George McClelland Invitational (GMI) Houston: 16u Standouts

Jaylen was the offensive focal point for his Praise God Elite 16u squad as they competed in the annual George McClelland Invitational (Est. 2004). There is alot to love about this squad when you understand the purpose behind how they were assembled. They were coached by legendary grassroots enthusiast Jim Hicks, professional sports voice Rick Godfrey, and pastor Mike Lindsey--Talk about Blessings on Blessings!   After watching Jaylen compete in two games versus stellar competition, there were several parts of his game that should be praised! Jaylen has an advanced feel for the game as a 2028 prospect. Offensively he can get to his spots and nail mid-range and 3 pointers off the dribble. Durham uses shot fakes and and body to body driving angles to draw fouls and earn trips to the FT line. Jaylen will be a player to follow as he continues to develop and puts more emphasis on his defensive approach to the game.     Samuel is a long and active player that definitely has his best hoop days ahead of him. He shows good and developing instincts as a rim runner and paint protector. Hassan possesses a far reaching wing span that he uses to snag rebounds and block shots in his area. Hassan also has soft hands in his scoring zone and has the ability to finish around the rim. As Samuel continues to grow and add strength, he could establish himself as a true force to be reckoned with.     Abdriel left the GMI making his mark as one of the top shooters in the event. Abdriel has a smooth and efficient stroke from beyond the arc, and had an absolute green light resulting in multiple 3's made. In a tough loss versus a scrappy Praise God Elite squad, Reyes scored 16 points including three made 3 pointers and almost pulled off the comeback in a two point loss. Abdriel has a wiry build that shows room to grow. With added height and strength Abdriel has the potential to grow into one of the better shooters in his class.     Amarion is the latest in line of talented players that have donned the Atascocita High School Jersey. His high school squad chose to run together in the GMI, and they continued to display their dominance as they went 2-0. Amarion is a do it all forward that just seems to be a magnet to the ball whenever he is around the basket. Charles uses his length and high motor to attack the glass on both sides of the floor. In a impressive win versus Praise God Elite, Charles posted 19 points, while finishing through and over under sized defenders. Expect for him to be a valuable contributor in the future for powerhouse Atascocita High School, coached by David Martinez and staff.      One thing about the Atascocita Eagles is that they keep shooters on deck, and Manu will soon make his mark as the next sharp shooter in the program. He displayed his shooting prowess on his way to opening the game with two high arching trey balls versus Praise God Elite. Salanoa had defenders asking for grace, as he went for 12 points in the 1st half. Manu would finish the game with 15 points in the win. Expect Salanoa to develop and add defensive instincts as he matriculates through the Atascocita program.