Jag Classic: Day 1 Players Who Caught My Eye

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Spain Park has assembled a solid field for this year's Jag Classic. Here are a few players who caught my eye on day one…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643643,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Riley-Kent-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Riley-Kent-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643643" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2339496' first='Riley' last='Kent']</strong> (6'1/CG/'26/Spain Park HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: rileybkent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @rileybkent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Riley is a transfer from Hoover, who I had an opportunity to cover when he was playing JV with the Bucs. He has brought his talents over to Spain Park and is already making an early contribution with his ability to balance scoring and facilitating. He is a small guard who needs to add weight and needs work in the weight room to add muscle. He is a highly skilled talent who can score from multiple levels and will need to be a source of consistent offense for the Jags as they move forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643645,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jayden-Peabody-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jayden-Peabody-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643645" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2729521' first='Jayden' last='Peabody']</strong> (5'9/PG/'27/Smith Station) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Imm.jayden3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Imm.Jayden3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jayden is a tough backcourt talent who plays with passion and grit. Despite being small he isn't afraid to take the fight to bigger guys. He attacks the rim off the dribble and off the cut when he does not have the ball in his hands. He is a two-way talent who scores from all levels, and defensively, he is very instinctive as he does a good job playing the passing lanes. He plays with energy, makes hustle plays, and impacts the game across the stat sheet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643647,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jayddence-Ford-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jayddence-Ford-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643647" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2245661' first='Jayddence' last='Ford']</strong> (5'8/PG/'26/Central-Phenix HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jayddenceford_3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @jayddenceford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jayddence is a transfer from Georgia and was the surprise of the day. He is a dynamic lead guard who brings another scoring option to an already high-octane scoring team. He is small but has really good handles, range from behind the arc, vision, passing skills, and a really high PG IQ. Jayddence has pop to his game and is extremely difficult to contain off the bounce. He plays with a lot of confidence and is going to be a force to deal with for Central's opponents.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643648,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jace-Harden-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jace-Harden-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643648" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jace Harden</strong> (6'5/Wing/'26/Homewood HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: JaceHarden_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JaceHarden_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jace is a wing with good positional size and a stroke that put him in the category of one of if not the best three-point shooters in the Jag Classic. The strength of his game was, by far, his outside shooting and ability to stretch and space the floor. He finished with 19pts, and 15pts came from behind the arc. He is definitely one of the best shooters I have seen early this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643649,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-TaHare-Beacham-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-TaHare-Beacham-Jr.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643649" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>TaHare Beacham, Jr.</strong> (6'8/PF/'26/Dothan HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: xcextj_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Tjtoshifty_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">TaHare is an interior presence with size and length. He showed his scoring versatility with his ability to score inside and out. He is a match-up nightmare because of his ability to step out and play and score on the perimeter, as well as post up on the low block and provide scoring on the inside. He was a force on the glass, as his length gave him a distinct advantage. Dothan has one of, if not the best, backcourt tandems in the state, but if they are going to make a run to Birmingham, TaHare's play, particularly on the inside, is going to be key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643650,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-John-Stephenson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-John-Stephenson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643650" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2729484' first='John' last='Stephenson'] </strong>(6'2/SG/'27/Mountain Brook HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: johnstephenson0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">John is a sophomore on a Mountain Brook squad looking to get back to their championship-winning ways. They are looking to find their way back to Birmingham, and John could be a complementary piece in helping them reach that goal. He showed a lot of potential with the minutes that he was able to get during the match-up against JAG. He shot the ball well, showed a good feel for the game when the rock was in his hands, and fit really well into the Spartans' system. He has all the makings of the prototype Mountain Brooks guard who can shoot the trey ball, plays aggressive defense, and gives high-level energy when he is out on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2643653,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Judah-Gilbert-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Judah-Gilbert-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2643653" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Judah Gilbert</strong> (6'0/PG/'25/Stanhope Elmore HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: judahgilbert2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Judah is the only senior in this article. He had an impressive showing for his squad, as they caught a Homewood team that is shooting the ball really well early in the season. Judah was very aggressive off the bounce as he looked to create his own offense and offense for his teammates. He showed a good feel for involving his teammates while orchestrating the offense. He showed that he can score off the bounce at the cup. He functions as a triple-threat player who contributes as a shooter, passer, and driver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->