E.P.I.C. Hoops Summer Slam: Top Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new month means a change in focus back to the Grassroots scene for the rest of the Summer. My first stop in July was the 2024 E.P.I.C. Hoops Summer Slam, which took place at a few locations across Columbia, South Carolina. On Saturday I got to check in with some of our State's top teams from three different age groups and my standout bigs come from the 17U and 16U Divisions. Check out the five of them below:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2484197,"width":"426px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/4zm8gcRB_400x400.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/4zm8gcRB_400x400.png?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2484197" style="width:426px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2485483,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Blake Wilson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"River Bluff","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c63c5472fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blake Wilson leads off my list of standout big men after a strong performance on Saturday Morning with [program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia'] 2025. He does a lot of things well that are related to his high work rate, but his vocal leadership is the most impressive to me. He is the anchor of the Stars' defense due to this, but is also a great teammate in general. Other notable attributes of Wilson's game are his activity on the glass, running on the floor, and ability to wall up and keep opposing bigs out of the paint. He finished with 6 Points, 9 Rebounds, and 2 Blocks in a win over Noble Knights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2412585"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2485484,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c63c547386"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">CJ was a dominant rim protector in both Upward Stars Gold's matchups on Saturday, but he was particularly effective on the offensive end in their first game. Terrell ran the floor well, worked to score with his faceup jump shot or with his back to the basket, was a pest on the offensive glass, and even showed an ability to pass out of the post. He has very good feet to help him work around the basket and his length helps him finish over defenders or reject shots on the other end. CJ went for 19 Points and 7 Rebounds in Game 1 and 10 Blocks between the two games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1543497"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2485486,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c63c5473de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Webb was running with [program_tooltip program_id='2413030' first='Middleton' last='Hoops Elite'] in Columbia and had lots of success as a rim runner and shot blocker but he also showed some flashes with his handle and shot-making as the day went on. Javan has good size and is a terrific athlete which he displayed with a couple of impressive finishes above the rim. His versatility on the offensive end is a weapon for MHE, allowing them to play with him as a 4 or a 5 with effectiveness, although I see him best translating as a 4 at the next level. Webb went for 12 Points and 5 Rebounds in Game 1 and 15 Points and 10 Rebounds in Game 2 as his team went 2-0 on Saturday in the E.P.I.C. Hoops Summer Slam. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2448914,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2632934' first='AJ' last='Veal']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c63c547469"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">AJ is one of two [program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia'] 2027 Bigs who stood out to me from their matchup with [program_tooltip program_id='2245581' first='Carolina' last='[program_tooltip program_id='2076878' first='Rebels' last='']']. Veal has an imposing frame that allows him to be effective on both ends of the floor. He had success protecting the rim, finishing through contact, collecting rebounds, and even showing some intriguing athleticism. He went for 11 Points, 9 Rebounds, and 1 Block in a Saturday morning win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Braylen Hayes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Blythewood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668c63c5474f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hayes was impressive off the bench with [program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia'] 2027, having success alongside Veal or as the only big. He was very active on the boards hauling in 8 Rebounds, and showed off a good jump shot and strong interior scoring with 12 Points. Although he is only 6'2", Braylen's length would suggest he is due for a growth spurt soon. That length is already an attribute for him on the court, allowing him to score over his matchup and affect shots on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->