Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off: Ramsey's Saturday Notebook

<p>The MidAmerica Sports Center in Louisville, Kentucky was the place to be on Saturday. It was a full day of great hoops as the Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off featured competitive games, intriguing prospects, and plenty of excitement. As always, our Prep Hoops staff had boots on the ground coverage throughout the event because nobody does content and event coverage like Prep Hoops! Let's empty out the notebook and talk about what we saw throughout the day on Saturday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8:00 a.m. Crew is BACK and Better Than Ever</h2>   <p>We were up and at it early at the MidAmerica Sports Center on Saturday and several prospects didn't let the early time slot hold them back. A pair of 2027 prospects, Ryder Bell and Cameron Cross for Kentucky Future Elite 2027 were among the first to stand out. Meanwhile, on another court, [player_tooltip player_id='2398663' first='Jarius' last='Timberlake-Johnson'] shined for Team Robinson 2026. However, it was Alex Shadow who ended up arguably having as good of a morning as anyone as he scored 16 points in a blowout victory for Mavericks Elite Basketabll-2 2026. It is always telling who can get themselves up out of bed and be ready to compete in the first couple of time slots on a Saturday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evansville Finest Holds Off Sammie Lewis Elite</h2>   <p>In one of the best, most exciting games of the day, Evansville Finest 2027 defeated Sammie Lewis Elite 2027 63-62. Greg Pieterk led the way with 16 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2408663' first='Elijah' last='Chinn'] and 14 points. For Sammie Lewis Elite, Llyeton Weaver led all scorers with 23 points. There was a lot of young talent to like in this matchup.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2408663' first='Elijah' last='Chinn'] back up his strong morning performance by exploding for 34 points in their afternoon win over Illinois Warriors Elite. The dynamic point guard from Evansville Bosse High School knocked in six three-point shots in the contest.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">United Hoops Takes Down Kentucky Future Elite White</h2>   <p>If you were a small college coach in attendance for this matchup you would have walked away with a larger recruiting list than you started with. There was a bunch of future college talent on the floor in this one.</p>   <p>Kaycee Guzman continued his strong weekend leading all scorers with 23 points as United Hoops defeated Kentucky Future Elite White 70-63. The 5'10” guard from Lakeside Lutheran High School in Wisconsin displayed his two-way ability on the perimeter as one of the better on-ball defenders along with his playmaking prowess.</p>   <p>Braden Fugate led Kentucky Future Elite White with 19 points in the loss.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEBC 2025 & The Golden Franchize Basketball Club 2026 Have DUDES</h2>   <p>These two teams, from a standpoint of athleticism and upside, had as impressive of prospects as anyone in the gym on Saturday at the Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off. Both teams, as you would imagine, had a lot of success in their games as well. NEBC went 2-0 with a pair of dominant wins over NOVA Village Legron and Midwest Pumas Burgett. Meanwhile, The Golden Franchize defeated the Fort Wayne Believers 65-52 and are set to take on Kentuckiana Hoops in the nightcap.</p>   <p>Miles White was a standout in both games for NEBC as an unsigned senior from Carvel Academy. The dynamic 6'4" athlete showcased his ability to score it from all over the floor and certainly has the physical tools to compete at the next level. 5'11" guard Mohammad Hanif from Breck High School in Massachusetts shot the ball at a really high level for NEBC as well.</p>   <p>For The Golden Franchize, it was a three-headed monster of prospects that dominated in their game against the Fort Wayne Believers. Both Tae'shawn Shelton and Alijah France scored 20 points while Michael Bass added 18 points. Shelton was arguably the most impressive prospect of the day as the 6'7" athlete was playing above the rim consistently.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1539498' first='Mason' last='Arthur'] hit a game-winning three-point shot with less than five seconds remaining for [program_tooltip program_id='2075848' first='Southern' last='Indiana Blaze'] as they defeated KY Rise 51-50. The New Washington High School Class of 2025 prospect led his team with 18 points in the contest.</p>   <p>Trevor Turnball is a name to know out of Nordonia High School in Ohio. The playmaking guard did a little bit of everything to lead his DG Warriors team to victory on Saturday afternoon. He is an outside shooting threat, can create for his teammates at a high level, and was also an impactful defender.</p>   <p>The Shelbyville High School duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1561096' first='Mar' last='Nicholson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1561061' first='Caden' last='Claxton'] have had a good weekend at the Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off. They came up a bit short against a very good Better Than Yesterday squad in the afternoon, but both prospects are playing at a high level. Nicholson has excellent physical tools and is relentless as a driver and finisher at the rim. Meanwhile, Claxton stretches the floor as a shooter and then can beat you off of the dribble.</p>   <p>Cody Morrison from Kentucky Future Elite White 2025 and [player_tooltip player_id='2217958' first='Drew' last='Lundberg'] from 88 West 2025 were two of the best catch-and-shoot threats in the gym on Saturday.</p>

The MidAmerica Sports Center in Louisville, Kentucky was the place to be on Saturday. It was a full day of great hoops as the Prep Hoops Grit Region Kick Off featured competitive games, intriguing prospects, and plenty of excitement. As always, our Prep Hoops staff had boots on the ground coverage throughout the event because nobody does content and event coverage like Prep Hoops! Let's empty out the notebook and talk about what we saw throughout the day on Saturday.