July UAA Notebook: NC Standouts (Part One)

As the month of July winds down we're going to look back at previous weeks as there has been so much going on in the world of grassroots basketball. With the live periods in the rear view, we're going to take a deep dive on the UAA Circuit and the North Carolina stars that shined the brightest between their two stops in Atlanta and Louisville.    Brown provides such an important two way presence for this Top Shot 17u team and was vital in their success, particularly in the 2nd session of July when UAA made the trip to Louisville, Kentucky. Brown finished with 14 Blocks in 6 games up in Louisville and earned multiple awards for his ability to impact the game defensively from different media outlets throughout the week. Brown's ability to both protect the rim while possessing a high level of comfort when switched onto smaller players make him a truly dynamic defensive piece in any lineup. Brown is also still showing real growth in his offensive game as he's often rewarded for running the floor with lobs and dump off passes around the rim. His recruitment is on the upswing and it's clear that there aren't many players like Brown floating around for the taking.     A Wigg Elite 17u has been a group that has slowly been gaining steam throughout the spring and summer, getting better and better every session as they've gelled as a group. The exact same thing can be said for Pressley who will now be leaving the State of North Carolina after announcing his transfer to PHH Prep in Arizona. Pressley is really showing a lot of confidence in his ability to make shots and plays for his teammates as he's been a key piece in orchestrating this A Wigg Elite offense. Pressley gets everything within the flow of the offense and found a way for some big scoring outbursts including a 21 Point outing vs NJ Shoreshots. Look for Pressley to continue to shine as he makes the move to Arizona and start adding to his total of scholarship offers in the near future.     Cadet has been a star for this [program_tooltip program_id='2375668' first='SW15H' last='Elite'] 15u team that got a late UAA call-up from UA Rise on super short notice and helped them to a very respectable 6-9 record in their first season on that level. What Cadet provides for this group is a guy that can be a primary scorer while also running your team at a high level. His size, skill, and understanding of the game at this stage of his career gives him an incredible foundation as a prospect that he continues to grow within. He's getting stronger, believing in his ability to make plays more, and showing more athletic pop at the rim. Cadet's stuffing of the stat sheet, timely plays, and leadership helped this team make the jump in a more than respectable way.     For a TLBA 17u team that had its ups and downs, Watkins provided them with a steady scoring and playmaking presence in the backcourt as his smooth game was on full display all summer long. The deep range, tight handle, and ability to finish with either hand make Watkins a vital part to this group and a guy they could rely on as a primary option on the offensive end of the floor. Watkins continues to establish himself as a quality backcourt option who can really help you put points on the board, provide spacing for your offense, and even help run the team when needed.     Between his work at Greenfield School this past season, we know that [player_tooltip player_id='2773269' first='Johnny' last='Winborne'] is more than capable of swinging a game with his shot-making along with possessing the ability to help run your team and get paint touches when needed. For this A Wigg Elite 16u team, Winborne had a true breakout game in the final game of the UAA Season with a 26 Point outburst on 9-15 from the floor and 5-9 from beyond the arc. He also added in 3 Rebounds and 2 Assists in that contest as well. That is a perfect confidence building outing for WInborne who will be back at Greenfield once again this upcoming season with an even large responsibility load as a Junior.     Winters continues to prove himself as one of the most well rounded guards in North Carolina's 2029 class and he had a super strong month of July with Top Shot 15u on the UAA Circuit. Winters was in double figures in 2/3rds of his games in July while not shooting below 40% in a single one of those games. His ability to score the basketball from multiple levels, embrace his matchups on the defensive end of the floor make him a truly valuable piece to everything this team has going on. The shot-making, toughness, and motor will guide him in the right direction as his game continues to trend in the right direction. Look out for Winters as a potential riser in the next 2028 update.

As the month of July winds down we're going to look back at previous weeks as there has been so much going on in the world of grassroots basketball. With the live periods in the rear view, we're going to take a deep dive on the UAA Circuit and the North Carolina stars that shined the brightest between their two stops in Atlanta and Louisville.