LV Big Time: Best Big Men

<p>LAS VEGAS — Bishop Gorman was the place to be Thursday afternoon and evening as the annual Las Vegas Big Time Tournament tipped off one day prior to the start of the second live viewing period of July. The event drew a collection of circuit and independent programs from across the country. Below are the best big men we saw through the first two days of action.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2470692' first='Bourgeois' last='Tshilobo'] | 2025 | Team Lillard 17 (CA)</h4>   <p>What I really liked about Tshilobo's game is the fact that he knows exactly who he is and what his role is. The 6-foot-7 center is a physical offensive and defensive presence who rim-runs and finishes, gains second-chance opportunities by being active on the offensive boards and protects the rim with good instincts and the ability to contest while staying vertical. What stood out most about Tshilobo was how hard he played every possession.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Brayden Jones | 2026 | NY Rens</h4>   <p>Jones is an intriguing long-term prospect because of his combination of length, mobility and fast-developing skill. The wiry 6-foot-8 forward is an active rim-runner, switchable defender and has good instincts when stepping over as the help defender on the drive and contesting without fouling. Offensively, Jones can step out on the perimeter and knock down face-up three's or beat his defender off the dribble for a straight-line drive finish.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Cael LaFrentz | 2026 | JSizzles (MN)</h4>   <p>LaFrentz has a familiar name and the bloodlines to match as the son of NBA veteran Raef LaFrentz and when you see his left-handed shooting mechanics it becomes very evident that they are related. Cael is on a path of creating his own basketball legacy as a versatile 6-foot-10 big who has a lot of skill in his game. The rising junior knows how to seal post position and give his guards a target to throw in to and, on the catch, he can turn over his right shoulder and finish with soft-touched jump hook. LaFrentz also flashed some face-up touch out to 15-feet.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Garrett Maars | 2025 | [program_tooltip program_id='2076260' first='FOH' last=''] Seattle EYCL (WA)</h4>   <p>Maars is the definition of a stretch four/five prospect with his soft touch on catch-and-shoot opportunities from three-point range. The 6-foot-8 forward is also adept with his footwork in pick and pop action that flows seamlessly into his fluid shooting mechanics. Maars is most comfortable on the perimeter at this point in his development but did show soft hands and touch when rolling to the rim.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Gelonni "JuJu" Ervin | 2025 | Beauchamp Elite 3SSB (WA)</h4>   <p>Ervin is a mobile five man with fluid athleticism and great hands which lends to his ability to be a catch, gather and finish threat in rim-running situations. The 6-foot-9 forward/center takes advantage of transition offense as his long strides allow him to cover ground quickly and his ability to get off the floor and elevate for dunks before the defense can recover. Ervin is an offensive threat in face-up situations, as well, where he has touch out to 17-feet and can put the ball on the deck to his right hand and score.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Liam Sheard | 2027 | City Rocks 16s (NY)</h4>   <p>Sheard is a 2027 prospect who has all the tools to be a high level big man when all is said and done. The 6-foot-7 forward/center is a pogo-stick type of vertical athlete who gets off the floor quickly when catching and finishing. He also has a stronger-framed body which allows him to absorb and finish through contact when finishing in traffic.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2404087' first='Mason' last='Hodges'] | 2025 | Gamepoint Elite 3SSB (CA)</h4>   <p>Hodges is one of the breakout players of the spring and summer as his production on the 3SSB circuit will give him a big bump in our SoCal 2025 player rankings. The 6-7 lefty stretches the floor to 3 off catch, is a savvy passer out of low & high post and understands intricacies of sealing for post position. He makes up for a lack of explosive vertical athleticism with shot fakes and footwork to keep defenders off-balance and uses his soft touch inside to score around the rim.</p>

LAS VEGAS — Bishop Gorman was the place to be Thursday afternoon and evening as the annual Las Vegas Big Time Tournament tipped off one day prior to the start of the second live viewing period of July. The event drew a collection of circuit and independent programs from across the country. Below are the best big men we saw through the first two days of action.