N2 Hoops Invitational: Day 1 Players Who Caught My Eye

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The N2 Hoops Invitational is loaded with talent, and here are some players who caught my eye on day one…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672824,"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-Zakary-Cain-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Zakary-Cain-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672824" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Zakary Cain</strong> (6'3/PG/'25/East Limestone) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Zakary Cain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @ZakaryCain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">This was my first time putting eyes on Zak, and I was thoroughly impressed with his physical profile, skillset, and IQ. He is a lead guard with positional size, and even though he is running the show, he showed his ability to score the rock. He plays at a nice pace and has a mature floor game. He is athletic, and it is seen by how he impacts both ends of the floor. He attacks inside and out and is highly skilled at getting his shot off in tight spaces. Even though he is his squad's primary scoring option, he does a good job getting others involved. Look for more to be written on Zak in the days ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672825,"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-Caleb-Martin-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Caleb-Martin-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672825" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Caleb Martin</strong> (5'9/PG/'26/Lee-Huntsville) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: notc5leb</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Caleb is a wiry lead guard who was constantly putting pressure on the rim. There wasn't a lot of flashiness to his game off the bounce as he was getting downhill and looking to finish. He is not the biggest, but when he did get in traffic and amongst the trees, I saw the craftiness in his scoring ability. He has really good court vision, which helps him on both ends of the floor. He does a good job on the defensive end of the floor playing passing lanes, as he got several steals with his quick reaction time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672826,"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-Jamarrion-Reeder-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Jamarrion-Reeder-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672826" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398772' first='Jamarrion' last='Reeder']</strong> (6'1/CG/'25/Florence) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: _.deuce2_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @ReederJamarrion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jamarrion is a backcourt talent with experience, as seen in his play, leadership, and poise while on the floor. He is a steady presence on the floor who can be a secondary facilitator, trustworthy ball-handler, and score when needed and when opportunities present themselves. Florence has many scoring options with the transfers who came in this year, and Jamarrion does a good job keeping everyone happy while not losing himself in the big picture. You can look at Jamarrion as the glue of the talented Florence team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672827,"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-Landyn-Williams-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Landyn-Williams-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672827" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748359' first='Landyn' last='Williams']</strong> (5'10/PG/'28/Austin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: landynw2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @landynw2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Landyn was one of the youngest floor generals I saw the entire day, and his play put him in the category of being one of the best floor generals in the entire tourney. He plays like a coach on the floor and really excels at running the offense and making sure his playmakers get the ball. He doesn't over-dribble and keeps the ball moving, helping his team to be efficient and fluid on the offensive end of the floor. He is definitely a reliable and trustworthy floor general with a lot of potential surrounding his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672828,"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-Ronald-Towns-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Ronald-Towns-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672828" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ronald Towns</strong> (6'0/PG/'26/Southwind [TN]) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: iam__lilron</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @rontowns2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ronald is a steady presence at the lead guard spot who did a good job balancing scoring and facilitating. He shot the ball extremely well from downtown, as he would have qualified for my sniper school article by making at least three treys in a game. As well as he shot the ball, he was just as good at distributing the rock and keeping the offense executing on schedule. His poise and headiness at the lead guard spot were the reason Southwind got a day-one win in overtime.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672829,"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-Trindon-Manior-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Trindon-Manior-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672829" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Trindon Manior</strong> (6'0/'26/CG/Auburn) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Smbtrin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Trindon is a small but fearless guard who left his impact on the overtime thriller between his squad and Southwind. He has a quick first step and was living in the paint as defenders had a difficult time containing him out on the perimeter. His calling card was his ability to break down the defense and create open scoring opportunities for his teammates. Auburn recently got their football guys, so they are working on chemistry, but Trindon's creative play is helping with the early season adjustments that are having to be made.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672830,"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-Seito-Yokota-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Seito-Yokota-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2672830" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1958826' first='Seito' last='Yokota']</strong> (6'0/SG/'26/James Clemens) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: seito_yokota</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Seito came out early and introduced himself to all in attendance as one of if not the best three-point shooters in the tourney. His impact came in that one area, and he showed why teams have to account for him every moment he is on the floor. If I was doing a sniper school article from day one of this tourney, Seito would be the face of the article as he made a statement with his outside shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->