South Finals: Prospects That Surprised In The 16U/17U Division

The Prep Hoops South Finals was a competitive event that brought out plenty of talent from different areas of the country. Each team wanted to be competitive to be able to reach the top of the tournament to participate in the championship games that concluded the event. These are the standouts that came out as a surprise for me in this competitive tournament!    Rylan Williams was a standout player for the Oklahoma Irish 16U that contributed with his energy as he continuously got layups by running the floor. He makes plays that help the Oklahoma Irish team on both ends of the floor giving his team extra possessions offensively. Offensively he scored from going downhill aggressively getting in the paint.     [player_tooltip player_id='3643561' first='Braylon' last='Dominguez'] is a guard for the NTX Empire that became known for crashing the glass frequently on both ends of the court. Offensively, he prefers to drive to the basket to create short-shot opportunities or generate offensive plays for his teammates. Braylon is also capable of hitting perimeter shots when he has wide-open opportunities to take his set shot.     [player_tooltip player_id='3644803' first='Darius' last='Carson'] is a rebounder in the interior for the NTX Empire that plays a crucial role in securing possessions for his team. His rebounding transitions seamlessly from defense to offense. Offensively he stretches the floor with his perimeter shooting ability at times. Additionally, Carson uses his frame to maneuver defenders and create scoring opportunities in the paint. Defensively, he effectively shot blocks in the interior, protecting the basket against opposing players.     Christian Jordan-Shepard is a guard for Houston Hoops North 17U that continues to impress offensively at various Prep Hoops events throughout the circuit season. During this particular event, I had the opportunity to observe his ball creation in diverse offensive scenarios, including scoring off screens, capitalizing on transition opportunities and excelling in man-to-man coverage. As his senior year approaches, I intend to closely monitor his game and analyze his performance.     [player_tooltip player_id='2950456' first='Matthew' last='Widtfeldt'] is a player from [program_tooltip program_id='2955919' first='Team' last='Mentality'] 17U that showcased his dominance against Fort Worth Prep Athletics 17U. He effectively utilized his frame to navigate through defenders and finish strong around the rim. I was particularly impressed by his footwork in the interior, which he used to finesse his way to scoring opportunities. Outside of scoring inside, he capitalized on perimeter shots and made them count when given the chance. I last saw Matthew last summer at the Prep Hoops ID camps and I've noticed a significant improvement in his game. His combination of strength and finesse around the rim suggests that he has the potential to earn a college scholarship soon. He looks like a player who could thrive at the next level.

The Prep Hoops South Finals was a competitive event that brought out plenty of talent from different areas of the country. Each team wanted to be competitive to be able to reach the top of the tournament to participate in the championship games that concluded the event. These are the standouts that came out as a surprise for me in this competitive tournament!