The Expo: Team 9 and 10 Evaluation Briefs

Eighty plus upperclassmen from all over the state of Michigan descended upon Grand Rapids for The Expo presented by Prep Hoops Michigan. Following are brief evaluations from teams 9 and 10.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team #9 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='3639424' first='Ahmed' last='Aldahe'] 5-9 2027 Dearborn Edsel Ford Diminutive point guard competed hard and made plays on both ends of the court all day. If you are going to be an effective player at this size. You have to be able to shoot. Aldahe showed deep range and a trigger quick release. Quick and showed good change of direction ability.   [player_tooltip player_id='2813540' first='Quinn' last='Ramon Davis III'] 6-2 2028 West Bloomfield First saw this prospect as very young prospect playing up a few grade levels for Junior Pros Elite. He was very good then but certainly looked his age. After a detour with Division IV power Detroit Douglass. Now an upperclassman, and at West Bloomfield. He looks his age and ready to take off as a prospect. Is bigger both vertically and has filled out in his upper body. Was adept at getting into the mid range. Rose quickly over most defenders and showed a soft touch out to the three point line.   [player_tooltip player_id='3594194' first='David' last='Dalton'] 6-3 2028 Belleville Stocky combo prospect made plays all over the court. Hit shots in the mid range and made plays in the post as well. Competed hard on the defensive end and did not back down from bigger players. Was very good at finnishing with his left hand. Also showed the ability to make plays above the rim. Belleville should have a very good backcourt in the coming year. Dalton could be the jack-of-all-trades type of prospect the Tigers need.   [player_tooltip player_id='2802855' first='Zion' last='Thurman'] 6-4 2028 Adrian If The Expo did athletic combine testing. I'm fairly certain Thurman would test out as one the better athletes in the field. Owns a strong and athletic frame and is very light on his feet with excellent lateral quickness. Gets off the ground quickly and plays above the rim. I caught this player with the Michigan Jayhawks this summer. This Saturday it looked like the all around game was catching up to the athletic upside. Showed improved ball handling and the ability to get into his shooting motion quickly. Should a form a nice inside out duo with fellow camp participant [player_tooltip player_id='2803468' first='Benjamin' last='Perez'] for the Maples in the next two years.   [player_tooltip player_id='2872746' first='Jesean' last='Johnson'] 6-1 2028 Eastpointe One of the true breakput prospects from the camp. A smooth and explosive scoring wing. Showed a blink and you miss it first step and got to the basket at will. Good elevation and the ability to hang air made him an exciting and highlight reel finisher. Showed a devastating hesitation stop and go move in transition often. Much more than just an on-ball scorer. Stayed in motion off ball and scored off of back door cuts as well. The Shamrocks have two good building blocks in Johnson and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='3733282' first='BJ' last='Lawson'] who impressed at the Prep Hoops Sophomore ID Camp in August.   [player_tooltip player_id='2539962' first='Tyson' last='Lyons'] 6-1 2028 Macomb Dakota Lightning quick lanky guard had strong day. Good ball handler who did not back down from a challenge. I thought he played better in the 3x3 portion of the camp. He was able to show his straight line speed and attack with more spacing. Elevated quickly and high in the mid range to get over defenders. Dakota graduated quite a bit of production from last year's squad. Lyons could step into that void and have a big junior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2841425' first='William' last='Nesbitt'] 6-1 2028 Wyoming Lanky guard who attacked the basket and seemed to play bigger than his listed height. Got to the basket often with a dynamic crossover that showed his change of direction ability. Showed no fear at the rim despite a slender build. Also showed potential as a distributor. Played with his head up and was a good live dribble passer. Should have an opportunity at a Wyoming program that has been decimated by transfers and will have a new coach in the upcoming year.   [player_tooltip player_id='3783413' first='Devin' last='Brown'] 6-2 2027 Dearborn Divine Child Full disclsure Brown was a late sign up. Consequently, the organization of my notes about him are all over the place. I'm not entirely sure what team he was on, so I am placing him here. The highest ranked player in the field and played like it. The skeleton key with Brown the mix of stocky build with the explosion of a skinny high jumper. Simply makes plays that other players cannot. Takes off from places you would not expect and simply sheds defenders as he approaches the rim. To say he finishes through contact would an understatement. Pound for pound, might be one of the strongest players in the state. But much than just a bully ball wing. Shoots well in the mid range and gets to his spot with a solid ball handling skillset. Put up huge numbers for an undermanned Old Redford squad last. Now with a talented Divine Child it will be interesting to see how his senior year takes shape.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team #10 </h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2539719' first='Carter' last='Estelle'] 6-8 2028 Wyoming Tri Unity Christian (pictured) One of the biggest players in the camp. But more importantly played like it. Long frame casts an imposing figure at the rim. Did not seem like too many prospects wanted to test him at the cup. Offensively showed major potential as a rim runner. Got out quickly in transition and simply beat smaller defenders down the court on multiple instances. Showed good hands that made emphatic finisher at the rim. Has some improvement to go, but I will add this caveat. Seems to really enjoy competing and playing the game. Sometimes it looks like big men play because they are... big. If a gym is open Estelle will be in it. Should be one of the top players in Division IV for the next two years. Should be more than ready to go this year after sitting out last year due to a transfer.   [player_tooltip player_id='2844543' first='Aiden' last='Martin'] 6-1 2028 Dowagiac Another breakout performer from the event. First time I believe I have seen this player in action. I won't over complicate this evaluation. While [player_tooltip player_id='3783413' first='Devin' last='Brown'] (see above) was impressive in the air. Martin was easily the best leaper in the camp. Every time I turned around it seemed like he was making a play at or well above the rim. Got to the rim often with a good handle. Not a point guard at this point of his development, but I could see him getting there. Definitely a prospect that is now on my radar in Southwestern corner of the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='2539709' first='Austin' last='Andrews'] 6-1 2028 Orchard Lake St Mary's Stocky guard put together a strong day. Faced up defenders on penetration and attacked with straight line speed. Hard to stop when he gets forward momentum. Right handed but was clearly comfortable going to his left. Showed surprising bounce and the ability to make plays above the rim. Part of a talented but young backcourt at St Mary's that is on the upswing.   [player_tooltip player_id='2814866' first='Grant' last='Wilkins'] 6-3 2027 Troy Bulky and physical forward who competed hard. Used his physical frame to finish through contact. Guarded multiple positions and was light on his feet with good lateral quickness. Should have an opportunity this year for a Colts program that will have a new head coach for the first time in a very long time.   [player_tooltip player_id='2845576' first='Roan' last='Johnston'] 6-7 2028 Reed City Northern Michigan stretch four continues to show growth and expansion to his game. Doesn't appear to be done growing or improving. Ran the court like a wing and filled lanes with purpose. Has good hands and orders his feet quickly in transition. Is a good shooter from the mid range and is only getting better. I could easily see him as a three point threat by the time he is a senior. Has long been an above the rim finisher. That was present on Saturday as well. Part of talented 2028 [program_tooltip program_id='2429901' first='REAL' last='Basketball'] unit that was good on the Grassroots Basketball League. Also part of talented 2028 class with the Coyotes that was well represented at the camp.   [player_tooltip player_id='2768323' first='Christian' last='Lyle'] 5-11 2028 Flint Kearsley Long and lanky who played bigger than a sub six foot prospect. Quick with the ball and showed a knack for getting to the basket. Once there used a nice euro step to finish around the rim. Had a strong AAU run with L.O.U.D. Academy on the Puma circuit. Should be a nice piece for Kearsley's new state championship winning coach to build around.   [player_tooltip player_id='3778489' first='Deshaun' last='Payton Jr'] 6-0 2027 Arts & Technolgy Academy of Pontiac Aggressive guard who seemed to put constant pressure on the rim. Used a tight handle to get to rim often. Attacked the basket despite a slender frame. Showed some wiggle to his game with a nice hesitation move off the dribble that bought him space. Got to the rim with sudden acceleration. Part of a deep and talented Lion backcourt that will be the top unit in Division III.   [player_tooltip player_id='2683752' first='Blake' last='Woodard'] 6-5 2027 Southfield Arts & Technology First time seeing this player. Was very good in the 3x3 portion of the camp. With a bit more space, he was able to use his length get easy looks. Scored at the rim and from the perimeter. Showed the ability to go to the both the left and right on drives. Had a smooth release from beyond the arc. Didn't need much room to get his shot off. Which you don't often see from bigs. Speaking of "big", seemed to play bigger than 6-5 due to his lanky frame. Ran the court well during the 5-on-5 scrimmages.   [player_tooltip player_id='2817107' first='Nasir' last='Moore'] 6-1 2027 West Bloomfield Like Brown, a late sign up who I shoehorned in on this squad. Scoring guard who showed the ability to play both backcourt spots. Physical with a strong and filled out upper body. Competed hard on the defensuve end. Part of talented West Bloomfield contingent that could pop in their first year in a new system.

Eighty plus upperclassmen from all over the state of Michigan descended upon Grand Rapids for The Expo presented by Prep Hoops Michigan. Following are brief evaluations from teams 9 and 10.