Summer Recap: Prospects Who Made their Teammates Better

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Summer nears an end and the basketball winds down, we will recap some of the notable player offers, movements, and performances from across South Carolina over the past two months. Next up in this series is “Prospects Who Made their Teammates Better”, highlighting players who raised the level of their teammates by making plays, hitting shots, and doing their duty on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2394115' first='Johnston' last='Abrams'] (Spartanburg) - First up on the list of prospects who made their teammates better is [player_tooltip player_id='2394115' first='Johnston' last='Abrams'] of [program_tooltip program_id='2830096' first='Upward' last='Stars Gold'] and Spartanburg High School. I got to check in with Abrams multiple times this Summer between the two teams, and he is one of the steadiest, most consistent guards in the state. Johnston is not the type of player who jumps out at you with his physicals, but his ability to break defenders down off the dribble, touch the paint, and spread the ball across the floor is what makes him special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2458425' first='Kendell' last='Mack'] (West Ashley) - The thing with Mack that allows him to make his teammates better is his malleability to any role. He is comfortable starting or coming off the bench, having the offense run through him or playing off the ball, and guarding 1-3. Playing with MHE this Summer, Kendell got the chance to defend some of the best guards in the country and rarely looked outmatched. On the offense end, he is calm under pressure, makes good decisions and reads, and can hit shots to keep defenses honest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2746116' first='Nigel' last='Miller'] (Loris) - Next up on the list is [player_tooltip player_id='2746116' first='Nigel' last='Miller']. Miller is coming off a strong Summer with Upward Pee Dee and is one to watch this season for a contender in Class 3A, the Loris Lions. He is another guard on the smaller size, but he contrasts that with elite speed with the ball. Nigel is very capable of keeping the offense balanced, as he has the ability to find teammates and create his own shot. He reads the floor well, can make tight-window passes, and is comfortable pulling up off the dribble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1731675' first='John' last='Cleveland'] (Berkeley) - John makes his teammates better with elite two-way play. Despite being a 2027 playing in the 17U division, he was one of the top overall players on the Big Shots Circuit this summer. Cleveland is also a high-level football prospect with elite strength and athleticism that translates to both sports. On the hardwood, he has some of the best footwork in his class, allowing him to look composed in attack mode at all times. John also provides spacing with efficient shooting and is a tough on-ball defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2722119' first='Noah' last='Dodd'] (Landrum) - Rounding out the list of prospects who made their teammates better is [player_tooltip player_id='2722119' first='Noah' last='Dodd']. I got to evaluate him for the first time late in June, and I was very impressed with his shooting ability and grittiness on the court. Dodd is a knockdown perimeter shooter who shot 40% as a Freshman, but will also crash the glass, work defensively, and fight for loose balls. Noah draws good reviews from his coaches with his ability to lead by example off the court, and is a name to watch out for in the Upstate down the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Prep Hoops Carolinas&nbsp;The Expo&nbsp;and&nbsp;Freshman Showcase&nbsp;are fast approaching! They will be held Saturday, September 6th, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and are a great opportunity to compete against the best prospects in the Carolinas and earn exposure in front of Prep Hoops Scouts!&nbsp;<strong>Use code “BaxleyHoops25” for $10 off your registration fee today!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->