Antonio Pemberton Antonio Pemberton 6'1" | CG Masters Academy International | 2027 State #53 Nation New E played with excellent pace and control, utilizing the hang dribble and lateral glide to get defenders leaning off balance before exploding with his first-step burst into the teeth of the defense. A remarkable ball-handler against pressure and physical chest bumps, he combined sharp between-the-legs and behind-the-back counters with hard stops on a dime while using his shoulders and off-arm to create legal separation against aggressive defenders. His fluid transition deceleration into the pull-up consistently allowed him to create, capitalize, and convert at a high level.

Antonio Pemberton Antonio Pemberton 6'1" | CG Masters Academy International | 2027 State #53 Nation New E is a 2027 guard that played with the Mass Rivals in the 3SSB Session III in Bryan. He plays at an up-tempo pace with the ball in his hands as he gets down the floor with a purpose, whether it’s him making a play for others or himself. Offensively, Antonio likes to pull up in mid-range, often using his creativity to pull up in that area while also being able to get pull-ups on the perimeter. Antonio operates the guard position well, being very capable of dictating both sides of the ball with his impact. After the session in Bryan, he was able to pick up offers from major schools, including Michigan State University and Ole Miss University!

Wow. Pemberton has improved his stock as much as anyone in New England (and arguably the entire country) during July’s live periods. The 6-foot-1 guard proved that, on high volume and with heavy contests, he’s able to hit difficult pull-up jumpers from both the mid-range and the three and can therefore be the engine of a really solid offense. Over the course of he and Mass Rivals’ run to the 3SSB championship, the incoming Masters Academy International senior scored the ball at will and showcased special change-of-direction capabilities with the ball in his hands. His crossover is lethal, and his ability to stop on a dime and get his shot off makes him a threat from all over. I’m not sure he’s an elite passer yet, but he seems to have the unselfishness necessary to become way better there.  

Antonio Pemberton was easily one of the top guards I was able to watch at the Adidas 3SSB session last weekend and he came away with some high major D1 offers to add to his already impressive resume. I liked Antonio’s ability to slash past defenders to the rim and he also creates space for himself well off the dribble, allowing him to get up quick and uncontested shots. Whether spotting up on the perimeter or breaking down his matchup in isolation, Pemberton got buckets efficiently and quickly to help Mass Rivals 17u pull out some key wins.

Pemberton was, admittedly, a glaring omission from my recent player archetype article on tough shot-makers—the 6-foot-1 guard is one of the best difficult shot-makers in the entire country, and he showed that this past weekend in Texas. The rising senior gets to his spots effortlessly with his tight handle and effective change-of-pace dribble moves, and then he gets amazing elevation on his shot, which allows him to get good looks off against whoever is guarding him. But the Mass Rivals’ star also sets up his teammates beautifully and was an elite facilitator this weekend; the game continues to slow down for him as he learns to master the pick and roll. Defensively, Pemberton holds his own against opposing guards and is a playmaker off the ball, whether it be in passing lanes or rotating on the weak side. He has established himself as a high-major player, and the offers are going to keep rolling for him—most recently he got a couple from UCLA and Kansas. 

Pemberton has been on a total tear this AAU season and is racking up the offers as a result. For a 6-foot guard, the Masters Academy International junior has one of the most effective pull-up jumper games you’ll see. He’s able to get to his spots in the mid range and elevate for middies effortlessly, but he can also take contact quite effectively at the rim and has a knack for finishing in traffic. Perhaps most impressive is that Pemberton gives up nothing on the defensive end and actually makes plays quite consistently—he’s averaging over 2 steals a game while carrying a large offensive load. Tennessee is his latest offer, but more will probably come.

Pemberton’s early season has been highlighted by excellent performances at both the Pitt Jamfest (where he was the tournament’s MVP) and 3SSB session 1. The 6-foot guard’s shot looks as pretty as ever, and even though he’s undersized for his position, he’s still able to rise up over the defense and consistently knock down shots in the mid range. Even with taller and longer defenders on him, he has the quickness to get to his spots and the athleticism to make their contest irrelevant. Pemberton has the keys to Mass Rivals’ offense, and he has shown a keen ability to score, as well as a knack for getting his teammates involved once the defense overplays him—and he’s done so all while being efficient. Providence is his latest offer, and more will come.

Pemberton, a guard out of Brewster Academy, continued to stand out with his offensive production and ability to raise the level of the play of those around him. Much has been made about his ability to score the basketball in recent months, but I thought he impressed on Friday with the well-roundedness of his game and his understanding of how much attention he attracts as a scorer. He does a great job of playing within the flow of the offense, while also showing proper instincts of when to hunt his own shot. Defensively, he teams with Moore and White (below), to make life miserable for opposing back-courts.