#TerryTalks: Grassroots Basketball Sneak Peek

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The grassroots basketball season is just around the corner, and here are a few players I am looking forward to seeing…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2624024,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/PHN-Loren-Hall-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/PHN-Loren-Hall-Jr.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2624024" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Loren Hall, Jr.</strong> (5'0/PG/'31/Marietta 6th Grade Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: lorenjunior</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Loren is a talented young guard who has a game beyond his years. Not only is he talented on the court, but how he processes the game mentally separates him from his peers. There are a lot of expectations surrounding Loren, but he has shown that his game is worth the admission. He scores and facilitates, and he is really good at both. He also takes pride on the defensive end of the floor, and he is a player I am looking forward to covering this upcoming grassroots season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715982,"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/PH-Ian-Andrews-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Ian-Andrews-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715982" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ian Andrews</strong> (4'10/SG/'32/Bolton Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ian_too_shifty</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ian is a highly talented player who can handle the rock at a high level. The description of his IG name is very accurate for his game, as he is very shifty off the bounce and can get to whatever spot he desires on the floor. Defenders have a tough time containing Ian in iso situations, as he is a really good iso playmaker. As he grows and gets stronger, some of the attempts he tries now will one day be very easy. He is a backcourt talent who will make noise this upcoming grassroots season.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715983,"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/PH-Kai-Thompson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Kai-Thompson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715983" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Kai Thompson</strong> (6'1/Wing/'30/Kaneland Harter MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Kai_Thompson_33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kai has good positional size for his grade, and his game is evolving. Offensively, he is developing and expanding his ability to put the ball on the floor and create. His length has been a contributing factor to his production, particularly on the boards and when defending. I like that he is expanding his game and growing his ability to be a more versatile talent.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715984,"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/PH-Jahzir-Mitchell-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Jahzir-Mitchell-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715984" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jah'zir Mitchell</strong> (5'2/PG/'31/Hawthorne MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: the_real_doonk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jah'zir is a young guard who excels at getting to the cup. He lives in the paint and is good at scoring and dropping dimes. Despite being small, he has good vision and passing skills. He is a lead guard who can be really frustrating to defend, as he does a good job getting to wherever he wants on the floor. He has a high level competitive spirit and competes on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715985,"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/PH-Brendan-Jacob-Brown-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Brendan-Jacob-Brown-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715985" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Brendan Jacob Brown</strong> (5'1/PG/'30/Independence Academy) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: The_real_brendanjb</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Brandan is a young, talented ball-handler who can get by defenders with his crafty handles. Offensively, he is at his best when creating off the bounce, as he can create for himself and for others. However, what I loved about him wasn't his offensive game but his lockdown defense. He is one of the toughest on-ball defenders I have seen in his age group. I am looking forward to the grassroots season just to see him play defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715986,"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/PH-Earnest-Hill-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Earnest-Hill-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715986" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2884204' first='Earnest' last='Hill']</strong> (5'5/PG/'29/P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Flashyplays2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Flashyplays2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Earnest is a small lead guard but has the ability to be an impact player every time the ball is in his hands. He has a crafty handle, can score at all levels, is good at getting his teammates involved, and has a budding PG IQ. His game is most efficient when he is attacking off the bounce and looking for his offense or spraying or dropping dimes to teammates for easy looks. This will be an important grassroots season for Earnest as he eyes life at the high school level.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2715988,"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/PH-Charles-Minton-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Charles-Minton-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2715988" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Charles Minton</strong> (5'6/SG/'30/Oasis MS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: @charliedaballer21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Charles has a really strong dribble drive game and is difficult to contain one-on-one. He is a downhill attacking guard who puts pressure on the rim. His decision-making while on the drive is impressive, especially in the 7th grade. Charles has an impressive handle, allowing him to create his offense off the bounce. I will be looking to see his maturation as a playmaker once March rolls around.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->