Show Me Showdown: The Rim-Rockers
The Show Me Showdown concluded Sunday afternoon, wrapping up an action-packed weekend full of fierce competition and big time individual performances across the board. Elite athleticism was on display, and no rim in the area was safe from destruction. Here…
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Continue ReadingThe Show Me Showdown concluded Sunday afternoon, wrapping up an action-packed weekend full of fierce competition and big time individual performances across the board. Elite athleticism was on display, and no rim in the area was safe from destruction. Here is a look at a handful of the most impressive rim-rockers that the state of Missouri had to offer, along with a few out-of-state high flyers that caught our eye.
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Evan Guillory and Gavyn Elkamil – Carroll GoL1ve
There is a host of reasons to be impressed with Team Carroll’s back-court, and one of them is the supreme athleticism possessed by the duo of Evan Guillory and Gavyn Elkamil who can both get off the floor and finish with authority at the rim. Guillory, one half of the Joplin Jammers high-flying high school duo, is built like a linebacker and jumps like a track-star. If defenses lose sight of him at any point he is a threat for a lob or put back jam, and when he gets out in transition make sure to have your cameras ready to record. Gavyn is a rising D-1 prospect that may have boosted his stock as much as anyone over the weekend. He was able to attack off the dribble in the half-court and finish with authority in traffic and threw down an impressive transition slam over a challenger. The electric tandem combined for nearly ten dunks between the two of them in a big win over the Clarksville Snipers on Saturday.
Sekou Gassama and Yaya Keira – Gateway
Sekou and Yaya are two of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. They are also two of the most intimidating guys you’ll see in any gym. Both stand near 6’10 with chiseled, athletic frames and they can punish rims with the best of them. Yaya plays with unlimited energy and effort which leads to some “head above rim” highlights in transition. He also does a great job of positioning himself for dump-offs and throwing it down with two-hands. Sekou loves to finish lobs and put-backs off the rim with force. He also had one of the highlights of the weekend, when he perfectly executed a drop step spin by a defender on the block and hammered one home with authority. These two are a treat to watch and are only scratching the surface of their potential.
Gary Clark – Team Ramey
Gary Clark is a 6’7 uber-athletic forward with some projectability. He is a big-time high flyer that keeps defenses on poster-alert at all times. When he gets out on the break, he looks like he is powered by rocket-fuel and is also very effective as a rim runner and board crasher that soars over defenses for slams.
Breven McMullen – Gateway
One of the regions best shooters and elite scorers, Breven showed off improved and impressive athleticism and leaping ability at the Show Me Showdown. In Saturday pool-play, he snuck behind the defense and finished a two hand alley-oop and followed that up on Sunday with an eye-popping two-hand flush right off the tip in the 17U semi-final game. At 6’6, with his shooting ability and bounce, more coaches are likely to be calling in the very near future.
Donyae McCaskill – Missouri Flight
Donyae is a tremendous athlete and impressive leaper who was described by our very own Matt Reynolds as a “walking highlight reel”. He was certainly a crowd-pleaser and rim-rocker over the weekend. Aside from his impressive dunk-package, he has excellent second-jump vertical that effectively makes him a human pogo-stick.
Terrell Kabala – Victory Ministry (Blue)
Terrell is an impressive athlete across the board. At 6’1, the D-1 football prospect, had a tremendous weekend leading Victory Ministry Blue to an impressive final four run in 17u bracket play. He is a physical slasher that has no reservations about attacking the rim and throwing it down in traffic. Defenses beware.
Jalen Hampton – Gateway (16u)
The 6’5 forward from University City has frightening athleticism and he knows it. He may have been the most explosive player in the 16u field. He looks to dunk everything. Jalen is a problem in transition with his ability to go up and get a lob or put it on the floor and get to the rim himself. He loves to face-up inside the arc, rip through, and explode to the basket to finish with authority.
Out of State High-Flyers of Note:
- Caleb Zurliene – Illinois Bears (Zurliene)
- Keeshawn Chambers – Chicago Demons
- Jaylen Daughtery – Michigan Tranzition