#EliteCampsUSA Middle School Division Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The PSD National Combine saw kids from across the country converge in Tavares, Florida, to showcase their talents. Here are a few players who stood out in the middle school division...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2537918,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Eric-Blount-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Eric-Blount-Jr.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2537918" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Eric Blount, Jr.</strong> (4'11/PG/2030/Ridgeway MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ericblountjr</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Eric was one of the most skilled PGs in the entire camp, regardless of division. He has the ball on a string and already has a good understanding and feel for the game. His PG IQ is still developing as he learns the balance between getting his and orchestrating the offense. As you see in the 4'11 height, he wasn't the biggest on the floor, but he has a good change of speed and gets into the paint at will. His shiftiness with the rock keeps his defender off balance, allowing him to get by his man and score in the lane, drop it off, or spray it to the open teammates. He is young but sees the game well and makes good reads. Over the next few years, the question will be how much he will grow, and that remains to be seen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2537919,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-LUIGI-SAVIANI-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-LUIGI-SAVIANI-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2537919" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LUIGI SAVIANI</strong> (5'6/CG/2030/BCAT SCHOOL) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: luigisaviani10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Luigi is a young backcourt prospect who showed he can play on and off the ball. He did a good job creating off-the-bounce. He was able to create opportunities not only for himself but for his teammates as well. He is a downhill attacking guard who will hit defenders with a quick combo move and take advantage of the second that defenders are trying to figure out what's coming next. By the time they have adjusted, Luigi is getting into the heart of the defense making heady plays with the rock. He is not the quickest, which is an area of his game that he can work on as his journey continues.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2537920,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Michael-Sams-III.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Michael-Sams-III.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2537920" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194978' first='Michael' last='Sams'], III.</strong> (5'8/PG/2029/Vanguard HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: TriggaTrae_0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @TriggaTrae_0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have covered Michael several times over the years, and he continues to add to his game every time I see him. What really stood out this time was his quickness and burst off the dribble. Not many in the camp were able to contain him in their 1-on-1 match-ups, as he was just too quick off the bounce. His calling card this weekend was his playmaking abilities off the bounce. He is good at setting the table and distributing the rock, keeping everyone on the floor happy. He is becoming a lead guard who is tough to deal with and who can attack going either direction, utilizing quick changes of direction and crafty changes of pace. I did not see much when it came to perimeter scoring as he stayed putting pressure on the defense off the bounce.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2537922,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Peyton-Craig-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Peyton-Craig-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2537922" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Peyton Craig</strong> (5'1/SG/2032/Wards Creek Elementary) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Peyton.hoopz.2k32</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I did not get a chance to watch the 2031 and 2032 guys much, but when I did, Peyton impressed me with his developing skill set and ability to score at multiple levels. He showed that he is developing his fundamentals and learning to play the game the right way. He is one of the younger guys to keep an eye on as he develops over the next few years and see what type of player he can emerge as.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2537923,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Josiah-Taylor-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Josiah-Taylor-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2537923" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Josiah Taylor</strong> (5'0/PG/2032/FLVS [Virtual School]) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: hoopsession32</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Josiah is a young up and coming talent who has a budding floor game which he had on display the entire weekend. Other members of the media kept coming up to me asking me if I had seen #506, and I had to tell them that he had already played himself into my notes. There is no reason to not believe that he will continue to grow his game, as he seems to play with such excitement and passion. He is a young wizard with the rock and has a budding scoring prowess to his game. At this age, you begin to look for the areas that are still under construction, and there are some in Josiah's game, as well as the skills that are helping him to separate himself from his peers. It is not hard to see what helps set him apart as he already has a shot, passing skills, and handles that will travel with him as he continues to mature on his journey, and these are areas that give him an advantage. The question hanging over JT's head is how much growth will take place in his life over the next few years height-wise.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2537924,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Justin-Armstrong-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/PHN-Justin-Armstrong-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2537924" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Justin Armstrong</strong> (5'2/SG/2031/Community School Naples) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Justjtwo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Justin is an exciting young talent to watch. He is listed as a shooting guard but spent a lot of time initiating the offense. Coming out of camp, I can see him more as a score-first PG. He was really tough to deal with off the bounce, as he had the bag wide open. His middle game was one of the best I saw in either division. He uses his dribble really well in order to get to his spots, where he does a good job producing. He has scoring instincts and is really good when he has the rock in his hands and the freedom to make things happen. As good as he was putting up points, he was just as good at finding shooters after collapsing the defense, showing some of his lead guard abilities. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Justin over the next few years to see his development.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->