USA JNT Minicamp ’25 Standouts
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We had the opportunity to attend Team USA Junior National Team’s minicamp at the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix, AZ to see some of the top talent in the country compete in front of NBA front office personnel. With daily sessions lasting about two hours long, some of the nation’s top talent in the 24, 25, and 26 class competed for consideration for Team USA’s Junior National teams. We’ll cover some of the individual 2025 standouts here today!
-Did a masterful job of controlling pace and directing traffic in a camp setting that tends to be a bit more chaotic. Gets low coming off of screens and makes explosive, decisive movements off the bounce to create an advantage situation for his team. Never gets sped up when trapped or when faced with a press. Live ball passer with either hand to deliver on-time on-target dimes to teammates. Didn’t see him shoot it a ton, and will have to put on more weight to muscle his way past physical defenders at the next level.
-The perfect complimentary piece as a floor-spacer beyond the arc that can also find guys off the catch. Has the ability to score from all three levels but the ball doesn’t stick, he gets into his move quickly or skips it to a teammate to keep the ball moving. Slid his feet and walled up defensively a few times to force dribble pick-ups, showing some improvements as an on-ball defender from when I saw him last summer. Improving his handle to get to his pull-up quicker and more efficiently will make it much more difficult to guard him. The burst off the bounce has improved but will need to go up a few more levels to avoid being targeted on switches at the next level.
-Served as arguably the best play-finisher in JNT camp this week, showing off better hands to secure catches in traffic as well as the agility to begin finishing reverse layups or inside pivots to create better angles for 2-handed dunks. Showed a soft touch with the right in the middle of the paint for hook shot finishes. Showed an ability to time and block several high point shot/dunk attempts without fouling— an extremely valuable trait that will serve him well at the next level.
Highlights
-Showed good flashes as a play finisher that doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective as a floor spacer and slasher. Used his length well to finish in traffic among some very high-level athletes in the paint. Skill level is advanced for a wing his size, can put it on the floor and score it from all 3 levels. Started off more deferential the first day and bounced back with a more impactful performance on Saturday– interested to see if this minicamp gives him more confidence going into AAU season.
-One of the best play-finishers in the camp, impressed with his activity in the lane as an offensive rebounder and scorer around the rim. Got his defender in the air with some up-fakes and step-throughs to earn himself an easy bucket around the rim. Athleticism and mobility have improved, soft touch in the paint translated well to the midrange.
Highlights
Professional scorer. Thomas was filling it up from all three levels with some hot perimeter shooting and an explosive change of pace. He comes off screens looking to score, fluid pull-up jumper and floater in the paint. Drew the contact and hung in the air long enough to finish around bigs.
-Khamenia always seems to make the right read in the halfcourt as a passer or scorer on the block or in the high post. Shot it well from beyond the arc, midrange, and from the low post. Khamenia has definitely worked on his body and it paid dividends, sliding well enough to force a few dribble pick-ups on his opponent’s drives to the paint.
-Built in the mold of a modern combo guard that can score in a variety of ways from the perimeter. Not overly explosive or fast but utilizes a nice change of tempo on his crossover and manipulates defenders to press up before the screen comes to create some space to get off his jumper. Has the tools to finish well in the paint over or past bigs.