Freshman Showcase Superlatives

Steve Quattrocchi August 23, 2024 @ 10:19 AM

Over 80 freshmen made the trip to Louisville on Saturday to compete with many of the best players from across the state in this 2028 class. There were several names that have been known for a while coming into the event but plenty more who made names for themselves at camp on Saturday afternoon. Here are some superlatives I'm handing out for camp participants.   Best Shooter: [player_tooltip player_id='2360951' first='Conner' last='Morguson'], GRC - Conner showcased his ability to make shots at a high clip all day long on Saturday. And not just open threes. He made shots off the bounce and made very tough shots over defenders.   Walking Bucket: [player_tooltip player_id='2429606' first='Josh' last='Lindsay'], St. X - Josh is known for his explosive athleticism but he showcased his scoring ability on Saturday. Lindsay is able to elevate and hit jumpers or get into the paint and score with crafty finishes. He reminds me so much of former UHA star KyKy Tandy at the same age.   Most Impressive New Name: [player_tooltip player_id='2529551' first='Aaron' last='Adams'], McCracken County - Coach Roberts at McCracken is high on Aaron and for good reason. Long and athletic with the ability to score inside and out, Adams surprised me with his long term potential.   Best Teammate: [player_tooltip player_id='2451384' first='Prestyn' last='Wheatley'], Seneca - Yes he did his fair share of scoring on Saturday but Wheatley also came off as the kind of player that other kids want to play with. He's quick to run to a teammate that has been knocked down and he sometimes passed a little too much. Definitely a player that other kids want on their team.   110% Award: [player_tooltip player_id='2530802' first='Noah' last='Beasley'], Anderson County - Beasley checked about every box possible for his team to get wins on Saturday. He rebounded. He scored. He defended. He made smart plays. And he may have been one of the only players willing to dive on the floor for a loose ball. Whatever his team needed to win, Noah was willing to do.   Most Likely to Succeed: [player_tooltip player_id='2439209' first='Jordan' last='Mitchell'], Male - This is a tough one as there are several kids who project to be really good for the next 4 years and into college. I'm taking Jordan due to his overall skill level and his willingness to facilitate for his team. Playing at Male, Mitchell will get to play at a high level for the next four years and is a growth spurt away from being a top 100 kid nationally in 2028.   Most Athletic: [player_tooltip player_id='2429605' first='Jordan' last='Jackson'], Holy Cross - Jordan is ultra athletic with the wingspan of a Condor. He consistently challenged shots way above the rim and dunked everything with two hands, all day long. Long term, he could be a major player with his length and vertical. And he's likely not done growing.   Most Potential Award: [player_tooltip player_id='2520123' first='Boogie' last='Cook'], CAL - Boogie reminds me of Mickey Pearson at the same age. Long and athletic but very thin and still getting more fluid athletically. Buy stock now because he could be a big time player in 3 years.   Biggest Sleeper: [player_tooltip player_id='2530905' first='AJ' last='Slaughter'], Tates Creek - AJ looks like a future D1 level point guard. He's got great feel and a high IQ. AJ needs to bulk up as he ages and get better at finishing through contact but he's very impressive at an early age and could be the best young player in Lexington this season as Tates will need him to do a lot as a Freshman, I'm sure.

Over 80 freshmen made the trip to Louisville on Saturday to compete with many of the best players from across the state in this 2028 class. There were several names that have been known for a while coming into the event but plenty more who made names for themselves at camp on Saturday afternoon. Here are some superlatives I'm handing out for camp participants.