Prep Hoops Nationals: Day 1 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>This article is sponsored by VKTRY Performance Insoles - The Official Insole Provider of Prep Hoops.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the top performers I saw on night one of Prep Hoops Nationals!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560778"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-669bb78f859d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Every time I see [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 16u play, a different guy seems to step up. Last night in a win over [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley'] it was [player_tooltip player_id='1560778' first='Nolen' last='Anderson'] putting together a strong game. The 6'6 wing knocked down a handful of threes, while slashing to the rim for a couple more finishes. With the game relatively close heading into the second half, Nolen set the done defensively as he came up with a pair of big blocks at the rim to give his team a bit of momentum. Sharpshooting wing prospect with good positional size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560797"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-669bb78f85a31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaxon was the main source of offense for [program_tooltip program_id='2455790' first='Howard' last='Pulley'] on Friday night. He's one of the best shooters in Minnesota's 2026 class, and he made that clear as he knocked down a handful of jumpers, mixing in makes off the catch and dribble. [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] threw a lot of length and athleticism at him, but Jaxon was still calmly getting into space to get off quality looks from three, while also showing some wiggle off the dribble to work his way into the paint to create for himself and his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1400889"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-669bb78f85a73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jacob has been one of the hottest prospects in Tennessee this summer, adding a handful of D1 offers in the past two months. Watching him vs ND Phenom last night, it was easy to see why he has those offers. He's a strong and explosive guard who gets after it on the defensive end. I liked his ability to pressure the ball, and when he got switched on to the ND Phenom bigs he was playing with a scrappiness to prevent them from posting up on him. Offensively he has the shiftiness to get to his spots off the dribble, and was automatic when he got to his mid-range pull-up. Can lull defenders to sleep and then show a burst of explosiveness to blow by his man off the dribble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1189452"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-669bb78f85ab1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ramsey showed his versatility at 6'7 for ND Phenom on opening night. He came out of the gates and knocked down a pair of early 3's, showcasing his ability to stretch the floor for his team. Is comfortable setting a screen and either popping into space or rolling to the rim where he has the coordination to catch and finish on the move. Seems to play a bit bigger than his size as he has broad shoulders, long arms, and some strength to play through/finish through contact inside. Defensively he can move his feet to defend screens on the perimeter and did a nice job of walling up to avoid fouling when contesting around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1521424"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-669bb78f85aec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kayden was lights out defensively down the stretch for [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] in a win over ETG 3SSB. He wasn't giving up any easy looks, and was doing so defending just about every spot on the floor. He was battling with size in the paint, and then going out and sliding his feet against smaller guards on the perimeter. Kayden excels at beating opposing forwards up the floor for easy buckets in transition, and came up big with a few lay-ups late in the game. His guards know he's going to be hustling up the floor, so they're always looking to pass it ahead to him. When Kayden gets two feet in the paint he rarely seems to miss at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1560847"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-669bb78f85b27"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thomas had some moments of dominance on the glass for [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] on Friday night. Even when matched up with a 6'9 forward, Thomas was clearing out space and pulling in every missed shot he could get a fingertip on. Was able to power his way to the rim for a few finishes inside, but was at his best as a passer on the offensive end. He sees the floor so well from the block or out of the high post, and is consistently setting his teammates up with accurate passes into space. Defensively he was an immovable object on the block even when defending taller players.</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":"Torran Carter-Brown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Creighton Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"ETG Midwest 3SSB","_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-669bb78f85bb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Torran was probably the quickest player I saw all night. Even in a game filled with small/quick guards, his speed was on another level. Torran was able to get to just about any spot he wanted to in the half-court, and was effortlessly creating his own shots. Could hesitate and then burst to the rim to finish against size, or could extend the floor as he range extends to well beyond the high school arc. Drained a handful of deep threes against [program_tooltip program_id='2075672' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']. Perhaps more impressive was how he was constantly picking up full-court to apply pressure to opposing guards. Even though his team had just one sub, his motor never seemed to stop running.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->