Big Shots Myrtle Beach Jam: Which Youngsters Stepped Up?

USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION   One of the biggest storylines from day one at the Big Shots Myrtle Beach Jam was the number of young prospects who rose to the occasion against strong competition. Whether it was confidence, toughness, or flashes of long-term upside, several 2029s and 2030s made themselves hard to ignore. Here's a look at the youngsters who stepped up and turned heads.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    First up on my list of youngsters who stepped up at the Big Shots Myrtle Beach Jam is [player_tooltip player_id='2959657' first='Mason' last='Walker']. Walker stepped up in the second half of NMB Warriors Gold 15U's win over SPE, with 9 of his 15 points coming over the final 16 minutes including a go-ahead layup inside the final minute and a game-winning three in the final seconds. Mason has a very pure jump shot off the catch and on the move. He can also hit shots from the mid-range and the perimeter, so he's a valuable offensive weapon for this team and is one to watch down the road.     Walker might have had the game-winning shot, but it was off an excellent find from Bass - one of several winning plays that the 2029 PG made throughout the game. Caden was not just the engine behind the impressive win over SPE, but he helped lead the Warriors to the 15U Slam Semifinal this weekend in Myrtle Beach with 18.3 PPG. He went for 25 points and 3 assists in the game I watched, displaying a lack of fear when driving into the teeth of the defense against a big team. When he got there, Bass played off two feet, drew fouls, hit tough shots, and found teammates at a very high level, solidifying himself as one of the top guards in South Carolina's 2029 Class right now.     Switching over to the NMB Warriors 14 squad, Mason's brother, Marcus, had an impressive game running the offense. He isn't overly quick or flashy, but his positional size allows him to make reads and hit shots over defenders while also holding up well defensively. Walker has a very pure outside stroke, and although he didn't have a super-efficient game against Juice Crew, it was still clear to see the impact his shooting has on an opposing defense. He made a few nice transition plays as well, en route to an 8-point, 5-rebound, 3-assist, and 4-steal stat line.     Bennett is another 14U Warrior who caught my eye in Myrtle Beach. He is a much more traditional spot-up option, with a quick, repeatable release on his outside shot. Baker was the target of most of their BLOB actions, and when the play was run correctly, it usually ended up in a make. As the perimeter shots began to fall, the defensive closeouts became harder, giving Bennett a window to show his ability to handle and hit shots inside the arc. He has a nice floater, can get to the free-throw line, and looks to find teammates, so he's definitely a beach-area SG to watch once he gets to high school.     Rounding out my list of youngsters who stepped up at the Big Shots Myrtle Beach Jam is [player_tooltip player_id='3629949' first='Crew' last='Burch']. Burch runs with South Strand Heat and will attend St. James HS, so he's another local 2030 to know. He is a guard with some size, often running the point for this team, so he has some potential to his game once he adds strength and learns the game. Although he knocked down a three and moved the ball to the right places, Crew most stepped up on the defensive end of the floor. He was extremely active with his hands in passing lanes and on the ball, while also chipping in with some production on the glass.

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