Year number 11 of the Tennessee Prep Hoops Rankings and Exposure Showcase is in the books and a special thanks to Carson Newman for the use of their outstanding facilities. We had 90+ players make it down for the showcase and as we begin the evaluations I wanted to inform everyone that I had three college coaches, as well as, myself combine for these player evaluations. They will be posted by Camp Team and will come sporadically over the next couple weeks or so. Let us begin.
Alabama
Alex Mitchell (Community)
6-0 PG 2020
Camp Number: 11
Average size guard with some offensive skills. Showed the ability to shoot the ball and was comfortable in most sets on the offensive side of the ball. He will need to work on his quickness and footwork and become more acclimated to the lead guard position, which his size will mandate. That being said decision making will be a major focus. He needs to become more defensive oriented and take this side of the game a bit more seriously. He lacks strength, which does keep some from being physical on that end of the floor. He has some quickness that should aid in taking his defensive effort to another level.
Jared Strickland (Dobyns-Bennett)
6-3 PG/SG 2019
Camp Number: 12
" Needs to dance less and become more efficient if he is to play the lead guard spot anywhere on the next level", was the most glaring of the quotes for this rising senior combo guard. He is a skilled player who has numerous gifts which were mentioned in detail by every evaluation. He is smooth, decent body, plays hard, likes to dribble, theatrical is a good passer and a competent defender. He has a decent outside stroke and seems to play with a love for the game. Tone down the extravagance and just make simple plays, your talent level will be more than enough to get you a solid chance to play at the next level.
Will Brown (Farragut)
6-4 SG/WF 2019
Camp Number: 14
The superlatives were plentiful for this rising senior from the Knoxville area. He has a good feel for the game, is very solid inside the paint, has good footwork albeit not overly athletic and can score on every level. He has adequate footwork and was a capable defender. Some think he could play on the wing, others thought his best shot for next level success was as the new age four. He is always around the ball, has a nice frame and knows how to finish at the rim. He needs to work on his quickness and ball-handling which could help skew which position he plays on the next level. Either way he is an emerging young player who will be a solid prospect for the right level.
Noah Waller (Washburn)
6-3 PF 2019
Camp Number: 15
"Played his role well, low maintenance player who doesn't require the ball to be a contributor", was the most honest and crucial of the evaluations for this rising senior. He really plays hard, he was able to get buckets inside, he finished well despite contact and he was a solid defender on the block. He lacks overt athleticism and he will obviously need to work on his foot work and explosion. His shooting also need some fine tuning including his ultra low release. Tweaking some of those fundamentals with his shooting technique will certainly aid in his offensive production.
Charlie Rice (Maryville)
5-10 PG 2022
Camp Number: 16
"This kid is right on the verge of being a very good player for many years to come", was one evaluation for this young man who hasn't even played in a high school basketball game yet. He is smart, he sees the floor, loves to pass and has an above average basketball IQ for one so young. He applies ball pressure which was a sticking point for the coaches who helped evaluate, they love this. He has a decent shot that will needs some minor fundamental tweaking and balance issues. He is a leader and even at this young age he competes and isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. I think the sky is the limit for this youngster as he gets his body more prepared for the higher levels, you will see his maturation and skill level continue to elevate as well. He has great hair too.
Zach Street (Stone Memorial)
6-0 SG 2020
Camp Number: 17
Not convinced of his alleged size but he does play with effort. He is fast and attacks the basket. His size will once again dictate that he work on the lead guard spot but he is more comfortable off the ball. His shot is good but does need to become more consistent. He can finish at the rim and is a fearless driver in the half-court or in transition where his attack mode style is really evident. His quickness should lend to him being a more productive defender but that is still a work in progress. Guards this size are a dime a dozen so finding ways to distinguish yourself from the crowd will go a long way in your growth and maturation as a basketball player.
Greg Moore (Knoxville Central)
6-0 SG 2021
Camp Number: 18
Painfully thin young guard showed moments of clarity but needs to work on valuing the ball. "He seemingly turned it over every time he touched it in the half-court", was among the several evaluation who noticed his propensity for giving the ball away. He seems to try to do too much and isn't always comfortable without the ball in his hands. He has some length but gives little to no effort on the defensive side of the floor. On the positive side he can shoot the ball when he sets his feet and doesn't rush. He is skilled when he is under control and can do some positive things. He is young and as his body catches up he will work to correct some of these issues.
Chandler Ferguson (Hancock County)
6-4 PF 2023
Camp Number: 19
Rising 8th grader showed some real promise playing against the older players. He has good size and you tend to forget he is still a year away from playing in his first high school basketball game. He will need to get in basketball shape. He is an undersized four at this level but he has some skills and fight to his game. He sets wicked screens and can put the ball in the hole on the low block. He will need to work on his foot work and his hands, he rarely caught anything clean into the post. If he continues to work, gets his body where it needs to be and continues to make the progress he is already showing at this juncture of his career, we will be discussing more significant results the next time we lay our eyes upon him.
Colby Hale (Farragut)
6-0 SG 2021
Camp Number: 20
Solid contributor with a good mid-range stroke and a heady defender. He showed some ball skills in the half court with his handles and was especially comfortable while handling the ball in transition. He can get into the lane and has a decent pull-up game. He will need to work on his strength and quickness just like everyone else his age and grade level. His quickness and athleticism are average at best but he does have a nice feel for what is going on. Continue to work on that shot and make it a primary weapon, his best game may be at the two while being able to spell some at the lead guard with his ability to make good decisions.
