Echols represents the older class in this group. His development as a creator will be worth tracking through his ability to pressure the defense, get into useful areas of the floor and turn those advantages into productive possessions.

Boog’s Take: The key is what happens after the initial penetration. Can he finish through traffic, find the open teammate or reset the offense when the defense recovers?

Another standout eighth grader, Echols is a long, lanky guard who uses his length to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He has a high IQ and knows where his teammates are going to be, seemingly before they even do, leading them into scoring positions with his passing. He has great vision, handles it well, and can play downhill and get to the rim off the bounce. On the defensive end he moves his feet really well and does a nice job utilizing his long wingspan to not only make life difficult for opposing ball-handlers, but to contest shots as well. He’ll play his high school ball at Davenport Assumption.

Echols had a versatile impact for the 13U champs. His stretching wingspan and quick feet made him a menace on the ball when heading TNT’s full court press. His size and high IQ allowed him to board on both ends and make plays on second and third efforts. Echols showed a lot of grit when driving the ball which yielded a lot of free throw opportunities in which he knocked them down at a high rate.