Breakout '27 and '28 Candidates: DC Live

Mahan has gotten better and better each time he steps in front of the scouts. His overall effectiveness on the game is tremendous to see game in and game out. Lane is beginning to transform past being a catch-and-shoot artist. Puts the ball down on the floor with ease now and has no problem taking shots off the dribble pull-up or taking it all the way to the hoop. Shown he can take contact on his route to the rim and will take it strong to the defenders at the rim. Love that he's quickly expanding his game beyond already lights-out shooting touch. Spends all game hustling around the floor and pulling in loose balls/rebounds. He is sure to rise up the rankings and blossom into a top 10 guard over time.     Anton is another young and crucial piece to the Roosevelt roster. He spent last season totaling up double-doubles with points and rebounds. Protects the basket well for the team when drivers enter the lane, and he holds his own against other bigs in the lane. Anton has got some shooting touch and can step outside to knock down shots from range and in the midrange. Does a good job of ending team's possessions with big rebounds through traffic, keeping control of the ball with great hands. Big weekend here coming up for the underrated forward putting in work against DC's publics.     Makiah always comes out the gate with intensity on both ends of the floor. His impact on the game often goes beyond the numbers, but I have a feeling that this Live period and summer season will be his breakout opportunity to crack the top 10 at PG in his '27 class. Makiah can score the ball from all three levels due to his speed mixed in with his strength. I expect to see more of that on display as his Colts have lost their premier c/o '25 PG. Coolidge will need more of his scoring for more offensive threats. Gray has the ability to get to spots all over the floor to create some plays for his team or himself. Makiah's play at the point guard position will be critical to the advancement of the team. I want to see Gray take on a bigger role and expect to see him take charge this upcoming weekend.     Michael Jones-Lloyd has a lot of upside and opportunity in his game. This is the season for him to establish himself as one of the premier bigs in the area. He will share his minutes in the frontcourt but will see the floor consistently if he can produce. Michael exhibits nice athleticism and timing that helps him on the glass and defensive end. He can defend the rim very effectively which is a huge plus. Working hard on being a consistent jumpshooter and I feel that will come over more and more time. An athlete that can make the winning plays necessary to help lift his team over the top. Excited to see Jones-Lloyd in action starting with this Live period.     Gabe stood out to a handful of our scouts over the course of the 2024-25 season. One of the most reliable 3&D guards I've seen on the public school scene. Gabe knocks down threes at a consistent rate and is a huge threat when left open. He can defend either guard position at a high level and usually draws the better offensive options. Still remains a force on the offensive side making jumpers with consistency and isn't afraid to go downhill and get baskets around the rim. All-around player with the potential to be a main contributor to this Roosevelt squad.     Derrick showed well at times last year for Coolidge when he had to step up. Continuing to be a factor for the Warriors during AAU. He's a smooth operator at the 1 and made real progress over the last season. Had to step up at times for the team and he performed well. Showed he can step into jumpshots off the catch or the dribble. Has good touch and feel for what's needed, shoots efficient shots and makes good passes. Defended with passion as a freshman and always made plays that helped gain Coolidge more possessions. A lot to look forward to when considering the rising sophomore PG [player_tooltip player_id='2524397' first='Derrick' last='Washington Jr'].     Jordan is one of the top young guards in the area and he looks to prove it this upcoming weekend. Coming into the live period a bit underrated, but he'll be on full display with Cardozo. Jordan will have a great chance to showcase his scoring prowess during his team's two games at DC Live. His knack for feeling out the defense and adjusting his game by the flow is impressive to see. I expect Jordan to find a way to be one of the event's top scoring guards by the end. His feel for getting into spots where he's most comfortable is essential to his overall game. He can dribble through pressure and attack the rim at a high rate. Does a good job of opening up the floor for his team in the halfcourt. Plays willing defense and crashes the boards for rebounds.