Elite 8 Fall Preview 2024 Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacramento CA- The Elite 8, a one day event held at Monterey Trail High School had a tournament style format, 8 team bracket. Winning two games puts you in the finals. While playing Fall Ball teams play under the club name. Here we dive into the 2024 prospects who competed well at this event. Monterey Trail (Featured) won this tournament</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119253' first='Ben' last='Roseborough'] 6'4 guard of Monterey Trail HS (Trailblazers)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's top 3 in NorCal's 2024 class with multiple DI offers. He's a shot maker from long and short distance, he makes shots while being guarded closely. He's hard to guard and presents a match-up problem for some at this level with his body and strength in open space. He's a big strong body guard that has good handles, plays on balance and generate points in different ways. He's one of the consistent scorers in NorCal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1382887' first='Kentrell' last='Kelly'] 6'6 Forward of Monterey Trail HS (Trailblazers)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly is the man in the post for this team, and will do most of his damage in and around the post area. He's strong, plays well off two feet in the paint, He active and moves well in the post area, using reverses and other ways to score. He has a paint jumper. He'll rebound, defend hard in the post, and he runs the court well looking to finish. He's a problem when he's locked in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119254' first='Brandon' last='Gibson'] 6'4 G/F of Monterey Trail HS, (Trailblazers)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gibson has good upside. He's a big body, long and still growing. He has a decent set of skills to work with. He makes good use of his body while handling, and protecting the ball when he makes his move towards the basket, and working inside to help get rebounds. He has the range and confidence to put up 3's, he'll make some throughout the game. He handles, and pushes in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1515114' first='Damarion' last='Vann-Kelly'] 6'3 Guard of Monterey Trail HS Trailblazers)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We haven't seen a lot of Vann-Kelly up until now. The one thing that stands out is his ability to knock down 3ptrs with range when he's gets in to a rhythm. He was settled, didn't rush or take bad shots. He got good open looks spotting up behind the 3pt line, he was shot ready. He hit in transition and from the corners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1124083' first='Kevin' last='Haupt'] 5'10 Guard of Jesuit HS. (Red Raiders)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haupt just understands the game. He plays at a good pace, and knows when to do things that guards do. He's a good facilitator up top with the vision, passing and patience to run the team effectively in half-court sets. What's becoming more apparent to us is his ability to move off ball and knock down mid-range jumpers, and 3's at a good rate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256578' first='Cole' last='Epperson'] 6'8 Forward of Jesuit HS, (Red Raiders)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Epperson standing 6'8 has shown us he can be an effective player working inside for rebounds, and scoring with a good touch around the rim, also working out on the perimeter doing a bit of ball handling. He spots up in the corners and on the perimeter for catch and shoot 3's, he'll attack along the baseline to get to the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256579' first='Will' last='Jenkins'] 6'2 Guard of Jesuit HS (Red Raiders)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jenkins is a hard playing guard who's is always moving when he comes into the game. He bring energy and looks better suited for a fast pace game where he can just go all out in transition. He's good with the ball passing and pushing, he works to stay in front of ball handlers full court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119270' first='Tyler' last='Thompson'] 6'5 Guard of Vanden HS. (Family First)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big guard is showing a versatile skill-set, and is a prospect who can effect the game on both sides. He's a capable scorer who'll get a bucket in different ways. He facilitates when called to do so, he's a quality passer with good court vision. He has good length and movements to defend multiple positions, he had a nice chase down block. He's a good rebounding guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119279' first='Ahsan' last='Huff'] 6'7 Forward of Vanden HS. (Family First)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huff has made improvements across the board, he's a rising prospect in NorCal, and the 2024 class. He's long, square shouldered, and getting stronger. We're seeing a confident player with an improved offensive skill-set, and becoming a threat when he has the ball in transition and on the perimeter. He plays with good energy, and bounce. He is the top rebounding forward in the NorCal 2024 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256630' first='Jaden' last='Woodard'] 6'3 Forward of Sheldon HS (Big Dawgs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standing only 6'3 Woodard did most of his work in the paint. He was very active using his body and quick jump for rebounds, and tap ins. He works hard in and around the basket despite the obvious size mismatch. He's a tough minded defender who makes taller players work for points against him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Montue 6'0 Guard of Grant HS (Pacer Basketball)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's always good to see a player who puts in the work, and it starts to pay off. Montue had a good showing at this event. He plays with good intensity. His skill set is good. He uses his speed and handles to get by defenders for paint jumpers, and shots around the free throw area. He doesn't force shots, but will put it up from 3 if left unattended. He has the length and foot-speed to defend on ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1127706' first='Ahjani' last='Lewis'] 6'1 Guard of Jesuit HS (Red Raiders)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis played well at this event. We don't get to see him much for one reason or another, but he has a good fundamental skill-set, and showed he could be an effective player when he's on the court. He handles, and passes well, makes good decisions with the ball. He has a good looking jump shot, and he scored points on drives into the paint. We need to see more of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->