JV Corner: Standouts During The Holiday Tourney Season

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The JV Corner takes a look at some JV players who had good performances during the holiday tourney season…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310548,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Braden-Little-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Braden-Little-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310548" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313910' first='Braden' last='Little']</strong> (5'10/PG/'26/Mountain Brook HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: bradenlittle33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Mountain Brook has become known for having high-level guards, and even though [player_tooltip player_id='1091949' first='Ty' last='Davis'] is graduating, and I have written about his younger brother coming up, the Spartans have another guard whose name is one to remember, and that is [player_tooltip player_id='2313910' first='Braden' last='Little']. He is a dynamic young PG who already has the MB system downpack and orchestrates it very well. He is an excellent fit in the Spartans system, but he is also a caliber player who has very good playmaking abilities. He is a shifty guard who utilizes crafty takes to get to the cup, where he is a crafty finisher. He knows how to create his own shot off the bounce, and he showed that he is a 3-level scorer. I am anticipating his jump to the varsity level.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310549,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Ryan-Phelps-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Ryan-Phelps-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310549" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313912' first='Ryan' last='Phelps']</strong> (5'9/CG/'26/Hewitt-Trussville HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Ryan.phelps10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ryan is a dynamic combo guard who plays well on and off the ball. He was at his best when the rock was in his hands, and he had the freedom to make plays off the bounce. He is a multi-level, multi-dimensional scorer who can get a bucket at any moment in a possession. Ryan has the handle and feel to run the offense, and with his textbook lefty shooting stroke, he keeps defenders off-balance and coaches scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to contain him. His game is ahead of schedule, and he will bring his gifted scoring and creative skills to the varsity level next year.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310550,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Jayden-Carson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Jayden-Carson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310550" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313932' first='Jayden' last='Carson'] </strong>(6'6/C/'26/Clay-Chalkville HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: nobodybutjayden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @14Jaydencarson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jayden is a frontcourt player with a lot of promise. As you can imagine, his game is centered around the paint, and his defense is ahead of his offense. Defensively, he does a good job protecting the rim with his shot-blocking abilities. I was really impressed that even though he has the length to challenge every shot, he does a good job at times just walling up and making players shoot over his wingspan. Offensively, he does a good job finishing at the rim as he is often the recipient of drop-off passes, and he scores a lot on put-backs after securing the offensive board. He will be entering his junior year next year, and it is imperative that Jayden develops his low block arsenal and the ability to move outside the paint and handle the rock, and have a perimeter jumper in his repertoire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310551,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Rhett-Boyd-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Rhett-Boyd-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310551" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313918' first='Rhett' last='Boyd'] </strong>(6'1/G|F/'26/Hartselle HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @RhettBoyd13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Rhett is a versatile backcourt player who provides his coaches a high level of comfort. He isn't the primary scoring option, but just in case his squad struggles to score, Rhett can put up points from all levels. He isn't the primary ball-handler or initiator of the offense, but if he needs to step into that spot, he has the skill set to do so. Rhett makes winning plays on both ends of the floor, even when those plays are not scoring plays. He goes to the glass and doesn't mind giving up his body for the squad. There is a lot to like about his game, as he is a swingman who can attack inside and out and also crash the boards hard. Rhett may just be starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and if that is the case, he should make an undeniable impact in his last two years in high school.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310552,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Jackson-Martin-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Jackson-Martin-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310552" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194885' first='Jackson' last='Martin']</strong> (6'4/PF/'27/Hewitt-Trussville HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jackson is a stout interior presence with good positional size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">He plays as strong as he looks. He battles on the post and fights relentlessly for rebounds. He competes at a high level and makes his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Jackson sets fundamental screens using his solid frame, making it hard for opponents to fight through the screen. He is built like a tank, and many opposing bigs found it very hard to move Jackson as he understands how to use his body to hold off opponents. He has a good feel for the game and a surprising IQ, and he understands his role and limitations and doesn't try to do too much.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2310554,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Emory-Bear-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-Emory-Bear-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2310554" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2313914' first='Emory' last='Bear'] </strong>(6'2/CG/'26/Vestavia HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: emorybear</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @EmoryBear01</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Emory has seen action on varsity this year, but I spoke with Coach Davis, and he told me that he wanted Emory to get some reps during the holiday tournament season. In the games I saw Emory compete, you could see the difference in experience as he was sometimes just a step ahead of the opponents. He is a lengthy guard who balances scoring and facilitating and brings production for his squad when he is doing either. He's a nice catch-and-shoot player who can also create offense for himself and score off the dribble. He is a very good passer as his vision is above average, and he is willing to find the open man. He has a good all-around game and will be back on varsity soon, as his time on varsity is really helping the development of his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->