#NationalBattleofTheMagicCity Immediate Takeaways
For many, the # NationalBattleofTheMagicCity kicks off the spring and summer grassroots basketball season. Teams from across the country once again gathered in Birmingham, AL, to take part in one of the most prestigious tourneys in the country, and here…
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Continue ReadingFor many, the # NationalBattleofTheMagicCity kicks off the spring and summer grassroots basketball season. Teams from across the country once again gathered in Birmingham, AL, to take part in one of the most prestigious tourneys in the country, and here are my immediate takeaways…
Kameron Mercer (6’4/G|F/’28/All Ohio Red 2027/2028)
IG: killakam2028
X: @kameron_mercer
This is the second time in less than a month that I have been able to put my eyes on Kameron. The first time was in a camp setting; this time, it was with his AAU team in a more competitive environment. He lived up to the expectations that many stopped by to see. Ultimately, he led his squad to the Platinum bracket championship. He has length and a frame to which he can add weight. He can play the 1-5 and is an absolute terror off the bounce. His athleticism is starting to emerge to higher heights, and when he is on the court, he controls every aspect of the game for his team. I really like how vocal he was on the defensive end of the floor. There are areas for growth in his game, particularly his consistency from beyond the arc. I doubt he spends much time playing with the ’28 squad, so you may have to catch him going forward with the 2027 team.
Julius Young (6’2/SF/’29/T3am Tooki3)
IG: @scoobydoojujju33
Julius is a wing prospect who is at his best, slashing through defenses and putting pressure on the rim. He is aggressive off the bouce and does a good job getting into the heart of the defense and finishing in the paint and at the rim. Julius flourishes, making plays off the bounce as a playmaker, and has the instincts to make the right play in tight spaces. He has a developing skillset, passing ability, and feel for the game. His offensive potential is still being discovered, as he can handle the ball, get downhill, and play with good court vision and awareness. He also does a good job rebounding his position.
Joshua Sanders (6’7/PF|C/’29/Jet Middle Georgia Push)
IG: Joshsanders0920
Josh spent time playing with both the ’28 and the ’29 squad. He is a lengthy interior presence who showed developing versatility. His length was a factor on the glass, as well as a rim protector. He still has to continue to get stronger as he develops his back-to-the-basket low-block game. He was able to shoot over the top of most defenders who tried to defend him, but he has a habit of fading with his jumper, which impacts his efficiency. The fade in the jumper could one day help as he plays against opponents that match his height and length, but for now, working on just rising and popping would help his continued development. He showed his ability to handle the rock in the open floor, which is one reason why he is a talent worth watching his development.
Kaleb Taylor (6’4/CG/’29/Memphis War Eagles)
IG: Mosthated_kaleb21
I have put ink on Kaleb before, and it was great seeing him in action again, as well as seeing the additions to his game. His athleticism has expanded, and he is now finishing above the rim when out in transition. He is more of a willing defender and is using his length to really be disruptive at the top of the press and in his one-on-one match-ups out on the perimeter. His offensive game continues to evolve as his shooting stroke off the catch and off the dribble is looking fluid. His playmaking abilities make him an interesting prospect to monitor because as good as he is at getting his own offense, he is just as good at creating opportunities for his teammates. He is off to an excellent start to the 2024 spring/summer season.
Brelyn Moses (6’4/SF/’28/Decatur Blazers)
IG: 5star.brelyn
Brelyn is a wing with good positional size and is very athletic. He is a gifted scorer and is at his best when he is getting downhill or out in transition and looking to catch a body. Brelyn has a lot of game and showed a lot of promise scoring the rock. He was very aggressive off the bounce, has an intriguing combination of power and strength, and uses both to finish plays in the paint. He is a swingman who can attack inside and out on offense, defend multiple positions on defense, and compete on the boards.
Matthew Ramos (6’2/PG/’29/Outwork Who Elite/SOH 2029)
IG: 1_mjr2shiftyy / materbiscaynebasketball
X: @CoachJRamos
Let me just say that Matthew can flat-out score the rock. In the game I saw him play, he went for 35pts, and 3/4 of his scoring came from inside the arc, and the rest from the charity strike. He was aggressive and was at his best when he was in transition or in the half-court and slashing to the rim to score. He has a nice middle game, as he does a good job getting to his spots where he has good elevation with his jumper. He is a creator off the bounce who loves going left and is really good at making tough shots. Matthew thrives off quick changes of direction and crafty changes of pace moves, and as good as he is at scoring the rock, he is a quality distributor who creates opportunities for his teammates off the bounce.
Kamryn Andrade (6’3/Wing/’28/A1 Elite)
IG: kamryn_andrade
X: @kamrynandrade6
Kamryn listed his position as a wing prospect in his profile, but he spent a good amount of time with the ball in his hands and initiating the offense. He has a knack for scoring the rock as he is a downhill attacking guard who is very physical in his attacks to the basket. He finished well through contact and proved to be a tough shot-maker. He was one of the toughest iso scorers throughout the entire tourney, as he has a strong drive game that creates fouls and earns him trips to the line. Kam is capable of putting up big numbers, as he showed throughout the tourney. He is a high-end competitor who plays consistently hard and has ideal toughness and physicality in his game on both ends of the floor.