Live Period Preview: Pro 16/NXT

With the first NCAA Live period coming up this weekend, players will have their first chance to play in front of division one college coaches, as well as coaches that aren't local to their area who will be traveling to major tournament sites.   With that being said, we're going to spend the week previewing some of the VA and DMV prospects at these events that we believe college coaches should take the time to evaluate, and could see their stock rise.   Here's a look at some of the prospects who will be playing in the PUMA Pro 16/NXT Live in Wichita, KS this weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='1370507' first='Shane' last='Pendergrass'] | 6'8” PF | [program_tooltip program_id='2450576' first='Team' last='Museum'] 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImagemEMM56.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImagemEMM56.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2756673" /></a></figure>   Pendergrass has come onto national radars over the past few years, and coming off a junior season at Hargrave where he was First Team All Prep League and Third Team All American in the national prep rankings, he's ready to see his stock climb even more on the PUMA Pro 16 Circuit. The intrigue is easy to see as the 6'8” forward is a walking mismatch who can score it from all three levels, he can put it on the deck and make tough shots over defenders, he is a good athlete who runs the floor and plays above the rim and he's become a much better rebounder too.   Quincy Wadley | 6'5” WG | [program_tooltip program_id='2450576' first='Team' last='Museum'] 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Wadley-Quincy-crop-3226x2118-1698079813.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Wadley-Quincy-crop-3226x2118-1698079813.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2251096" /></a></figure>   “Fatz” is widely considered a top 25 or higher prospect in the country, and while he's dealt with injuries he's back healthy this summer and has already put on a show in [program_tooltip program_id='2450576' first='Team' last='Museum']'s early Pro 16 stops and local events. The 6'5” native of the DMV who transferred to Arizona Compass last year has been lights out so far this summer, showing his deep scoring bag and ability to make shots on and off the ball. With his size he knows how to get to spots and create space to shoot over defenders in the midrange, he has effortless range on the move out past the NBA line, he gets downhill where he draws contact and finishes through it, and now that he's healthy he's looking very athletic as well.    [player_tooltip player_id='1588140' first='Ean' last='McLaughlin'] | 5'11” PG | [program_tooltip program_id='2450576' first='Team' last='Museum'] 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_5071.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_5071.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2683827" /></a></figure>   While McLaughlin may not be as highly touted as some of the others on this group, he's an integral piece as one of their primary ball handlers and facilitators, and he's willing to sacrifice his numbers for the sake of helping the team win. He's the consummate floor general who is unselfish and sees the floor very well, he puts pressure on the defense and controls the tempo, he hits open shots at a good clip and he sets the tone defensively with his ball pressure.   [player_tooltip player_id='2252298' first='Mathias' last='Lee'] | 6'7” F | Local Legends 17U   Local Legends has made waves on the NXT Circuit in their first year, going 4-0 and bringing a lot of underrated talent to the table, with Lee being one of the most intriguing long term prospects for them. The 6'7” forward from Westfield gives them a lot of versatility as they can go small with him at the 5 with his strength and athleticism, but can also go big and have him play the four or even the three with his skillset. He can stretch the defense with his outside shot, he runs the floor hard and he is a monster on the glass on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='2252294' first='Jemon' last='Price'] | 6'1” PG | Local Legends 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageFszDK5.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageFszDK5.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2562164" /></a></figure>   Price is Lee's high school teammate at Westfield, and much like his role there he's stepped into this Legends squad as a dual threat guard who can run the show and get them in sets, while also being able to score it in bunches and make tough shots in isolation, particularly late in the shot clock. The 6'1” guard has solid wiggle off the bounce and is great in ball screen actions with his ability to drag out defenders and size up under and knock it down from deep, he is a crafty finisher when he gets downhill, he's an unselfish playmaker and he has a knack for making big plays in big moments.   [player_tooltip player_id='1782689' first='Faron' last='Friend'] | 6'5” WG | Local Legends 17U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageCmqZ4v.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageCmqZ4v.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2437049" /></a></figure>   Friend has quietly been one of the best scorers and most underrated prospects in the Richmond area at Glen Allen the last three seasons, and he's got a chance to show his long term potential in front of college coaches this weekend. At 6'5” with long arms he has prototypical positional size for the division one level, and he has a lot of game to go with it as well. He's a natural scorer who can hit tough shots from multiple levels with little to no room, he can get hot quickly and ring off points in bunches, he's good in transition with his size and athleticism, and he has a ton of upside on the defensive end too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2353668' first='Kamdon' last='Brangman-Cain'] | 6'5” WG | Local Legends 16U   I'll be the first to admit that I have Brangman-Cain entirely too low in our 2027 rankings, as I hadn't really got a chance to familiarize myself with his game, but so far he's been perhaps the best player on this Legends 16U group that went 4-0 in their first NXT stop. He's hit a growth spurt to standing 6'5” now, and he was already an explosive athlete and now he's playing above the rim effortlessly and with authority. He's dynamic in transition whether he's pushing the rock or running the wing, he has great footwork and body control as a finisher in traffic, he has all the tools to be a lock down perimeter defender, and he still has a lot of room to get better moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1574509' first='Jayden' last='Brown'] | 6'3” WG | Local Legends 16U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/551-Jayden-Brown.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/551-Jayden-Brown.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2167188" /></a></figure>   Brown has been overshadowed as a role piece for a STAB team that had three senior division one guards on their team this past year, but every time the summer comes around we're reminded that he could easily start and be a go-to guy at a lesser program if he chose to. The 6'3” guard does everything a coach asks for as he's a very good on ball and help side defender, he can knock it down from deep at a high clip, he uses his length and athleticism when he gets downhill to finish, and he is willing to do all the little things to help his team win.   [player_tooltip player_id='2815291' first='Justin' last='Huang'] | 6'3” PG | Local Legends 16U   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImagenTVLma.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImagenTVLma.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2731738" /></a></figure>   Huang came to Blue Ridge this past season from Taiwan, and while he's relatively unknown despite being an important bench piece to the Barons, he will make a name for himself when coaches see his high motor, floor general style of play. He is highly skilled as a ball handler with a simple but tight handle and his ability to stay out of traps and handle pressure. He's a pit bull on the defensive end both guarding the ball and flying around in help, he can knock down open shots, he touches the paint well and he makes great decisions as a playmaker.

With the first NCAA Live period coming up this weekend, players will have their first chance to play in front of division one college coaches, as well as coaches that aren't local to their area who will be traveling to major tournament sites.