Bluff City Blues: Dominant Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2421420' first='Melvin' last='Yates']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2419686' first='Matthew' last='Moore'] / Mississippi Falcons 15u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2421420' first='Melvin' last='Yates'] / NDO 15u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 [player_tooltip player_id='1336420' first='Fred' last='Bailey'] (Trevecca Nazarene signee). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2419390' first='Kylan' last='Hardeman'] / NDO 15u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spirited defender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jailyn Gaines / Jags Elite 17u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kade Hilander / KY Future 17u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dropped 18 points on SEMO Select, one of the better teams in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2419638' first='Elijah' last='Bradley'] / Mississippi Falcons 15u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#12 John O'Connell / Mavericks Basketball Elite 16u #3</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1975489' first='Kaleb' last='Lewis'] (Golden Franchize 16u)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">NDO Bulldogs Roster</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JERSEY NAME CLASS HEIGHT SCHOOL STATE SOCIAL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 [player_tooltip player_id='2419385' first='Darryus' last='Wright'] 2027 6'0" Power Center Academy Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#10 [player_tooltip player_id='2419409' first='Dylan' last='Saulsberry'] 2027 6'3" Douglas Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#30 [player_tooltip player_id='2421393' first='Jacob' last='Lott'] 2024 5'4" Power School Academy Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#23 [player_tooltip player_id='2421553' first='Jake' last='Dickten'] 2027 6'2" Ecs Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#12 [player_tooltip player_id='2419891' first='Jhatavise' last='Jones'] 2028 5'11" Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#0 [player_tooltip player_id='2421420' first='Melvin' last='Yates'] 2027 5'11" Power Center Academy Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#35 [player_tooltip player_id='2419456' first='Sherman' last='Powell Jr'] 2027 5'10" Crosstown Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 [player_tooltip player_id='2419962' first='Tyrone' last='Y. Jones'] 2027 6'0" Kirby Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#15 [player_tooltip player_id='2419973' first='Vindez' last='Nesby'] 2027 5'10" Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#33 [player_tooltip player_id='2431233' first='Keyshun' last='Johnson'] 2027 6'4" Power Center Academy Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#11 [player_tooltip player_id='2419390' first='Kylan' last='Hardeman'] 2027 5'5" Ecs Tennessee&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 [player_tooltip player_id='1578679' first='Brandon' last='Smith'] Jr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->