Hidden Gems You should get eyes on

Angeline Academy of Innovation (AAI) is a new program striving to establish a culture and build with very young pieces. Barnes is one of the brightest prospects on the team. Although AAI hasn't experienced much team success yet, the team plays hard the entire game. Barnes sets the tone by playing hard on both ends of the floor every possession. At 6'2″, Barnes may not be extremely tall, but he competes at the rim, getting his fair share of blocks and deflections. He takes good jump shots and finishes efficiently around the rim. Hopefully, the young players can develop quickly so Barnes's talents can become important building blocks for the program.     Prospero is a gem. Central is a team undergoing a rebuild this season. They lost a considerable amount of talent from previous teams, that made deep playoff runs. Prospero finds himself anchoring the team this year and has been tasked with doing almost everything on the court. He has 17.5 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per, and 2.0 steals per game, as we get to the mid-way point of the season. As a well-rounded stat contributor, he puts his team in a position to be competitive most nights. Prospero has great size and strength. He can play with pace and he employs a physical style of play, around the rim just being an absolute bully. His mid-range game is outstanding and his tenacity and aggressiveness will give him a great shot at being an impactful player at the next level.     Mckenzie is a high-motor Mack truck on the court. Standing at 5'10", he plays like he's 6'5", overpowering opponents with his presence. Mckenzie is averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. His blend of strength and athleticism enables him to dominate the court effortlessly. Coaches at the next level will admire his ability to cut sharply and effectively, initiate contact on both ends of the floor, consistently box out opponents, win all the 50/50 balls, relentlessly pursue the ball, and exhibit impeccable anticipation as a help defender.     Padags can put up points in bunches. He is an excellent floor spacer and outside shooter. He moves well without the ball and puts himself in good catch-and-shoot situations through his hard work off the ball. He is averaging 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and just about 1 steal per game this season. His efforts have led his team to a solid 8-4 record this season.     East Lake boasts a roster full of talent and has consistently been one of the best teams in the area for the past few years. [player_tooltip player_id='2397093' first='Anthony' last='Brown'] is a young rising star with great size and an impressive skill set. He is strong and can get to the basket at will, possessing both post-player and guard skills that pose a significant matchup issue for opposing teams. He can protect the basket but also has the versatility to switch and defend the perimeter effectively.   This season, he is playing alongside one of the best players in the county, Jordan Bryant. Brown still has outstanding numbers in his sophomore campaign: averaging 11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. Look for his stock to rise as he continues to develop.     Freeman is a table-setter point guard with excellent court vision, ensuring his teammates stay involved. He's a skilled passer, effectively using his eyes to look defenders off and making advance, timely, and interior drop-off passes when driving into the lane. While Freeman can score when necessary, his defensive prowess stands out—he's an exceptional on-ball defender, willing to pick up 84 feet and turn the ball handler multiple times. Currently, Freeman is averaging solid numbers: 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2 steals per game.