USAB JNT Minicamp ’26/’27 Standouts
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We had the opportunity to attend Team USA Junior National Team’s minicamp at the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix, AZ to see some of the top talent in the country compete in front of NBA front office personnel. With daily sessions lasting about two hours long, some of the nation’s top talent in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 class competed for consideration for Team USA’s Junior National teams. We’ll cover some of the individual standouts in the 2026 and 2027 class here today!
’26 Standouts
-An absolute dog on both ends of the floor that doesn’t really do a lot of woofing. Rippey is all business all the time and the motor consistently runs in for a prospect this young. The paint touches he gets are invaluable for his team in any setting, doing a great job dumping it off to a big or finding one of his shooters depending on where the help is coming from. The burst and leaping ability have entered Bronny James/Jeremy Fears “that’s an athletic freak of nature” territory as he finished with a massive 2-handed poster in transition in the same game where he high-point blocked a big at the rim. He doesn’t get sped up by the defense but sometimes over-stimulates himself and gets ahead of his dribble with the sharp angles on his change of direction— a feel thing that will improve in time. Rippey will also need to improve as a catch and shoot threat from beyond the arc to take advantage of the sagging defense that some opponents will play because of the respect they have for his downhill driving ability.
-Through this minicamp I’ve bought in on Montanoti stock because he is A. Doing the little things at a higher level (getting to long rebounds, timing his cuts, using screens better). B. Has improved his body, burst has gotten better and he’s lost the baby fat. C. Most importantly he is what coaches want at the highest levels— a big guard that can come off screens to shoot but can also create his own offense off the bounce. The competitiveness, enthusiasm, and ability to fit into different schemes will serve him well at the next level.
-Bass Jr. is finally beginning to get some of the national respect that he deserves as a legitimate 6’4 scoring guard that can fill it up from beyond the arc but can also take his matchup off the bounce and finish with soft touch on his floaters in the paint. His athleticism has improved and he’s beginning to move a bit more decisively in the half court and it is paying dividends.
-Lit the nets on fire both days that I saw him while also showing some downhill slashing ability with the rock before detonating at the rim. His size and athleticism combined with his aggressive style make him a difficult cover for most wings. Knocked down C+S opportunities but created his shot off the bounce well coming off screens.
’27 Standouts
-Fared better Sunday without some of the bigger 2025 shot-blockers looming to contest his shots at the rim and beyond the arc. Really fluid handle, magician with the ball in his hands that gets to his spots to score at all 3 levels with a very soft touch. Confident shooter with range that lets it fly if he sees even the slightest amount of air space. Next step in his development is to begin hitting opposite wing or corner shooters with hook passes or use a reverse pivot to pull up on drives when he loses the created advantage in order to create for others. Believe as he matures he will understand when he needs to reject screens and get into a pull-up while he still has the air space versus coming off the ball screen as the help defender anticipates his drive. Will need to add more burst and muscle to score against taller, more physical defenders.
Highlights
-Scored a bit more off the bounce and in the paint than he normally does, hitting floaters with either hand in the paint. Hit C+S opportunities and knocked down shots off the bounce, making good decisions to accept or reject ball screens to create space. Showed some growth as a passer off the bounce and making the extra pass to the corner shooter. Will need to add more weight for his frame and improve defensively to reach his ceiling.
-Pure point guard that took care of the rock and found teammates in transition and in the halfcourt without forcing the issue. His pace and dribble cadence is a bit unpredictable and threw his matchup’s timing off on steals. Utilizes a tight handle and spin move to get to his spots in the paint to create or score around the basket.
-Easy to see the raw potential with this prospect with his size and scoring touch in the paint. Plays incredibly hard at both ends and isn’t afraid to throw his body around in the paint to jostle for rebounds. Decent scoring touch out to the midrange, set hard screens, played within himself. Definitely a name to track in the 2027 class as he grows and adds to his game