NEXT Middle School Camp Texas: Dominant Performers

I was blown away by some of the talent in Frisco yesterday. Younger players seem to be getting better faster and that's a great thing to see. Below are a handful of athletes that you'll absolutely want to keep on your radar.    Vander is a strong, solid player that is an absolute force in the paint. From what I saw in multiple games, I imagine he has to be a double-double machine every time he plays. He's versatile and has range that extends beyond the arc, so he can stretch the floor and create wide open lanes for his teammates to capitalize on. He's a great cutter and finisher in the pick and roll and an intelligent passer with the ability to make quick, great decisions. He's stifling on defense with his substantial stature and active hands. His IQ is off the charts for his age and he's always aware of the clock and what the opposition is giving him. He's a beast on the glass on both ends of the floor and regularly gets second and third looks at the rim. Himmons is going to have a ton of attention going forward and it's well warranted.     Brandon is an incredibly talented guard that stood out the moment I first saw him play. He doesn't seem to make any bad decisions on the court, which is rare to see, especially in a player so young. He's a nice finisher at the rim with an unstoppable pump fake to get his opponent up in the air and earn extra opportunities from the free throw line. He runs the fast break extremely well for his squad and he's a crafty passer as well. He's FAST and can blow by opponents on his drives and his vision is elite which allows him to quickly identify and dish to any wide open teammates due to the attention he attracts. He can sink it consistently from the three-point line and he reads passing lanes well and steals the rock consistently. I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot about Gladney Jr. and his play in the coming years.     Cooper is an incredibly quick and talented guard that can make a significant impact for his squad in a myriad of areas. He's extremely active on both ends of the floor and he has quick hands he uses to stack steals and pick off opposing passing lanes. His footwork is wonderfully solid and he often creates on the drive or even in the air. He's an effective rebounder on both sides of the ball and he's always in the mix if the ball is up for grabs. He's a pesky defender and can frustrate his opponent quickly and even get in their head a bit on some occasions. His ballhandling is solid and he's got a crossover that makes opposing ankles groan. He has a quick first step to blow by defenders and a quick release when he's given any amount of space to take advantage of. Beltz has the drive and the hustle to garner plenty of attention in the coming years.     Myron is a crafty, fearless guard that comes across as a gamechanger for any team he plays for. He never takes a play off and he's incredibly quick, often blowing by his defenders with stellar footwork and an impressive crossover. He's active on the offensive and defensive glass and he's not afraid to take the ball coast to coast if the opportunity presents itself. He can get quality looks through contact and finish at the rim to stack up extra points for his squad. His vision is off the charts and he loves to pick off opposing passes and take them the distance. He's talented at attracting attention on the drive and kicking to eager teammates with open looks at the rim. He can sink it consistently from beyond the arc and doesn't hesitate if he gets an open look. Liew is going to turn plenty of heads going forward and I can't wait to see his success.     Gabriel is a skilled, lengthy combo guard that can stack points in a hurry for his team. He's long in stature for his age and uses that to his advantage by easily sinking jumpers over opposing hands and bodies. He's a talented passer that makes heads up plays consistently and he's often the first on the floor if there's a loose ball to go after. He's a solid shooter from beyond the arc and he operates the pick and roll well. He's a dominant presence in the paint that alters and blocks opposing shots regularly, leaving his opponents frustrated and exhausted. He eats on the glass on both ends and consistently gets second opportunities at the rim. If he finds himself with an opportunity to run the break, he doesn't hesitate and shows a nice versatility with his size combined with a solid ballhandling ability. Dorsey has a ton of potential and eyes will be on him going forward.

I was blown away by some of the talent in Frisco yesterday. Younger players seem to be getting better faster and that's a great thing to see. Below are a handful of athletes that you'll absolutely want to keep on your radar.