ZGXL "The Launch": Unsung heroes

Zero Gravity's "The Launch" event brought a selection of teams from the Zero Gravity XL circuit to Atlantic City along with some additional flavor sprinkled in, headlined by BABC of the 3SSB circuit, which swept the championships of all three age groups. After taking in a day's worth of action on championship Sunday, the following prospects impressed with their ability to star within their respective roles.    Steering the ship for one of the top contenders on the ZGXL, Bethea takes a back seat to high-scoring [player_tooltip player_id='2950595' first='Trey' last='Keating'] in the backcourt but showed himself to be an intriguing prospect in his own right nonetheless. Bethea stands out with nice positional size and coinciding versatility in the backcourt, toggling smoothly across either guard spot. He intrigues the most as a lead guard, showcasing a smooth handle while knifing past defenders and into the lane where he showed consistent unselfishness in his reads. We would like to see him be more aggressive looking to score himself when the situation calls for it. Flying under the radar, Bethea tracks as a potential hidden gem for the small-college year, but his physical tools leave the possibility of a post-grad year opening up a path to a scholarship with further development as a lead guard against consistent competition.     Mukendi may not have led in any single statistical column as BABC coasted to a championship game victory in the 15U division, but the versatile swingman was certainly busy stuffing the stat sheet with versatile contributions across the board. A bulky wing with legitimate guard skills in the build of a forward, he was at his best with the ball in his hands, using a blend of strength and skill to navigate downhill in the halfcourt and transition alike. He chipped in consistently on the defensive glass, showing himself as a consistent threat to initiate the break from there. His quick feet and physicality should offer a nice degree of versatility defensively as well. Heading to Darrow this fall and reclassing into 2028, Mukendi should make noise in the NEPSAC and attract D1 interest before long.     One of a few new pieces joining an established core of BABC 2027's, Baker looks to be fitting right in if his play in Sunday's championship game was any indication. A smooth wing with good size and fluid athleticism, he was effective and efficient in transition and the halfcourt, operating as both a scorer and connector. He spaces the floor with a smooth high-release jumper out to the arc, subsequently drawing closeouts which he attacks with his head up scanning for the next pass. Baker provides a live body defensively on the wing with the potential to make more of an impact on that end as he adds strength to a lithe frame. His plug-and-play skillset on the wing should draw interest up to the D1 level in the years to come.     He was quiet in the scoring column for much of BABC's dominant run to the 16U championship, but Seltzer was vital nonetheless with his versatile frontcourt contributions while showing continued signs of progress in his development. A quintessential modern big, he contributes both inside and out on either end of the floor. Seltzer is able to space the floor offensively as a consistent shooting threat out to the arc while also scoring inside with soft hands and increasing pop as a finisher. Defensively, he's an intimidating rim protector (especially as he continues filling out his frame) with the foot speed to hold his own stepping out onto the perimeter. His versatility and willingness to do the grunt work opens up a ton of lineup possibilities for his teams with the tools to draw interest up to the high-major level as he continues to develop.     He may not pass the eye test as the smallest player on the floor, but McCullough's impact was undeniable as Team Northeast nearly pulled an upset over BABC in the 16U semifinals. A dynamic lead guard, he uses his blinding speed and inherent court sense to impact both ends of the floor. He excels getting north-south off the dribble with his head always up looking to advance the ball to an open teammate. McCullough is a pest on the other end using his quickness to speed up opposing guards with his ball pressure. Still just 16 years old and now entering the 2027 class, the Rochester native looks to be a true winner with the chance to man the ropes of a college program down the line.

Zero Gravity's "The Launch" event brought a selection of teams from the Zero Gravity XL circuit to Atlantic City along with some additional flavor sprinkled in, headlined by BABC of the 3SSB circuit, which swept the championships of all three age groups. After taking in a day's worth of action on championship Sunday, the following prospects impressed with their ability to star within their respective roles.