PH Expo Utah: 5 on 5 Standouts

The Prep Hoops Utah Expo brought together a lot of talented players, and I had the chance to watch several of them compete in 5-on-5. This is a list of players who stood out to me throughout the event and caught my attention with their play.    I like [player_tooltip player_id='2131821' first='Karter' last='Hartman']'s game a lot, but his leadership really stood out to me. He was consistently on the bench cheering for his teammates and on the floor making sure he was leading by example. Hartman has an amazing feel for the game and does a great job making plays for his teammates, which also opens up opportunities for him to score.   He was one of the better rebounding players at the expo and showed how valuable he can be in different areas of the game. I really enjoyed watching him operate from the low block, where he was able to run the offense , make reads, and make the game easier for everyone around him. He is a player who impacts winning in a lot of different ways.     [player_tooltip player_id='3585249' first='Cooper' last='Young'] showed everyone at the Expo that he was the best player there. Young was a pest on the defensive side, blocking shots and jumping passing lanes, leading to easy layups. What impressed me the most was his ability to score and playmake for everyone on his team. He would consistently beat his defender and draw two, then find the open man every time, on time and on target, making the game so much easier for the other players on his team.   He worked on his three-point shot, and it showed this weekend by knocking down threes throughout the day. Effortlessly getting to his mid-range game and downhill attack, Young looked like the best hooper in the gym.     [player_tooltip player_id='3530583' first='Luke' last='Stockwell'] is a class of 2029 player who caught my eye with his impressive length and ability to get to his spots. He has a smooth pace to his game and a great looking shot, but what really stood out to me was his ability to get downhill and create plays. He does a good job using his length to get creative with his finishes around the rim and can score in a variety of ways. I like the overall feel he has for the game and think he is a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.       [player_tooltip player_id='2446881' first='Carter' last='Milbourn'] showed a new side of his game at the Expo. He was a very physical player throughout the day, and what really stood out to me was his ability to rebound the ball at a high level as a guard at his size.   Milbourn was one of the more consistent scorers throughout the entire day. He has a strong handle, an efficient shot, and showed great finishing moves around the rim. He is also a very good playmaker who consistently creates opportunities for his teammates. I liked the way he played with physicality, competed on both ends, and continued to find ways to impact the game offensively. Just as importantly, Milbourn was a great teammate who communicated well, played unselfishly, and brought a positive attitude throughout the day.     [player_tooltip player_id='3784280' first='Compton' last='Anderson'] from Union is a player who really caught my eye at the Expo. His burst of speed really stood out to me and he was constantly getting downhill and putting pressure on the defense. He has a deep three-ball in his bag and can knock down shots from well beyond the arc. I also liked his finishing moves, footwork and handle, especially for a 6'3 guard with his length. Compton is a player in the 2027 class that I don't think enough people know about yet, but they need to know who he is. He was handing out buckets throughout the entire day and showed he can score in multiple ways. I really liked what I saw from him and think he is a player people should be keeping an eye on.     Kaleb Richardson made his way all the way from Ohio and the Perrysburg guard showed me some good flashes of basketball. I felt like he was always in the right place at the right time and just made winning plays for his team. He was finishing layups, knocking down jump shots and doing the little things that stood out to me. I also liked how he played with his teammates and was always involved in the game. I enjoyed watching this kid play and I think he has potential to be a good player if he continues to put the work in and keeps developing his game.     Brian Rhay 2027 from West Jordan is getting his first real opportunity to show what he can do, and the kid can flat out play!   At 6'3 he's long and athletic with a pure 3-point shot. He can slither downhill and finish with great euro steps and crafty moves around the rim. He was consistently getting open and making plays throughout the Expo. He was also a player his teammates could rely on to knock down an open shot beyond the arc.   Brian was one of the players I really enjoyed watching     [player_tooltip player_id='2604919' first='Raidon' last='Barney'] is a power forward who impressed me all day at the Utah Expo. He has a good handle and a smooth shot for his size, but I really liked his downhill attack. He did a great job creating for himself and his teammates while putting pressure on the defense. His length and athleticism also stood out around the rim, where he had several impressive attempts and plays above the rim. Defensively, he was making an impact with his length as well. He had multiple blocks and did a good job as a gap defender, creating stops for his team. Barney showed me he can make an impact on both ends and has a lot of tools to work with. I think he has good potential in the 2027 class.     [player_tooltip player_id='1724356' first='Davian' last='Lazarus'] is a 6'7 shooting guard and ranked No. 12 in Utah for the 2027 class. His size really stood out to me. He did a great job defending bigger players in the post and came up with some big blocks throughout the day. For his size, he also handles the ball really well, can shoot the rock and makes plays for his teammates. I liked how he was looking to get his teammates involved and didn't force anything, but when his team needed him to go get a bucket, he could do that too. He showed me a very well-rounded game and it's easy to see why we have him ranked where we do.     Bailey caught my eye on his first rip and go to the basket. Very quick first step and explosive getting downhill. He did a great job getting by his defender and finishing around the rim. I really enjoyed watching this fast guard play because he was always looking to make a play with the ball in his hands. He also showed me a smooth jump shot and the ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc. He can score in different ways and also does a good job making plays for his teammates. He is a guard teams want with the ball in his hands, running the offense and making plays.

The Prep Hoops Utah Expo brought together a lot of talented players, and I had the chance to watch several of them compete in 5-on-5. This is a list of players who stood out to me throughout the event and caught my attention with their play.