Breakout Sophomores and Juniors to Watch This Summer
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There’s one thing that sets these players apart – and that is absolute hustle. They put in the work year-round and it shows in their game as they consistently get better and better. Below are a handful of players with…
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Continue ReadingThere’s one thing that sets these players apart – and that is absolute hustle. They put in the work year-round and it shows in their game as they consistently get better and better. Below are a handful of players with the heart and the hustle to regularly make a huge difference for their teams.
Lorenzo Robinson
Lorenzo Robinson
Robinson is incredibly skilled at moving without the basketball and being in the right place at the right time. He’s got a beautiful pick and roll game and his anticipation for where the ball is going next is impressive. He’s a versatile lefty that can body you in the paint or sink a three over you if you’re not on your A game. He possesses excellent vision on the fast break and is great at returning the favor to his teammates with his accurate passing ability. Lorenzo eats boards for breakfast and can play some elite defense as well. He will send your shot to the rafters if you underestimate what he’s capable of.
Elijah is elite offense in a bottle. He’s extremely quick with or without the ball and he has a rapid release on his jumper that makes it nearly impossible to block. He can catch fire quickly from three and will punish you over and over again if you give him any amount of separation. He’s effective on the break and will gladly be the alley to the oop for his bigs hustling and running the floor. What I love most about Darden’s game is he absolutely puts up points, but he doesn’t do it irresponsibly. He’s careful with his shot selection and his IQ is off the charts for his age. In games where he’s scoring 30+, he’ll often pair that with a shooting percentage above 50%, which is rare to find. Elijah has superstar potential and he’s an exciting prospect to watch continue to develop.
Highlights
Brady Willis Brady Willis 6'5" | SF Katy | 2026 TX
Brady Willis Brady Willis 6'5" | SF Katy | 2026 TX
Brady’s versatility on the court is incredible. He can eat up your shot like a beastly lion on one end and then head to the other and move gracefully through the lane to finish with a finger roll as smooth as butter. He’s a gamechanger for his squad and it shows. The energy seems to shift when he steps on the hardwood. His enthusiasm for the game and hustle and tenacity all must be contagious because the level of play rises for his team when he’s in there. He’s dangerous from the arc and has a wicked spin move down low that his defenders can only shake their head at. He’s no slouch on the boards either, consistently putting himself in the mix on both ends beneath the basket. Willis is the type of player you absolutely need for a winning team.
If you’re looking for a player that can put on a show while filling up the stat sheet – look no further than Zelee. He’s not scared of anyone out on the court and for good reason – his talent often stands above the rest and he knows it and smartly uses that to his advantage. With his elite speed and ballhandling abilities, he regularly gives his defenders that “deer in the headlights” look, most just can’t keep up. He’s got an impressive jumper from mid-range and three and if you’re not careful defending in the paint, he will take any and every opportunity he gets to posterize you. I love that Marcus doesn’t take his skills for granted. He could skate by on natural talent and scoring points – but he chooses not to. When he’s in the game, he’s going full speed every second. His hustle and heart show his love for the game and both serve to round out his significant impact very nicely.
Highlights
Jonathan has incredibly quick hands and he uses that to his advantage in multiple areas throughout the game. On the defensive end, he’ll swipe the ball from his opponent in a second with no contact and be on the other end to turn it into a bucket before you know it. Offensively, he uses his exceptional ballhandling skills to get out of jams and get to the rim for two. He’s amazing on the fast break, whether that’s taking it all the way down the court himself and finishing or finding a streaking teammate with the perfect pass and setup for a bucket. His overall quickness serves him well on both ends of the floor and it’s an asset he uses to elevate his team to the next level. Wade is a winning player that will keep his defender on their toes for the game’s entirety while hustling and locking them down on the other end.