Grassroots Halfway Wrap-Up - More Spring Stockrisers

With grassroots season taking a pause for high school team camps, summer vacations, and myriad other activities, it's time to take a short pause to catch our breaths. It also gives us at PrepHoops some time to recap on who's made a jump, new faces to know, and other happenings in the scene.   This article is dedicated to just a few more names who had some noteworthy happenings during the spring and have positioned themselves to be impact contributors in the second half of the summer or in the high school scene in the fall.    The guy they call "D1" has been putting in those kinds of performances as of late, killing it on the Big Shots circuit and continuing to show why he's a college player with his intense defense and burst/athleticism. He continues to post big numbers on the grassroots circuits, always looking to attack and beat closeouts, getting downhill to a nice finish or a pull-up jumper. What really separates him though is that defensive intensity, always looking to jump passing lanes and force turnovers. He's been MVP of multiple Big Shots events so far, and really looking to be a star AAU player. Should be a college target sooner than later.     Haynes is someone who's really come on strong as a high energy forward this spring with E.A Prep Stars, showing an improved versatility in his game on the offensive end especially. He continues to play with the high energy he always brings defensively and on the glass, which has been his calling card. However offensively he's been able to step out and shoot a three a bit this spring, make plays that don't just consist of finishing a simple layup and overall advancing his game on that side of the ball. With his natural frame and skill level already, he's a definite college prospect for a team needing a big frontcourt body.     This kid is one of the most improved in the entire state over the last 12 months, transforming from a JV kind of kid to a legitimate scorer/shooter at the high school and on the grassroots circuit. He shoots the cover off the ball and is always hunting the right shot, sometimes being so unselfish because he wants a better one. Gotten a lot better as a decision maker and being able to handle the ball, rather than just being a run off screens kind of guy. He's torched the nets for PSB this cycle and will be a major jumper in our rankings next update.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/nolanericson08/status/1773885286495244550 </div></figure>     Railey's been very good so far for NLPB and their high level 17U group this spring, showcasing himself as a downhill attacker with the ability to put a ton of pressure on the rim. He's got great change of pace and burst that allows him to catch defenders unaware and quickly beat them, putting the defense at a disadvantage. Even can get up for a big time dunk when he's got room to lift off. Good jump shooter as well that can either hit a pull-up or catch and shoot jumper. He plays hard, isn't afraid to guard on the other end, and just like all the NLPB guys, makes the unselfish and winning plays that are expected of them.     Walker is a long, athletic body that continues to improve his skill level and has strung together some good performances for [program_tooltip program_id='2225832' first='Team' last='Curry'] East this spring cycle. Very solid slasher that attacks the rim as a cutter and finisher with the ball in his hands, and can play above the rim with his long frame. Intriguing upside as a switchable and mobile defender because of his length and athleticism laterally, but still needs to do a little work to guard bigger bodies in the post. He's a guy that is still polishing, but has a lot of upside and should be a college level guy sooner than later.

With grassroots season taking a pause for high school team camps, summer vacations, and myriad other activities, it's time to take a short pause to catch our breaths. It also gives us at PrepHoops some time to recap on who's made a jump, new faces to know, and other happenings in the scene.