Grind Region Finals : East’s Sunday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final day of the PH Grind Region Finals. Champions were crowned at all levels, players were competing, and the complex was electric. I was at SWAC for PH Grind Region Finals action, here is a look at some players that stood out to me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1475991" first="Jamarri" last="Simpson"] | 6’2 G | NLU 2025 (pictured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jamarri is well known for his scoring, playmaking, and handling of the basketball but this weekend especially he really got it done on the defensive end. If you have watched Simpson you can see how well he can score the ball, either at the rim or from deep. He does a great job of attacking closeouts and using different variations of finishes to get his buckets. Defensively he’s been all over the court and just been a pest for opposing offenses. This past weekend he had a handful of crazy blocks in transition defense including a couple off the glass. His name will be heard a lot over the next couple of years in Oklahoma.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1444135" first="Korbin" last="Gunn"] | 5’10 G | NLU 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gunn is a two-guard from a special NLU squad. Very good at getting to the cup and finishing with either hand on either side, flashes the triple from time to time. Really like how he initiates or absorbs contact on the drive and finishes off two. This weekend he had not one but two game winners. Defensively he makes the offense uncomfortable with his on ball defense, traps, and ability to scramble. Very underrated 2025 prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jammir Major | 5’11 G | Next Level Elite </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Major is a competitor. To start it off he’s got a real smooth shot from the left side that looks like it’ll fall every time, and it does more often than not. He moves off ball and is always ready to catch and shoot with his quick release. He can get to the rim and finish in a variety of ways and gave it up when necessary. Knocked down the game winning three for his squad in a mid morning matchup with Broncos 2025 squad which was an awesome game to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kheiri Haynes | 5’9 G | LA Broncos 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haynes played a great point guard for a loaded 2024 LA Broncos squad, who ended up winning the finals for the 2024 division. Haynes is what you want in your point guard. He handled pressure well and remained poised. He’s got great vision in transition, firing passes to teammates sprinting the floor, and in the half court, attacking downhill and getting his guys the ball in spots. Defensively loved watching him and [player_tooltip player_id="1295881" first="Lafayette" last="Allen"] Jr. go at eachother. Pesky on ball defender and got to his help side spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1295881" first="Lafayette" last="Allen"] Jr. | 6’0 G | Fresno Flyers Elite 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guys like Allen Jr. are rare in todays age but you can’t help but appreciate a guy like him when you see it. He is an absolute bull dog on the defensive end of the floor and you can tell he prides himself in how he plays defense and that he loves to play defense. Full court, suffocating on-ball pressure for the 6’0 guard from Strake Jesuit. He was tenacious and his energy was electric. You have to love when a player is clapping his hands on defense. He also put himself in spots to help out his teammates when they got beat, his lateral quickness helped him stay in front of ball handlers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shedrick Smith | 6’0 G | LA Broncos 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith was another prospect that I enjoyed watching him play defense. It seemed he was all over the floor on the defensive end getting involved. Very high energy player. On the offensive side of things he showed out to be a slashing threat and was able to convert on the deep ball. Handled it well and I liked his use of the push cross in transition or when he had some space on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->