Bluff City Blues: High-Flying Athletes
May’s first weekend welcomed teams from around the southeastern United States. Enjoy these great leapers from Saturday. Gary Johnson Jr. (Illinois Orange 16u) An early-game baseline OB play was directed right toward Gary Johnson Jr. With pogo-sticks for legs, Johnson…
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Continue ReadingMay’s first weekend welcomed teams from around the southeastern United States. Enjoy these great leapers from Saturday.
Gary Johnson Jr. (Illinois Orange 16u)
An early-game baseline OB play was directed right toward Gary Johnson Jr. With pogo-sticks for legs, Johnson Jr. elevated above the pile of humans, and caught a lob for a two-handed jam.
In the second half, Johnson Jr. caught another one. The springy forward finished off those two alley-oops with a flourish, but perhaps his most amazing finish came on a dead ball. In the open floor he drew a foul near the elbow and took his big stride anyway and pummeled the ball through the cylinder on the head of a big. No basket. No matter. Johnson Jr. was extracting ooh’s and aah’s from a team of peers warming up baseline.
Johnson Jr. essentially played the “4” with Illinois Orange, but he projects as a 2/3 in college. Explosive. Confident. Strong. Good bounce and excellent mid-air agility.
Hank Woodall Hank Woodall 6'4" | SF Lexington Catholic | 2026 State KY (Kentucky Future 16u)
To open his morning, Hank filled the basket with 30 points and hauled down 14 rebounds. Woodall was one of four players to score in double-figures in KY Future’s win over the Panthers. Woodall can play above or below the rim and demonstrated a balanced scoring approach.
Matthew Tae’Shawn Shelton (Golden Franchize 16u)
Bouncy forward. Shelton finished a beautifully lofted alley-oop in a narrow loss Saturday afternoon.
Keyshun Johnson (NDO Bulldogs 15u)
A young forward, Keyshun exploded into action in the smaller gym at P7. His impact on the glass was large.
Melvin Yates (NDO Bulldogs 15u)
Wonderful power guard. Yates played above the rim as a rising freshman. Strong in the air. Yates will be one of the top sophomore guards in the entire 601 area code.