Hoops for Hope Holiday Tournament: Promising Playmakers

USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION   The 2025 Hoops for Hope Holiday Tournament began on Thursday, December 18th, at Batesburg-Leesville HIgh School. Day one featured four games split between two gyms, and Prep Hoops SC was posted up in the new gym to check out Chapin vs Richland Northeast and Columbia vs Batesburg-Leesville. Check out these five players who made key plays for their team on opening night and could have some promise for a team at the next level.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    First up on my list of promising playmakers from the Hoops for Hope Holiday Tournament is one half of the host's dynamic duo, [player_tooltip player_id='2639844' first='Ta'Maj' last='Gilliam']. Gilliam had a very strong game in Batesburg-Leesville's round one win, putting up 22 points while only playing a handful of possessions in the fourth quarter. He got off on the right foot with some easy transition buckets in the first few minutes, then began to showcase some skill in playing off two feet and hitting jumpers off the dribble or the catch. Ta'Maj will gamble for steals on the defensive end, but he mostly does a good job of keeping opponents out of the paint and tallied 4 steals to go with the big scoring night.     The other Panther Guard whom I was eager to see in person on Thursday was Davis. Davis was among the top-scoring Juniors in the state coming into the tournament, and although he didn't have the most productive day, it was still clear to see the attributes that have translated into big numbers so far this season. Braylen has some bounce to his game and is a blur in the open floor, two physical tools that allow him to get to and make plays in the paint. He also makes winning plays without the ball in his hands, like hustle plays to win extra possessions on the glass and creating havoc from his home on the wing in a 2-3 zone. Braylen had 14 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals in the win.     Switching over to the first game of the night, [player_tooltip player_id='2175529' first='Braydyn' last='Francis'] was terrific for Chapin in a 56-41 win. Although he is not the biggest guard, Francis was a factor defensively by drawing charges and punishing loose-ball handling with steals. However, on the offensive end, it was clear to see that he was the best and most impactful player on the floor. Braydyn hit two movement threes and a transition corner three, made a couple of nice reads off of drives, and displayed a nice feel for finishing around or through the length of Richland Northeast's rim protection. Francis totaled 22 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals in the opener.     Another Chapin Eagle who caught my eye in Batesburg-Leesville is Vandergrift Jr. He is exactly the type of hustling wing that every good team needs at this level. Adam is slightly undersized for his position, but they will use him to his strengths in full-court pressure, as an offensive rebounder, and a driver with two to three dribbles. His shooting will be an indicator of how good a prospect he can be, but there's no doubt that Vandergrift is a crucial piece for this Chapin team.     One of the most intriguing prospects at the Hoops for Hope Holiday Tournament is [player_tooltip player_id='3244799' first='Logan' last='Jacobs']. His playmaking and promise are all in his athleticism and length. When things were going well for the Cavaliers, it was because they were finding him in good positions in the dunker spot or in the paint. Logan favors a power dribble when he gets the ball close to the rim, but he would project as a lob threat with a little bit more physical growth. Jacobs also made his presence felt as a shot-blocker, using his length to make shots more difficult whenever he was in the area. He put up 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the loss.

USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION