CREI Evaluations: Part 2

Andrew Force June 9, 2023 @ 11:29 PM

The first June weekend CREI [Crossroads] commenced. It is a camp based out of Indianapolis, Indiana hosted by Adam Shoulders. For 11 years now Shoulders has invited and often hosted many of the country's top incoming freshmen. He is aggressive with his camp invitations and scouting. He tends to get some high-end prospects.

The following players are from Tennessee, but the camp obviously had many more involved.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The numbers preceding the player's name are merely their jersey number. They do not hold any deeper meaning.

Campers

MJ Gibbs (Ezell-Harding)

vs. Team Michael Porter

Gibbs was not outpaced at the event. His speed was in-line with the other guards though he did get burned by a couple of times.

MJ was a better off-ball defender than on-ball actually. The quick guard made a fantastic play, sprinting from the weakside to intercept a swinging pass from wing to top of the key. He dashed and kept low, swatting the ball into the backcourt and initiating his own fastbreak in the process.

Gibbs played for Team Kevin Knox. Each team featured 15 guys, so the rotation was a full five-man swap followed by another.

MJ Gibbs

HEIGHT 6'4"

POS SG

CLASS 2025

View Player

MJ Gibbs

State: Tennessee

School: Ezell-Harding Christian

Club: Clarksville Crossovers

Highlights

Good first-step quickness. Light on his feet. Gibbs needs to become more aggressive rebounding definitely. With his quickness he should be better at tracking down long rebounds. He owns the athleticism and speed to be a better than average guard rebounder.

Gibbs found a new tier of energy as his and his team's defense succeeded. From a sideline inbounds, Gibbs passed high, stepped in and called for the return pass. Before the defending team could react he caught the pass and hit a comfortable corner three-pointer.

Clay Payne Clay Payne 6'8" | SF University School of Nashville | 2025 State TN (USN)

Clay Payne Clay Payne 6'8" | SF University School of Nashville | 2025 State TN made his first @PrepHoopsTN impression, a strong one, way back in September, at the PrepHoops 250 Expo.

vs. Team Michael Porter

In this CREI game Payne displayed exceptional rebounding technique. He sought out his man as the ball arched above the masses, blocking out with vigor. A long rebound missed everyone and Payne chased it down with surprising quickness at his height.

Defensive rebounding is a strength.

CP worked to achieve winning rebound position consistently.

Payne is thin but not weak.