#SpartanInvitational Freshman With The Keys To The Future

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The 9th-grade division at the #SpartanInvitational was loaded with talented players who will be the future of their programs, and here are a few who stood out to me…&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2762006,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Nathan-Elijah-Earl-C-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Nathan-Elijah-Earl-C-1.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2762006" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Nash Davis</strong> (6'5/SF/'28/Spain Park) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: davis.nash.5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Nash5Davis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The excitement surrounding Nash from the Jags coaching staff is very much warranted. He is a talented multi-sport athlete who seems to just be good at whatever he puts his hands to. He is a versatile weapon who scores it at a high level at all levels. I was really impressed with his floor game, three-point shooting, scoring arsenal off the bounce, IQ, and high-level playmaking skills. He was the most promising freshman with the biggest ceiling of all players I saw in the 9th-grade division. He already has a stronger body than most of his peers, allowing him to play a physical brand of basketball at the 9th-grade level. There is no way that he will not be on varsity next year, fighting for a starting spot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2762007,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Griffin-Brown-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Griffin-Brown-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2762007" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Griffin Brown</strong> (5'11/PG/'28/Mountain Brook) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: griffinbrown01</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Griffin is a score-first PG who is going to really help the Mountain Brook varsity next year. He is a scoring threat whenever the ball is in his hands. The bottom line to his game is this: Griffin can flat-out shoot the rock. He is a trustworthy lead guard who makes correct reads and plays within the flow of the Spartans system, and even though he can get a bucket at will, he doesn't force his will. He is instinctive on both ends of the floor. He may not be fighting for a starting spot on varsity next year, but he will be in the rotation.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2762008,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-David-Tulloss-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-David-Tulloss-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2762008" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>David Tulloss</strong> (6'0/CG/'28/Spain Park) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: david_tulloss12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The 9th-grade division had a better group of shooters than the JV division had, and one of those shooters was David. He is lethal from behind the arc and has to be accounted for whenever he is on the floor. Even though he's not the primary ball handler from the game that I saw, his passing vision and skills translate to scoring opportunities for his teammates. His ability to be a secondary ball-handler allows him to move between playing on and off the ball, but with his shooting prowess, it is best that he is off the ball, locked and loaded around the perimeter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2762009,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Joshua-Isaiah-Brooks-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/PH-Joshua-Isaiah-Brooks-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2762009" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Joshua Isaiah Brooks </strong>(6'5/PF|C/'28/Hoover) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: too.txff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JBrooks2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Joshua was hands down the best rebounder in the 9th-grade division. His offensive game is still raw, but his ability to be a bully around the rim using his size allows him to be a dominant factor on the inside. He brought the crowd to their feet in the championship game when he hammered it home in the open floor, which I know I was not expecting him to do. Defensively, he is a rim deterrent who really made it tough for potential scorers attacking off the bounce. He needs a good off-season of working on his offensive tools, which will determine a lot heading into next year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748514' first='Dexter' last='Jones'] </strong>(6'0/G|F/'28/Hoover) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: dexter.joness</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Dexter is a wing who shot it well from behind the arc. If I was doing a sniper school article, he would have definitely qualified for it with his performance in the semifinals. He has an aggressive mindset on the offensive end of the floor as he looks for his opportunities. He is not afraid to let it fly, and when he does, he shoots with a lot of confidence. He was a pleasant surprise who played with a competitive edge.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748374' first='DJ' last='Oliver']</strong> (G/'28/Homewood) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">DJ is a backcourt talent who balanced facilitating and scoring. He is a multi-level scorer who showed a nice stroke from behind the arc as well as a nice floater game off the bounce. He showed an aggressive mindset as he looked to get downhill and put pressure on the rim. Whether in the half-court or the open floor he proved to be a really good finisher off the bounce.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->