Veteran’s Day Classic Key Contributors and Rising Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Veteran's Day Classic once again delivered a slate of quality programs and talented lineups. Here's a look at several standouts who made a strong impression throughout the event…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3068987,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Cole-Patterson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Cole-Patterson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3068987" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Cole Patterson</strong> (5'9/PG/'26/Appalachian High School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Cole2patt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Cole is the heart and soul of the Appalachian squad, and he will be looked upon to carry a heavy load for his squad this season when it comes to point production and leadership. He has a very mature floor game and showed his ability to be a multi-level scorer who can get it done in a variety of ways. He is a small guard but shifty off the bounce, with a canny ability to get his shot off in tight spaces when he is maneuvering off the dribble. Appalachian will go as Cole goes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3068988,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Ty-Babb-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Ty-Babb-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3068988" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ty Babb</strong> (5'7/PG/'27/Fairview High School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ty_babb10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ty is a small point guard who does a good job setting the table for his team and orchestrating the offense. He has a budding PG IQ and showed a really good understanding of the PG spot. He did a really good job getting paint touches, collapsing the defense, and distributing the rock to open teammates. Some may look at his size as a liability, but he showed a lot of grit on both ends of the floor and a desire to do whatever it takes to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3068989,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Titus-Seth-Brown-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Titus-Seth-Brown-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3068989" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Titus Seth Brown</strong> (5'9/PG/'27/Geneva High School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: titusb_23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Titus is a small guard who fits the traditional pass-first point guard mold, as he had a solid performance running the show and impacting the game on both ends of the floor with his grit, effort, and energy. He is skilled at maneuvering through defenders and creating quality looks for his teammates, and he has the passing skills to make on-time and on-target passes. He valued the ball as he made smart plays with minimal mistakes. His play showed that he prioritizes team success over individual stats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3068990,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Jayden-Pointer-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Jayden-Pointer-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3068990" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jayden Pointer</strong>  (6'3/F/'27/Decatur High School) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: _disjp</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Jaydengotnext&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The strength of Jayden's game was in his ability to space the floor with his trey ball shooting. His three-point shooting is going to be highly needed, as he has several playmakers who are really good off the bounce and will collapse the defense, providing him with some open looks that, if he can convert on and shoot at a high percentage, will present opposing teams an offense that is difficult to contain. With what I saw at the Veterans' Day Classic, his shooting efficiency is going to be key this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3068991,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Gray-Hopper-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/PH-Gray-Hopper-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-3068991" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2639355' first='Gray' last='Hopper']</strong> (6'0/Wing/'26/Cullman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: gray_hopper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Gray brings experience and balance to the Bearcats' lineup. He is a good defender and reliable perimeter shooter, and he sets the tone with his energy and effort on both ends. His ability to guard multiple positions and space the floor makes him one of Cullman's most valuable two-way contributors. He will be key to Cullman's success this year because he can clean up many mistakes with his experience and maturity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sheppard Barton</strong> (SG/‘30/Gaston HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: sheppardbarton_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sheppard is an off-guard who showed his ability to score from multiple levels. His scoring will be needed as Gaston goes through the season, particularly his ability to knock down the three-pointer. He is one of the younger guys who got some quality minutes and has a tremendous trajectory ahead of him if he can stay in the lab and keep honing his ball skills and adding to his scoring arsenal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->