NYBA Middle School Showcase Immediate Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">NYBA and MSHTV partnered together to bring talent from across the country to Nashville, and here are my immediate takeaways on a few players…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2359990,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Braxton-Thavongsy-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Braxton-Thavongsy-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2359990" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Braxton Thavongsy</strong> (5'6/CG/'28/NYBA) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: braxton.thavonfsy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Braxton is a small, quick-twitch listed combo guard who was impressive throughout camp until he got hurt. He was tough off the bounce as he lived in the paint and played off two feet. With his size, he had to be a little crafty in the paint and at the rim in order to get his shot off. He has a nice hesi move, which keeps defenders off balance as he probes and looks for gaps to attack. He is a three-level scorer who showed efficiency with his middle game, and his long-range shot must be respected. His defensive techniques are an area of improvement because even though he knows the dangers that middle penetration does to the defense, he still positions himself to give ball-handlers the middle.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2359991,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Eli-Wilson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Eli-Wilson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2359991" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2205092' first='Eli' last='Wilson']</strong> (6'6/SF/'28/All Ohio Red) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Eliwilsonnnn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Eli is a lengthy wing player who is a tough shot-taker and shot-maker. His versatility and his ability to score from the perimeter is a strength. He was a match-up problem because his size was too much for some of the smaller guards, while his ability to play out in space was a problem for young players who have settled with being an interior post player. During the camp, Eli's presence was felt on the inside as he rebounded at a high rate and often finished drop-off passes with ease. On a loaded All-Ohio Red team, it will be interesting to see Eli's development and contribution. If teams tend to forget about him because of all the other options on the squad, Eli can really hurt them in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2359992,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Keyon-Shaw-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Keyon-Shaw-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2359992" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Keyon Shaw</strong> (6'3/G|F/'28/Team United) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: K_witdabounce</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Keyon has good positional size and a nice wingspan. He is a versatile athlete on both ends of the floor and makes an impact on both ends as well. Offensively, he is a multi-level scorer and is a tough downhill attacking wing who finishes well in traffic. He can knock down the trey ball, which helps keep the floor spaced. He is a worker on the glass and does a sensational job tipping the ball out to a teammate if he cannot secure it. His versatility on defense is seen with his ability to guard on the perimeter and drop down to be a rim protector, as he's really quick off his feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2359994,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Chase-Hamilton-Kramer-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Chase-Hamilton-Kramer-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2359994" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Chase Hamilton Kramer </strong> (5'10/PG/'28/Viewpoint Middle School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: @chasek10bb</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Chase is a shifty ball-handler who gets to his spots and creates scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. He is very tough off the bounce and was one of the best isolation scorers in camp. He is listed as a point guard and did a good job balancing, facilitating and scoring. He was very good at both, but if I had to pick the strength of his game as seen in camp, I would have to say he is very adept at scoring the rock from all levels. He showed he could get his own shot off the bounce, even if some of those shots were considered tough and possibly bad shots. Despite taking tough shots, Chase showed his ability to make the tough shots, which was very impressive at times. He played hard on both ends of the floor and proved to be a relentless competitor once it was all said and done.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2359995,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Carter-Curry-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/PHN-Carter-Curry-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2359995" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Carter Curry</strong> (5'9/CG/'28/Harrison County Middle School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: @859carter_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Carter is a solid combo guard who was at his best shooting the rock from beyond the arc. He was efficient with his c&amp;s opportunities but has to demand the ball more, especially in a camp situation where spraying off dribble penetration was not always the play that was made, even though it should have been. He has to continue to work on being able to create his own shot and not just sitting in the corner waiting on the ball to find him. Defensively, he was very active and caused deflections that led to turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Kameron Mercer</strong>&nbsp;(6'4/CG/All Ohio Red 2027/2028)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: killakam2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @kameron_mercer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">All the pre-camp talk about this camp was geared around the fact that Kam Mercer would be in attendance. People who did not even have players participating stopped by to see if Kam is as legit as the basketball streets say. Well, he did not disappoint, as he was hands down the best player in the building. He is highly versatile, with freakish athleticism and explosiveness when attacking the rim. He has good positional size and length that causes problems on both ends of the floor. He showed his ability to be a slasher and to make tough shots. He can knock down the trey ball but still has some improvement to make in that area. Whether in transition or the halfcourt, he can go get a bucket at any moment. He was vocal on the defensive end of the floor, and with his physical attributes, he has the ability to be a disruptive defender. A lot of eyes are going to be on Kam as we get ready to kick off the spring and summer season, so let's see how he handles the spotlight.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->