Under the Radars Emerging at Elite Prep League

This weekend, the Elite Prep League(EPL) run by Commonwealth Basketball Group had its 7th stop of the season at the illustrious Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. These are some of the under-the-radar prospects who showcased their talents.    [player_tooltip player_id='1956028' first='Khalib' last='Norcome'] is a 6-foot-5, extremely high motor forward from Mt Zion. He communicates with coaches and teammates on the floor calling out screens, backdoor switches and plays rather loudly. He battles in the post on defense, dives after every loose ball, boxes out every possession, and has a quick first and second jump. Khalib is a mismatch at this level. It's evident he used to be a guard as he routinely beats 4s off the dribble, but he also consistently punishes guards inside. That combination of handle, size, and explosiveness makes him arguably the Elite prep league's (EPLs) premier transition threat, but also makes him a weapon in the half-court. That second jump I mentioned before makes him a very good offensive rebounder, often getting multiple looks at the rim off his own hard drives to the rim. Khalib also knocked down a couple of mid-range jumpers, further showcasing his offensive versatility. Solidifying all this is his ability to keep his dribble alive and use his height to make entry passes.     Gaas has shown flashes thus far in the EPL stop at WRA. He has wiggle off the dribble and overall fluid movements, making him a reliable tertiary or even secondary ball handler. He utilizes his length nicely defensively. Despite giving up size in terms of weight and muscle mass, he absorbs contact well using his length to vertically contest shots. Despite being moved off his spots in the post, he alters shots without fouling, making him a very solid defender on the ball. Gaas is also an active help defender, scrambling all around the court, preventing breakdowns, and allowing his team to stay out of rotation. He has great body language, appearing unfazed when shots aren't falling. This attitude is essential to being a great teammate, keeping your head up, foot on the gas, and hitting big-time shots down the stretch. IB thus far has showcased high IQ off-ball running off a plethora of screens and often cutting hard to open up driving lanes for ball handlers. All in all, Gaas this weekend showed that he's a prospect to watch when shots inevitably start falling again.     Cam Hailey is an explosive scoring guard for Western Reserve Academy.   Hailey has real speed both from a standstill and in transition. Along with that speed, he has the ball on a string, consistently showcasing a plethora of dribble moves. Hailey isn't shy when it comes to attacking the rim, often throwing himself at defenders to either finish through contact or to earn a trip to the free throw line. Hailey is an eager and capable pull up shooter from range, and he leverages that ability to open up driving lanes for himself. Hailey had the game-winning and one for Western Reserve Academy in their down-to-the-wire victory over Fork Union Military Academy Saturday night in front of a packed home crowd.     Dominick Spraque is a 6 foot 1 guard from Belleville, New York in his senior year at Western Reserve Academy. Defensively, he's extremely disciplined. He's extremely disciplined in his stance and has great hands, whether it's in the passing lanes or on the ball. On the other side of the ball, he has a tight handle. Sprague is really good at getting low, allowing him to explode into his movements and get past defenders. While prone to overpassing at times, Spraque has shown a strong ability to make the pocket pass to rollers, and scoring wise has chosen driving and finishing angles proficiently. Sprague also hit a few threes this session and looked very comfortable doing so.     [player_tooltip player_id='1446198' first='Carmelo' last='Swinson'] is a 6 foot 2 point guard hailing from Portsmouth, VA. Melo currently plays at Massanutten Military Academy and is one of the poster children for what a military prep player looks like. Melos' body is extremely developed, and he uses his frame very well, especially on defense. At the point of attack, Melo is extremely physical, getting into the bodies of ball handlers and running through screens. He's active when faced with a mismatch as well, fighting for post position and showcasing his lower body strength to stand his ground against much taller players. Melos's center of gravity is exceptional. On offense, he's a reliable ball handler and plays in the flow of the offense, having hit a couple of catch-and-shoot threes this stop.

This weekend, the Elite Prep League(EPL) run by Commonwealth Basketball Group had its 7th stop of the season at the illustrious Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. These are some of the under-the-radar prospects who showcased their talents.