Phil Cox Memorial Tournament First Round: Kyler's Top Performers

The first round of the 6th Annual Phil Cox Memorial Tournament at Kokomo High School kicked off on Monday with 4 games featuring some of the best teams and prospects throughout many parts of the state. There were some big time performances from our in-state prospects and with that, here are 8 top performers from the first round matchups.   Note: We will have more coverage from Brandon Ramsey tomorrow as well as many other player breakdowns from this tournament throughout the week.    To simply put, there was no stopping [player_tooltip player_id='2398995' first='Brady' last='Scholl'] at all in the first round of the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament at Kokomo HS on Tuesday. He was without question the player of the game with his 40 points vs Merrillville in the first game of the day, even joining the 1k Career Point Club during the contest and breaking the all-time scoring record in the tournament's history. He was very good at scoring through contact and getting multiple free trips to the line while also knocking down a few outside jumpers. There was not a better performance throughout the day than what the Indiana Wesleyan signee had.     Even though the final score was a little lopsided, Merrillville kept making it a fight vs Northridge and a big part of that was due to the play of 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2560346' first='Cameron' last='Jones']. Finishing with a team-high 23 points, Jones was super dynamic on the ball for the Pirates. It felt like he kept making big play after big play for his team using his elite speed on the ball to get in the lane and create finishes around the rim. Jones stepped up with Merrillville needed him the most in this game.     In the matchup between Kokomo and Bishop Chatard in the first round of the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament, there was not a player that controlled the game better than senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561440' first='Korbyn' last='Hammel']. Finishing with a game high 18 points, Hammel was making shots all over the floor and doing it in tough fashion. While he is known as a scoring guard, he also showed to be a great facilitator this game with his teammates benefiting from it. This was a game that showed he is one of the best uncommitted prospects in the state.     A player that benefited well from Hammel's elite playmaking was sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2468939' first='DJ' last='Nash']. Finishing with an impressive 15 points, Nash was as smooth as ever using his length to score over the Chatard defense well. Nash is a player that has so much skill to him paired with nice athleticism and length. Never forces any issues and just lets the game come to him.     While his team may have suffered a 75-58 loss to Lawrence North, there is no question that senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2815063' first='Keevin' last='Bowman'] had one of the more impressive performances on the day by any player. Finishing with a game-high 26 points in the Charlestown-Lawrence North game, Bowman used his length and pure athleticism to make big play after big play for the Pirates. Did a great job of cutting to the basket and scoring at the rim while also creating scoring opportunities for himself on the ball. Stepped up in a big way for Charlestown this game.     When you put up a near triple-double of 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, you are always going to be featured as a top performer in any list. Not only did [player_tooltip player_id='1729136' first='Brennan' last='Miller'] finish with that impressive stat-line, he also became the second player on the day to join the 1k Career Point Club at the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament. Miller was super dominant in the low post while also showcasing his ability to hit really smooth jumpers for his size. SIUE is getting a player with a ton of potential in the front court next season.     I think arguably the best pure playmaker that I saw on the day during the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament at Kokomo High School on Tuesday was easily [player_tooltip player_id='2398991' first='Tyrese' last='Jones']. The South Bend Riley senior guard was his silky-smooth self on the ball hitting a few outside jumpers while knowing when to push the pace and score uncontested in the lane. As soon as Jones steps onto the floor, he just has that natural feel as a guard knowing how to score and dictate pace -- as a true playmaker does. He finished with a game-high 23 points.     The most consistent production on the floor on Tuesday afternoon for the New Haven Bulldogs was senior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2892459' first='Jadrien' last='Ezell']. The 6'2 two-guard played with one of them so aggressive motors I watched all day and did such a good job of hunting his shot on the drive and as a pull-up shooter. He was also real active on the defensive end as well not being afraid to take on the harder assignments at times. He finished with a team-high 14 points.

The first round of the 6th Annual Phil Cox Memorial Tournament at Kokomo High School kicked off on Monday with 4 games featuring some of the best teams and prospects throughout many parts of the state. There were some big time performances from our in-state prospects and with that, here are 8 top performers from the first round matchups.