Prep Hoops Ranking: 36th

Next Highest Ranking: 43rd (Rivals)

The 15 U EYBL MVP, McDaniel is an incredibly talented offensive player who can flat out create offensively at a high level. McDaniel is so quick and slippery with the ball in his hands and he can knock down pull-up jumpers in an instant. McDaniel has a very deep bag offensively with plenty of crossovers to get the defense off balance and that ball handling ability. McDaniel was fantastic for The Family at the 15 U level this summer and had made the jump to prep school to play at Bella Vista. We’ll see if McDaniel eventually makes the jump to 2028 to hit college earlier but his offensive talent will make him one of the most exciting offensive players to watch in the country while he’s still playing high school basketball.

Crafty one on one player who has a variety of counters and excellent change of pace and level to keep defenders off balance. He can score himself or set up teammates with precise passes to open shooters. He possesses a strong ball handle and uses eye movements and fakes to deceive defenders while maintaining composure to finish plays patiently.

I watched a lot of Class of 2029 action at the Bill Hensley Memorial Run N Slam and McDaniel may have been the best guard at the event. The 5’11” playmaker poured in 29 points to win the 15u championship against All Ohio – Baneville. He has the ball on a string, can make any pass at any time, and obviously knows how to score it as well. Thomas is absolutely one to watch in Michigan’s current freshman class.

Toe-to-toe, Jordan might’ve been the best isolation scorer in the building for his class. He scored a game-high 30 PTS against a talented 3SSB squad to lead The Family 15U to victory in their final contest of the weekend. Good things followed suit when the ball was in his hands thanks to advanced decision-making going downhill. Jordan led stretches of what seemed like layup after layup regardless of if he had to extend his reach to complete the bucket or finish through contact. He also proved that he could finish with both hands at a very high level. Beyond scoring, Jordan notably secured a 50-50 ball that surely seemed as if it would go out of bounds, showcasing great body control and court awareness.

Brother Rice topped Groves by a score of 72-52. The electric guard is a key part of a team that I believe has Breslin Center type of talent. McDaniel showed his explosiveness with a 19 point and 4 assist performance. Not many freshman can put up those types of numbers come playoff time.

McDaniel played a key role in Brother Rice’s victory, playing the game just across the parking lot from their high school. An incredibly skilled guard, McDaniel was able to get where he wanted to off the dribble and made some impressive perimeter shots. I was very impressed with McDaniel’s ball skills, quickly gaining control of the basketball to push it up the court and able to change directions quickly on the ball. McDaniel also made himself available after his taller teammates secured offensive rebounds, scoring a few times off second chance opportunities. Defensively, McDaniel wants to guard the opposing ball handler and try and force turnovers. Very impressive freshman point guard who has an extremely bright future and is already impactful against top high school teams in the region.

McDaniel has some scary upside to his game. He already has a ton of poise for a freshman. In a HUGE game against Rockford, he was unshakable, even as a guard that saw the ball and decisions in his hands. McDaniel has elite handle and was able to consistently attack the rim and finish in traffic,

The Brother Rice freshman had a memorable opener to his high school career. His team looked the part of a state title contender in game 1, winning against Ferndale by a score of 87-59. McDaniel is one of the most talented freshman in the state and he gave a glimpse of that last night. He finished the game with 24 points, 5 assists and 4 boards.