#TerryTalks: Notes From Holiday Tourneys

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The holidays are known for hoops, and here are a few players who made my notes while I was out watching tons of basketball…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711066,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-CJ-Scott-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-CJ-Scott-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711066" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2415207' first='CJ' last='Scott']</strong> (6'4/CG/'25/Guntersville) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: cj_scott8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @CJ_Scott4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Hoover's Big Orange Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">CJ is an off-guard with the ability to score at all levels. He is an experienced leader on his team with a brilliant floor game. He is the caliber player who will do whatever it takes to win, as seen by his willingness to defend, rebound, orchestrate the offense, and give up his body for 50/50 balls. He is a hard-nosed player who you want going into the battle, and he is a reason why his squad has to be considered a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711067,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Carlos-Brooks-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Carlos-Brooks-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711067" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1923297' first='Carlos' last='Brooks']</strong> (5'11/CG/'25/Patterson HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: plumstlos</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @carlosbrooks23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Sunkist Shootout Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Carlos is a backcourt talent who can go for huge numbers. He scores it at all levels and is a tough cover as he constantly finds his way into the paint and makes plays. He scores well on the inside to be his size, he distributes the rock well, and his game draws fouls earning him trips to the line. He sees the game well and knows how to maneuver through the defense to get to his spots.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711068,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Sam-Welch-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Sam-Welch-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711068" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2455059' first='Sam' last='Welch']</strong> (6'4/F/'26/Homewood) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: iamsamwelch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @iamsamwelch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Hoover's Big Orange Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Sam is a lengthy wing who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. He is a crafty ball-handler and does a good job at creating off-the-bounce and finding teammates. The usage of his wingspan on defense is what really stood out, as he is a versatile defender who can defend multiple positions. He is a key piece to his team's success going down the stretch.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711069,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Grayson-Roy-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Grayson-Roy-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711069" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560378' first='Grayson' last='Roy']</strong> (6'4/SF/'25/St. Thomas More) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: grayson_roy5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Grayson_roy45</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Sunkist Shootout Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Grayson is a hard-nosed talent who spends majority of the time competing on the inside. He is a crafty scorer around the rim and is really good at passing out the post. Though undersized for constant play on the inside, he battles and impacts both ends of the floor with his energy. He plays extremely hard and his passionate play is contagious with his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711070,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Raphael-Bickham-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Raphael-Bickham-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711070" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2471492' first='Raphael' last='Bickham']</strong> (5'11/CG/'27/Brother Martin HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: raphhh4x</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @raphbickham</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Sunkist Shootout Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Raphel is a small backcourt talent who is really good at orchestrating the offense and living in the paint off the bounce. He is listed as a combo guard but is more of a point guard with a mindset of scoring first. He was aggressive on the offensive end of the floor, as he was difficult to contain off the bounce. His decision-making and being more efficient when scoring in the paint are two areas in his game where he has to improve.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711074,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Ejay-Napier-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Ejay-Napier-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711074" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ejay Napier</strong> (5'9/PG/'27/Jackson Prep) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ejay_napier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Hoover's Big Orange Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jackson Prep had a really good showing at the Big Orange Tourney and their success could easily be seen in the play of Ejay. I have seen quite a lot of basketball over the past two weeks, and finding a PG who is really good at facilitating and being comfortable with that role is difficult at times, but this was not the case with Ejay. He is a young lead guard with a budding PG IQ and has natural instincts for the position. He excels at running the offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711075,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Johnathan-Johnson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Johnathan-Johnson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2711075" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Johnathan Johnson</strong> (6'8/PF/'25/Williamson HS)&nbsp; </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Li._John1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Evaluation Tourney: Hoover's Big Orange Tourney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I have heard a lot about Johnathan, and with this being my first time watching him play, he showed some impressive areas. He has size and length and is really good at stretching the floor, as he is a lefty who can score from behind the arc. He showed versatility as he could go down and score on the low block. I would like to see him recognize mismatches more and take advantage of mismatches a little more than he did. He is active on the glass and does a good job challenging shots on defense. He is an athletic finisher, and I would like to see him run the floor harder and get more opportunities in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->