Bluff City Blues: Dominant Guards
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PICTURED: Melvin Yates Melvin Yates 5'11" | PG Power Center Academy | 2027 TN May’s first weekend welcomed teams from around the southeastern United States to Prep Hoops’ Bluff City Blues outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Teams from Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi,…
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Continue ReadingPICTURED: Melvin Yates Melvin Yates 5'11" | PG Power Center Academy | 2027 TN
May’s first weekend welcomed teams from around the southeastern United States to Prep Hoops’ Bluff City Blues outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Teams from Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee competed. Below you can read about many of the most Dominant Guards.
Matthew Moore Matthew Moore 5'7" Saltillo High School | 2027 MS / Mississippi Falcons 15u
Tremendous on-ball defender. Moore is listed 5’7″ by his team. He is probably an inch shorter. His work rate was exceptional all Saturday afternoon. Moore is a highly confident player with the ego to take over the game in spurts. He made a tricky layup and earned a tech by taunting as the ball dropped in. His team benefitted from the tenacity and fire that he brought though. He sustained a minor leg injury late in the game.
Melvin Yates Melvin Yates 5'11" | PG Power Center Academy | 2027 TN / NDO 15u
Hard-charging guard. Insane bounce. He gets to the free throw line with regularity. Look for Yates to make a debut inside the Top 50 next update to the 2027 Tennessee rankings. Yates is fantastically strong and physical but does not foul much. There is a lot of room to grow for the ball-dominant guard. Already he is courageous, strong, skilled. Reminds of a young Fred Bailey Fred Bailey 6'1" | PG JPII | 2024 State TN (Trevecca Nazarene signee).
Kylan Hardeman Kylan Hardeman 5'5" | PG Saint Benedict | 2027 TN / NDO 15u
Spirited defender.
Jailyn Gaines / Jags Elite 17u
Feisty lead guard Jailyn Gaines electrified a physical West AL team Saturday afternoon. Gaines and his fellow Arkansas-based players carved up the defense over and over. Most of their points came from slashes.
Kade Hilander / KY Future 17u
Dropped 18 points on SEMO Select, one of the better teams in attendance.
Elijah Bradley Elijah Bradley 5'9" Tupelo High School | 2027 MS / Mississippi Falcons 15u
High IQ! He gave his team a lift with before halftime. His team was granted to free throw attempts. Elijah began the series outside of the arc and snuck in between makes. No Days Off 15u (NDO 15u) did not account for his presence and Bradley stole the ensuing inbounds pass. Quick layup in the final two seconds of the half. It lifted his team and deflated an otherwise high-performing NDO 15u team. Bradley is vocal and he constantly helps his teams understand the schemes and plans. Great teammate.
#12 John O’Connell / Mavericks Basketball Elite 16u #3
Gritty. Small guard. John blocked a shot with effort. He kept close to the ball-handlers and helped in the lane often where his forwards were suffering dramatic losses.
Kaleb Lewis Kaleb Lewis 6'1" | SG Rockvale | 2026 State TN (Golden Franchize 16u)
Kaleb was fluid in the final two minutes, scoring at will when his team was chasing the game. They needed points and points in a hurry. Lewis executed a smooth Euro into a lefty layup, using his favored left hand. Seconds later Lewis pulled up on the go, knocking down a cushy three-pointer. Still, Golden Franchize trailed 47-41. They did not overcome in the end. Kaleb showed off some versatility and scoring prowess in that segment though.
NDO Bulldogs Roster
JERSEY NAME CLASS HEIGHT SCHOOL STATE SOCIAL
#1 Darryus Wright Darryus Wright 6'0" | SG Power Center Academy | 2027 TN 2027 6’0″ Power Center Academy Tennessee
#10 Dylan Saulsberry Dylan Saulsberry 6'3" | SF Douglas | 2027 TN 2027 6’3″ Douglas Tennessee
#30 Jacob Lott Jacob Lott 5'4" | C Power School Academy | 2024 TN 2024 5’4″ Power School Academy Tennessee
#23 Jake Dickten Jake Dickten 6'2" | PF ECS | 2027 TN 2027 6’2″ Ecs Tennessee
#12 Jhatavise Jones Jhatavise Jones 5'11" | SG Power Center Academy | 2027 TN 2028 5’11” Tennessee
#0 Melvin Yates Melvin Yates 5'11" | PG Power Center Academy | 2027 TN 2027 5’11” Power Center Academy Tennessee
#35 Sherman Powell Jr Sherman Powell Jr 5'10" | PG Crosstown | 2027 TN 2027 5’10” Crosstown Tennessee
#4 Tyrone Y. Jones Tyrone Y. Jones 6'0" | SF Kirby | 2027 TN 2027 6’0″ Kirby Tennessee
#15 Vindez Nesby Vindez Nesby 5'10" | SF TN 2027 5’10” Tennessee
#33 Keyshun Johnson Keyshun Johnson 6'4" | PF Power Center Academy | 2027 TN 2027 6’4″ Power Center Academy Tennessee
#11 Kylan Hardeman Kylan Hardeman 5'5" | PG Saint Benedict | 2027 TN 2027 5’5″ Ecs Tennessee
#3 Brandon Smith Brandon Smith 6'0" | PG Nashville Christian | 2024 TN Jr.