Jr. 3SSB South Regional: Day 1 Breakout 8th Grade Prospects

The Jr. 3SSB South Regional brought high-level grassroots basketball to the Round Rock Sports Center in [player_tooltip player_id='2854586' first='Austin' last=''], Texas, with some of the region's top young prospects competing in a fast-paced, highly competitive environment. Across multiple age groups, players were tested by athleticism, physicality, and constant game action, the type of setting that quickly separates potential from production. From emerging guards showing command and confidence to versatile wings and bigs impacting both ends, several prospects used the South Regional stage to elevate their profile and establish early momentum heading into the circuit season.    The top leading scoring of the 8th grade division after Day 1 was Hayden Purvis with 22 points per game. This prospect brought elite size and strength paired with developing mobility, making his presence felt especially on the defensive glass. He rebounded with purpose, initiating contact, sealing his man, and attacking the ball at its peak. Once he secured boards, he showed flashes of coast-to-coast ability, pushing the ball with confidence. Around the rim, Purvis was a force, thriving on the block and in traffic as he absorbed contact and finished through it with no hesitation. His physicality, rebounding instincts, and willingness to embrace contact made him a tone-setter in the paint.     Mason Dews came out cooking in the early 8am tip, bringing an energy that set the tone for the entire event. A true shooter alert, he was ready the instant the ball touched his hands, forcing defenders into closeouts that rarely bothered him. His left-handed release and quick trigger stayed consistent no matter the contest, repeatedly demoralizing defenders. What separated Dews is his advanced deceleration footwork, the ability to slow down in traffic to finish with up-and-unders, step-throughs, and tough layups. Combined with high-leverage scoring instincts and poise, he showed a complete offensive package that translates beyond just catch-and-shoot success.     Mason Rodal imposed his will as a tough, physical scorer on the block, powering through contact and consistently converting off first and second jump opportunities, often cleaning up his own misses. His motor and awareness extended beyond scoring, impacting the game on both ends. Defensively, he forced misses with disciplined closeouts and timely contests, while offensively he moved well without the ball, flashing and diving into space to make himself a reliable scoring and passing option. Rodal's exceptional size and length, highlighted by a massive wingspan for his age, gives him a strong two-way foundation with clear long-term upside.     Ray Peterson Jr. was an unstoppable downhill force, impacting the game both on and off the ball. He consistently hurt defenses with timely face cuts and backdoor action, turning small windows into immediate scoring chances. In transition, he was a fastbreak demon, once he caught the ball, he was instantly gone, beating defenders to the rim with ease. His explosive first step, effortless bounce, and creative finishing through traffic made him a constant threat attacking closeouts or broken floor situations. Peterson's ability to apply pressure without needing isolation touches made him one of the most efficient slashers of the group.     Mason Tello consistently separated himself with his command of the game and advanced feel for orchestration. His understanding of spacing, pass timing, and trajectory was evident as he delivered passes over the top, skipped the ball cross-court, and hit shooters directly in rhythm on the wings and corners. Tello showed patience and poise as a table-setter, using bounce dribbles and probing footwork to maintain separation and ensure the offense flowed toward great shots rather than forced ones. What elevated his impact was his constant readiness to score, the moment defenders switched, dropped, or failed to step up, he punished them with confident pull-ups. He capped his performance as a true catalyst in their comeback, drilling a deep, go-ahead pull-up three that ignited the bench and nearly sealed the game, a moment that underscored his clutch shot-making and leadership.

The Jr. 3SSB South Regional brought high-level grassroots basketball to the Round Rock Sports Center in Austin Austin 6'2" | CG Covenant Classical | 2027 TX , Texas, with some of the region's top young prospects competing in a fast-paced, highly competitive environment. Across multiple age groups, players were tested by athleticism, physicality, and constant game action, the type of setting that quickly separates potential from production. From emerging guards showing command and confidence to versatile wings and bigs impacting both ends, several prospects used the South Regional stage to elevate their profile and establish early momentum heading into the circuit season.