Prephoops The Expo: Kentucky- Best of the Rest

These young men made a strong impression over the weekend. The skills they showcased will go a long way as high school basketball begin.    Carter is an excellent ball handler who excels at creating his own shots. He easily drove past defenders, attacked the paint, dished off assists and scored around the basket. Carter showed off his skills as a shooter. In one on one match-ups, he used a variety of dribble moves to free himself for high percentage shots. He was able to convert a number of twos and threes. There was an instance in the game where he brought the ball up-court, stopped at the three-point line and knocked it down. This shows his prowess as a legitimate threat from behind the arc. Carter will continue to grow as an all around player. He's already shown the ability to be a scorer and play-maker.     Boston is a team player who did whatever the team needed to be successful. If he needed to score, he made it happen. Whenever Team 5 had fast-break opportunities, he always finished strong around the basket. Boston was great on the glass! He scored the majority of his points by grabbing offensive rebounds. Boston had no problems battling opposing players in the paint. He showed a nice touch from the perimeter by knocking down multiple shots from mid-range. Boston is the type of player who did not mind doing the "dirty work." Whenever a defensive play was needed, he locked down opponents with a tough physical presence in the paint.     De'Vante is a shifty ball handler who used a host of moves to break down defenders. He's a team player who does what is necessary to be effective on the basketball court. Whether it was attacking the basket, fighting for rebounds, knocking down shots or defending, De'Vante made an impact. His passing skills were efficient. Whenever he saw teammates cutting to the rim, the pass was always on time. Most of his baskets were scored when Team 6 ran the floor. De'Vante scored three lay-ups in transition. Defensively, he excelled at timing pass lanes and generating turnovers.     He's a great defensive guard who excelled at making life miserable for his opponents. Anderson may have been the best defensive player I saw at the showcase. He had a knack for being around the ball and making plays. Anderson was great at using his quick hands and footwork to stay locked on opponents. I watched him force three steals and cause numerous mistakes. Offensively, he showed the ability to create for himself and others. He used a quick first-step to blow-by defenders and score in the paint. Whenever he drove to the basket, he either scored or assisted teammates. Whenever Anderson had the chance to knock down jump-shots, he did with no hesitation. During the second half, he was left alone behind the three-point line on numerous occasions. Anderson calmly knocked down both attempts. This young man is a great defender who is totally capable of being a legit scoring threat.     John is an aggressive player who has a scorer's mentality. Whether it's attacking defenders, getting to the basket or knocking down three-pointers, John was un-guard-able in most situations. I enjoyed watching this young man play basketball. He gave maximum effort on both ends of the court. In the three on three session, there was a sequence in the game where he scored on three straight possessions. John nailed two three-pointers and attacked the basket. He's the type of player who scores in bunches. John showed the same effectiveness during the full court sessions. Defensively, he stayed attached to his opponent by applying pressure on the ball and being physical. I believe the sky's the limit for this young man. John is a skilled player who has elite talent.

These young men made a strong impression over the weekend. The skills they showcased will go a long way as high school basketball begin.