A Very Melo Classic: 2026 Eye-Catchers

The 4th annual 'A Very Melo Classic' took place at Hill Field House on the campus of Morgan State yesterday and featured a five-game slate that included elite national talent. Here were the 2026 prospects that caught my eye throughout the day.    Another viewing and another reminder as to why Smith is the best high school basketball player in the land. Nobody lifts up the team around him like the 6-foot-2 lead guard and that was yet again the case last night as he dished out five assists in the first 16 minutes of play. He did his routine air assaults on the rim with one coming as the trailer in transition in the first half where he punched it with two hands and then in the second half off a face-up from the left elbow where he jabbed his defender middle before taking a dribble and rising up with one hand to power it home. He converted on a couple of pull-ups from 12-to-15 and put defenders in the rough spot on drives to earn a couple of early visits to the free-throw line. His vocal leadership that can go unnoticed by the common viewer is elite and despite his ability to go for 25-30 points, he drives with intent of playing within the system and creating for others. The ultimate winner scored 19 points in PVI's 21-point win over Oak Hill.     I'd make the argument that Brown is playing the best version of basketball of his high school career right now. His ability and willingness to toggle on and off the ball next to Smith Jr. speaks to his character, approach and growth. He'll man the controls in college as a point guard, but in order for this PVI team to make a run as truly one of the best teams in the country, they need him to do what he's doing now which means knocking down three's at an efficient clip, making high-level reads on drives and maintaining discipline within the team defensive scheme. There's a confidence and pep to his step that is evident and when you put that alongside the likes of the perfect puzzle pieces that head coach Glenn Farello has put together, it results in 20+ point wins like we saw on Saturday evening. He'd go on to finish with a clean 12 points and seemingly made the right play anytime the ball was in his hands.     Ranson was coming off a 29-point win against Glenelg Country less than 15 hours before tipping off in this even against Gonzaga. He remained in rhythm and had a busy first half to build some momentum for what was to come in the second half for his team. The Gaels would end up defeating the WCAC program by 10 and as others stepped up in the second half while the attention of Gonzaga's defense shifted towards Ranson, he still converted on a couple of buckets and used his gravity to open the floor for others. The St. Joe's commit led with a game-high 21 points in the win, which makes for the fifth-straight victory for Pat Clatchey's crew.     Allen continued piling on what has already been a productive senior campaign with a 25-point performance. It was the second half where he accumulated 21 of the 25 that ultimately helped separate LuHi from a tough, disciplined Sidwell Friends team. In a game where the Quakers are going to demand you slow things down and operate in a half court setting, Allen's shot making and ability to operate in the mid-post shined bright. He went 6/7 from the field in the final two quarters while going a perfect 7/7 from the charity stripe to end any hopes of a late game push from the DC program. It was a gutsy performance that the Crusaders desperately needed and can use to build some momentum heading into the back half of their schedule.     I'd go on record to say other than Smith, Swann was the next best prospect in the event. There's pro potential that surfaces with his three-level scoring prowess, elite above-the-rim athleticism used at both ends and the overall fluidity with which he operates that not many players can manipulate. His 19-points was headlined by a massive one-handed tomahawk dunk after a rip-and-go from the right wing where he got eye-level with the rim and brought the crowd to its feet. Parlay that with his routine chase down blocks in transition where he rose up multiple times with his left hand to pin lay-ups against the glass and you have four possessions that show what separates him from others on the floor. If you've seen Swann before, you know he's capable of plays like that, but the shooting touch from outside and off the dribble was the cherry on top of an efficient outing in St. James' win over Bishop McNamara on Saturday afternoon.     Gonzaga boasts a roster filled with underclassmen who are going through valuable growing pains, but coming into this game against Mount St. Joe, had found their spark. As the senior leader, Mbuyamba has been the constant as he throws around his strong, 6-foot-4 frame inside to assert the presence of a 6'6"-6'7" big. His relentless pursuit on the glass at both ends make him a guy who's always involved in the action and acts as a major safety net for some illicit shots taken from others as he swoops in as the cleanup guy in many cases. When he wasn't battling for position inside for boards, Mbuyamba was getting downhill and using his strength to create angles or separation for floaters off the glass. His style of play may not be the trending video on your IG feed, but he exudes winning, which will allow for opportunities to be valued at the next level. He'd finish with 11 points in the loss.

The 4th annual 'A Very Melo Classic' took place at Hill Field House on the campus of Morgan State yesterday and featured a five-game slate that included elite national talent. Here were the 2026 prospects that caught my eye throughout the day.