 2026 – 6’1 – PG – Fayetteville High School – ABC Elite AAU (LA)
One of the most influential leaders of a team, that I had a chance to see this Spring was Kinyun Johnson of ABC Elite AAU out of Louisiana. Johnson is a play maker. Someone who displays elite scoring ability while shooting the ball but also has a lot of skill distributing to the open teammates around him. The weekend I saw Johnson, he was the emotional and physical leader of his team. He had everyone set up in the spots they need to be in and made sure that all their action was running smoothly on both sides of the floor. When anything would break down, he would do a great job of creating something, out of nothing. He was definitely one of the most impressive PG’s I’ve seen while traveling during 2023. The impact he had on his team, completely changed how they performed and ultimately, the outcome of the game as a whole.
Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL – 2024 – 6’6 – CG/SF – Kenwood Academy High School – Mac Irvin Fire EYBL (IL)
One of the most skilled and determined players that I was able to see this past few months was Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL of Kenwood Academy in Chicago. Riddle, a DePaul Men’s basketball recruit, is a strong and athletic individual, that won’t take no for an answer on the floor. There are moments throughout every game when elite players need to step up and make tough stops, that is the type of player Riddle is. Before his commitment to the Blue Devils, he was fielding several D1 offers considering he was a 4-star recruit, according to ESPN. I think that Riddle is going to be able to produce at the collegiate level once he finds his groove. He is very good at squaring his body to the basket, no matter what type of shot he is taking and that translates anywhere. If he can play with-in his own, he is going to be a name we hear a few more times over these next couple of years, out of the city of Chicago.
Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL – 2024 – 6’6 – SF – Mt. Carmel High School – Illinois Wolves UAA (IL)
Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL is another player that many consider a “hometown” hero because of his commitment to the University of Northwestern, while being from the Chicagoland area. Ciaravino is listed as a SF at 6’6 but I would consider him more of a CG/SG, when he has better players around him. It’s not that his role shrinks in any way but he is adaptable. He can move between 2-3 spots and play efficient, productive basketball at each one. Just like with all major recruits, Ciaravino will have a target on his back going into his final season at Mt. Carmel High School but that won’t get to him. From everything I’ve seen, he is too skilled and he holds himself to a high standard. I expect that to continue, no matter who is trying to bring him down or stop him in his path.