Standout Rising Junior Wing/Forwards (Part 2)

Ladera Ranch, CA - The Adidas 3SSB Circuit wrapped up its season with the Earn Your Stripes Invitational hosted at the beautiful OGP Ladera Sports Complex, which features 8 courts, 7 used for games and the other court used as the event's hospitality center. The tournament featured 75 Adidas teams, with the top 16u squads from the 3SSB Circuit on display, as well as numerous nationally ranked players from the classes of 2026 through 2029 on display. The facility was also packed with D1 coaches, and other divisions, over the four day event, given this was the final live period of the club season. This part two article takes a look at the remaining 6 standout wing/forwards from the 2027 class. There is no ranked order to this list of players, but in alphabetical order. This article will be followed by a look at the top 2028-2029 players at the Invitational to wrap-up my coverage of the Adidas event.    Grissom has seen his stock skyrocket the past 4 months, as he was a key piece for Team Lillard 16s that won the 3SSB Championship a few weeks back in Rock Hill, SC, and he showcased why his status has risen at the Invitational. The 6-foot-5 wing alters/blocks shots within 15 feet of the basket, turns defense to offense, and understands floor spacing in the open court to get open for transition dunks. Grissom has good handles, uses the crossover or between the leg cross to attack his defender, is able to absorb contact and finish with creativity at the basket or with the mid-range jumper, has good off ball court awareness to get ready for spot up threes off the catch, as he is a knock down shooter from beyond the arc. Grissom takes advantage of over pursuits on the closeout, uses limited dribbles, and gets to the pull-up jumper with accuracy. Grissom does not shy away from contact and is emerging as one of the better 3-level scorers with good size and length in the California class of 2027.     Nur is a skilled and fluid wing/forward that can score the ball effectively from 3-levels, and he had his full array of shot making on display at the Invitational. I saw the 6-foot-9 Nur at 3SSB Session 1 and was impressed by his versatility on both ends of the court, but he seemed to shoot the ball with more confidence in the final event of the Adidas circuit. Nur has a smooth handle with the ball in hand, plays with good pace and feel for a player of his height, is highly efficient from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the dribble, and the size to shoot over most perimeter defenders. Nur makes good decisions when setting on-ball screens to either roll to the basket or pop for the catch and shoot, has good body control on the back to the basket post fadeaway jumper, and has good hands and feel on shots around the basket with the ability to throw down anything at the basket, Nur runs the floor well, moves off the ball fluidly, and is a player to keep an eye on in the 2027 class, as he is currently ranked 95th in the country, based on 247 Sports player rankings.     Profit has been one of the top prospects in the 2027 class out West since his freshman year, and he displayed quality shot making and play making at the recent 3SSB Invitational for Gamepoint 17s. The 6-foot-5 guard/wing keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, uses the crossover to create space from his defender with accuracy on the 3-ball off the bounce, attacks close-outs with good body control on the pull-up jumper or finishes at the basket through traffic, and has nice touch on the floater down the lane or off the baseline. When defenders cut him off on the drive, Profit uses the spin move to get away from his defender and score it at the basket, or connect on the fadeaway jumpshot with the length and height to shoot over most perimeter players. Profit can run the offense, but also showed good off ball movement to get open looks from the perimeter. Profit was another impact rising junior playing up in the 17u division.     Smith had a good weekend of play at the Invitational, but was on another level in a close win over Wildcats Select 16s, where he splashed at least 6 threes in Game Elite's 2 point win. The 6-foot-6 wing/guard has a solid build and athleticism to be a high-level positional rebounder, has the handle to create space from his defender to get open looks on the jumper, and gets downhill when the defense over-pursues on closeouts, with the ability to finish at the basket through contact. Smith is a solid on-ball defender, with the size and agility to defend perimeter players, as well as switching off on bigs. What truly stood out about Smith's game was his fluid shooting mechanics on the 3-ball, where he can light it up in volume from beyond the arc and has the awareness to find the open spots on the court for catch and shoot opportunities. He is a true floor spacer and keeps his team in the game with his ability to catch and fire.     Nepple plays with a relentless motor and impacts both ends of the court at a high-level, and held down the paint at the 3SSB Invitational for ETG 16s. The 6-foot-9 forward crashes the boards with touch on the putbacks, has good timing and length to block shots/protect the rim, has the handle to push the ball up the court off the glass, or make the outlet pass and run the lanes in the open court. Nepple uses the crossover to get going downhill, has good body control on the contested pull-up mid-range shot, is efficient from the 3-point line off the dribble or the catch, with range from the volleyball line, and has the strength to finish through heavy contact in the paint. Nepple makes good reads from the high-post or can put the ball on the deck and attack from that spot. His passion for the game is evident in how he involves himself in almost every play in a predictive manner.     Welch is a player I saw with Compton Magic 16s at 3SSB Session 1, as well as with his high school team at the California Scholastic Live tournament at the end of June, and he was up to his usual post dominance and showing he can be a threat from the perimeter at the Invitational. The 6-foot-8 forward is relentless on the boards, provides his team multiple possessions on offense, and limits opponents to single shot possessions, and is a top-notch shot blocker and rim protector. Welch gets good positioning in the post, has good hands to receive entry passes, and the footwork and back to the basket moves to score within 15 feet of the basket, either with the jumper or at the rim. Welch can throw it down with force, but also finish with creativity around the basket, as was evident with the smooth up and under lay-up through traffic. Welch is a threat off the screen, with the ability to dive off the screen or pop out to the 3-point line, where he is able to spread the floor with the jumper. Welch makes good reads from the high-post and plays within his skill set as a stretch four.

Ladera Ranch, CA - The Adidas 3SSB Circuit wrapped up its season with the Earn Your Stripes Invitational hosted at the beautiful OGP Ladera Sports Complex, which features 8 courts, 7 used for games and the other court used as the event's hospitality center. The tournament featured 75 Adidas teams, with the top 16u squads from the 3SSB Circuit on display, as well as numerous nationally ranked players from the classes of 2026 through 2029 on display. The facility was also packed with D1 coaches, and other divisions, over the four day event, given this was the final live period of the club season. This part two article takes a look at the remaining 6 standout wing/forwards from the 2027 class. There is no ranked order to this list of players, but in alphabetical order. This article will be followed by a look at the top 2028-2029 players at the Invitational to wrap-up my coverage of the Adidas event.