#JV Corner: Pelham Playdate Immediate Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Pelham Playdate provided a valuable early look at Varsity, JV, and 9th-grade talent across several programs. While some players are still finding their footing, others flashed skills and effort that signal high developmental upside. Here are six players who stood out…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2877630,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Graham-Liles-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Graham-Liles-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2877630" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2892675' first='Graham' last='Liles']</strong> (5'11/Wing/2028/Vestavia) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: graham_liles13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Graham has a budding floor game and brings energy and effort to both ends of the floor. He is good at creating his own offensive opportunities as well as opportunities for his teammates. Offensively, he has a solid feel and is a good decision-maker with the ball in his hands. He plays well within the construct of the Rebels developing schemes, and he can score when opportunities are presented, and he does a good job at keeping the ball moving. He has active hands of defense and is good at forcing turnovers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2877631,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Ted-Taylor-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Ted-Taylor-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2877631" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ted Taylor</strong> (5'9/SG/2027/Minor HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: iamtjjtaylorrr5_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @_Tedtjtaylor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ted is a small guard who is looking to find his way in the Minor program. Despite being a Junior, he has started the pre-season on JV and is looking to earn a spot on the varsity. He is a small guard listed as a shooting guard but spent time both on and off the ball. He did a good job using his dribble to create separation and finding scoring opportunities. He balances scoring and facilitating and can be an asset, but the road ahead will not be easy. He needs to find a role where he can excel and be the best at it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2877632,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Marcus-McGee-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Marcus-McGee-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2877632" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748873' first='Marcus' last='McGee']</strong> (6'4/PF|C/2028/Homewood High School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: marcus.mcgee_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @marcusmcgee_24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Marcus is an interior presence who showed scoring versatility and a scoring prowess that was one of the top I had seen throughout the day while watching JV games. He is energetic and plays with effort. He scores from multiple levels and is not afraid to use his size and bunker down on the low block, and punish defenders with his physical play. He is good on the boards and showed the ability to defend inside and out despite still having room to improve when defending in space. He competes on both ends of the floor and is a prospect to keep an eye on when it comes to his development.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2877636,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Jakaden-Garrett-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Jakaden-Garrett-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2877636" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jakaden Garrett</strong> (5'3/PG/2030/Childersburg Middle School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Jakdengarrett2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jakaden was probably the smallest player in the entire playdate but is a really good lead guard with a really good feel for the game. You can see all the necessary PG tools in his game, but the one thing that hinders him right now is his size. He does a really good job of breaking down defenders and getting into the heart of the defense, but with his limited sight and strength, it is hard for him at times to make the pass despite making the right read. He did have some really crafty finishes that were impressive against defenders with length. He is a 2030 kid playing JV, so he has some time to see what happens when it comes to his growth. I will definitely keep a close eye on his overall development.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2877637,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Jordan-Beckham-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-Jordan-Beckham-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2877637" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2892663' first='Jordan' last='Beckham']</strong> (5'11/PG/2028/John Carroll Catholic High School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: 1forthree</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jordan is a young lead guard who is very energetic. He is still learning the PG spot, but he showed his ability to impact both ends of the floor. He is really good at creating off the bounce, as he is crafty when attacking off the bounce. He has vision and the ability to make passes that lead to easy opportunities for his teammates. He is disruptive on the defensive end of the floor as he uses his length to pressure ball-handlers and make deflections. He needs to continue working on his PG IQ, improving his finishing in traffic, and increasing his consistency from the perimeter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2877638,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-William-Tucker-Miller-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/PH-William-Tucker-Miller-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2877638" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2892416' first='William' last='Tucker Miller']</strong> (5'10/Wing/2028/Briarwood Christian School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Tuckermiller_28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Tucker impressed me with his three-point shooting. If I were writing a sniper school article from the playdate, he would be in it, as he made a minimum of three threes in a game that I was watching. He is a swingman who can attack inside and out, but his calling card is his outside shooting. He competes on both ends of the floor with a lot of effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->