Middleton has the profile of a player capable of making a major jump, and his summer performance only strengthened that belief. He showed great strength and skill around the basket which made him a difficult cover, but his ability to attack off the bounce adds a dimension that significantly raises his ceiling. He has the tools to become a consistent offensive weapon while impacting winning with his rebounding and physical presence. We believe Middleton has legitimate breakout potential, and if his continued development matches what he showed this summer, he has a chance to become one of the more intriguing frontcourt prospects in his class

We got a chance to watch Middleton with 7070 Athletics a few weeks ago, and he’s someone that I personally believe can be special if his game continues to elevate. He checked off plenty of boxes on my first watch as a defensive anchor who plays through contact, gave opposing bigs problems with his size, and he also isn’t a player who is limited to just one thing. He mixed it up a bit and did a bit of everything. He put the ball on the floor when defenders got close, finished through bodies, and controlled the glass on both ends. There’s enough there to think he can keep building momentum, and the Freshman Showcase is a great opportunity to show that performance wasn’t a one-weekend flash.

Middleton was the anchor in the paint for 7070 throughout their championship run and consistently made his impact felt on both ends of the floor. With his size and physical presence, he was a tough matchup all weekend long. He did a great job scoring with his back to the basket, showing patience and touch around the rim but what made him even more effective was his ability to put the ball on the floor and attack defenders off the bounce. On top of his scoring Middleton was a major force on the glass, controlling rebounds and creating extra possessions for his team