Adidas Jr. 3SSB Nationals: 5th Grade Backcourt Standouts

Rock Hill, S.C. — Our coverage of the 2026 adidas Jr. 3SSB Boys National Championships concludes with a look at the 11U Gold Division, the final age group featured in our tournament recaps.   The fifth-grade Gold Division consisted of 26 teams spread across seven pools and featured plenty of young talent from around the adidas circuit. The backcourt group was particularly impressive, with several guards making their mark through scoring, playmaking, ball-handling, and overall command of the game.   The five players highlighted below each found success in different ways, but all stood out with their production and ability to positively impact winning. Here are five fifth-grade guards who turned in strong performances at the 2026 adidas Jr. 3SSB Boys National Championships...    Jaire Anderson was one of the driving forces behind Washington Warriors Blue's trip to the 11U Gold Division final four at the Jr. 3SSB National Championships. The guard showed  a strong feel for the game and routinely made the right play with the ball in his hands. He picked his spots well and kept his team organized offensively. He also made a difference on the glass despite being a guard. His fingerprints were all over games, whether it came through scoring, creating opportunities for others, or simply making the small plays that helped his team maintain momentum.     Dassan Blacksher continued to be a major piece for All Covered Prospects' success at the Jr. 3SSB National Championships, helping guide the program to the 11U Gold Division title. The talented guard has been a constant throughout the spring and summer, and that trend carried over once again in Rock Hill. The five-foot-two combo guard played with a lot of confidence and gave his team steady production on both ends of the floor consistently. His offensive skill set made him a tough cover whenever he was on the floor because of his ability to score the basketball but also create great scoring opportunities for his teammates.     Box immediately stood out at the Jr. 3SSB National Championships because of his ability to play bigger than his size and his mature decision making possession after possession. He was one of the more natural scorers in the 11U Gold Division as he played with good pace and confidence while averaging 16.0 points per game. His energy level never seemed to dip, and that approach translated to both ends of the floor. With the ball in his hands, Box was productive and routinely created positive possessions for his team.     Amare Johnson was a huge reason why BLUEprint Hoops advanced to the 11U Gold Division Jr. 3SSB National Championships Championship Game. The five-foot-six prospect finished with an average of 8.6 points per game and hit timely shots for his team on multiple occasions. When he was not scoring, he was setting up opportunities for his teammates or rebounding the ball while creating extra possessions for his team. There was no wasted movement from Johnson whenever he was on the floor and consistently showed why he is a name to remember from the class of 2033.      Reed was without a doubt the leader for Lakeshow Hoops at the Jr. 3SSB National Championships. His production was among the best in the division, as he averaged 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest while impacting the game in multiple areas. Reed's poise was one of the more impressive parts of his game. There was a level of patience and maturity in his approach that stood out throughout the weekend. If he continues producing at this level while adding strength and continuing to develop physically, Reed has a strong chance to emerge as one of the more recognizable prospects on the West Coast in the class of 2033.    Stay tuned for more from Prep Hoops Next!

Rock Hill, S.C. — Our coverage of the 2026 adidas Jr. 3SSB Boys National Championships concludes with a look at the 11U Gold Division, the final age group featured in our tournament recaps.