Puma Memphis: Kentucky Forward Standouts

I took a trip to Memphis for Puma's event the weekend prior to the May live period, in this article I'll break down the standout forwards I caught this weekend at the event.    I really liked the energy Adams played with this weekend, providing a spark on the offensive glass and playing with a sense of urgency on the court. I also liked how Adams was aggressive at finishing at the rim, trying to dunk when the opportunity presented itself and going into contact. Defensively, Adams can defend bigs or wings and showed his ability to defend on the perimeter in numerous stretches this weekend. Solid production in all three games I caught is the recipe to being spotlighted as a standout performer when the weekend ends.     I thought Stephan was really solid all weekend for his team. A wing forward who is going to come in and make open shots, play hard, move the basketball and just contribute to winning basketball. Not much more to add about Stephan's game, he's a very valuable role player at the grassroots level which should make him a priority recruit for scholarship programs because they can already see what he could bring as a freshman at the next level.     I caught one game of [program_tooltip program_id='2345418' first='Ky' last='Future Elite'] 16 U and Pflunger impressed me with his rebounding ability and how he impacted the game in simple but effective ways. Pflunger attacked the ball off the rim and got a couple contested rebounds for his team. I also liked how he moved without the basketball and made simple passes to his teammates. Able to execute set plays as well, Pflunger scored off a BLOB and shortly after had a left-handed finish at the rim. Always nice to see a young big who shows a high basketball IQ and can catch and finish at the rim.     One of the more talented defensive players in Kentucky's 2026 class, Ateny is a nice change of pace for a Grand Park Premier squad that relies on a bunch of ball movement, skill and shooting. Ateny's ability to protect the rim, set hard screens and get extra possessions off the glass is how he impacts the game in a way nobody else on the team can match. While Ateny doesn't always play heavy minutes, when he's on the court he plays hard and makes his presence known in the paint on both ends of the court.     One of the more naturally talented wing forwards in Kentucky's 2026 class, Coen showed incredible upside as he was playing above the rim all weekend with some crazy dunks. Able to attack off the dribble in a straight line and finish with his left, Coen is a tough cover for slower footed forwards on the perimeter. Coen also flashed shot-making ability from 3-point range and averaged over a double-double this weekend according to his twitter. Defensively, Coen made an impact as a help-side rim protector, showing how his length and athleticism can be used on both ends of the court. I expect Coen to be one of the biggest risers this summer as his production is catching up to the natural ability he possesses.

I took a trip to Memphis for Puma's event the weekend prior to the May live period, in this article I'll break down the standout forwards I caught this weekend at the event.