#BOTBFL 8th Graders With Eyes On The High School Level

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The 8th-grade division had some talented players on display, and as I often do, I think about their projection and what they will be taking to the next level, and here are a few I decided to write about…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>As I often say with players in this age group, regardless of what I place in the write-up, it is just a snapshot, and all players listed need to continue to work on their overall game in all facets on both ends of the floor.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2742069,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Josiah-Mims-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Josiah-Mims-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2742069" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Josiah Mims</strong>&nbsp; (5'7/CG/'29/William Dandy MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: dagratest._jm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Josiah is a small guard listed as a combo guard, but with his size as he gets ready to make the jump to the high school level, focusing on his point guard skills and IQ will help him make the jump and get minutes. Currently, he is at his best, attacking the rim off the bounce. He is a tough physical guard who was in attack mode from the jump in 3v3 play. He is&nbsp;a lefty who lived in the paint and was very difficult to contain as he constantly broke down defenses with his aggressive approach with the ball in his hands. He cannot control how much he grows in the coming months, but he can control his development, especially as a floor general. Word around the gym is that he is a highly talented football prospect. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2742074,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHNChristian-Billingsley-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHNChristian-Billingsley-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2742074" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Christian Billingsley</strong> (5'7/SF/'29/Belleview MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Chris_2_tuff7766</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Christian Billingsley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Christian is listed as a 5'7 small forward, and as he eyes life at the next level, his game will have to continue to evolve to the perimeter. He made an impact at camp with his play on the interior and his activity on the glass. He scored it well off of put-backs as well as just in the paint and around the rim in the flow of the offense. He is a hard worker who battles in the paint on both ends of the floor. With his size and not knowing when he will see another growth spurt, he will need to focus on his backcourt skill-set as high school approaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2742076,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Frizzy-Catilus-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Frizzy-Catilus-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2742076" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Frizzy Catilus</strong> (5'9/PG/'29/Mater Brickell Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: outworkwho_frizzy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Frizzy is a lead guard who impacts both ends of the floor with his two-way capabilities. His skill-set at the PG spot was at a higher level than most of his peers, as it showed with his ability to control the flow and pace of the games when the ball was in his hands. He sees the floor well, has a nice passing skill-set, and is really good at changing speeds when operating off the bounce. Defensively, he applies heavy on-ball pressure and was actively disrupting what ball-handlers were looking to do offensively. His development is one to keep an eye on over the next couple of years.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2742081,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Daniel-Harel-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Daniel-Harel-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2742081" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Daniel Harel</strong> (5'10/PF/'29/The Jewish Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: iamdanielharel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Daniel made a living with his play on the inside throughout the day. He scored it as well as anyone on the inside. He does a really good job at playing through contact and off two feet, which helps with his body control. He did not show much outside of the paint but will have to expand his game to the perimeter as he eyes life at the next level. Defensively, he showed versatility as he was able to defend the block, and he showed the quickness to adequately defend in space.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2742085,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-John-Jean-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-John-Jean-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2742085" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>John Jean</strong> (5'9/SF/'29/Bengamla Charter School Plantion) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Jbehooping</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">John caught my eye in the latter part of the day with his shooting from behind the arc. He has a nice stroke with range and made some huge shots for his team at times. One thing for sure that I know he will take to the next level is his perimeter shooting. I did not see him put the ball on the floor and create so I cannot speak in depth on his ability to do so, but he will need to make sure that is part of his offensive repertoire, especially with his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2742090,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Madden-Boggus-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PHN-Madden-Boggus-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2742090" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2635625' first='Madden' last='Boggus']</strong> (6'1/PG/'29/St. Gregory Catholic) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: madden.boggus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @madden_boggus&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Madden caught my eyes early in the 3v3 with his ability to put pressure on the rim. He is a slasher with length and was tough to contend with off the bounce. He was at his best, knifing his way through the defense and getting paint touches. He made good decisions with the rock when he got into the heart of the defense, as he, at times, got the ball to open teammates while, at other times, he finished strong in traffic. He showed what he could do by being dominant with the rock in his hands, but he also has off-ball tools to be a complementary offensive piece. With his current size and ability he is an intriguing prospect to watch as he prepares for life at the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Omer Guney</strong> (5'7/SG/'29/Christa McAuliffe MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Omerguney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Omer_Guney2011&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Omer showed his ability to knock down the trey ball and was one of few who consistently made it. To be brutally honest, not many kids shot the three well despite most of everyone jacking it up from behind the arc. Omer still has a lot of work to do, particularly with his ball-handling as well as his agility and speed, but he did show he can knock down the trey ball, which is something he will be able to take to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->