The Tennessee Prep Hoops Rankings and Exposure Showcase at Carson Newman went off without a hitch as over 100 players from the vicinity showed up and played hard for the day. Here are the evaluations based on information ascertained from myself and three other competent sources I had making observations on that day.
Group C
Ohio State (C1)
112) Tre Tate (Alcoa) 2012
Unselfish point guard does a lot of things right, he is athletic, strong for his size and can pass in traffic or lead the break. Tate must improve on his decision making and shot selection. He can score but at times makes things entirely too difficult with shots he should not pursue.
113) Spencer Shoffner (Georgia) 2012
Underrated athletic competitor has shown marked improvement every season he has been in the prep ranks. Shoffner can shoot the outside shot, plays well in a system and will smash it on you if you underestimate his leaping skills. He has decent handles and will need to improve this facet for the next level a tough minded kid who knows how to win.
114) Nick Campbell (CAK) 2013
Showed some nice skills and always plays hard when on the floor, Campbell ran the floor well and battled for loose balls keeping possessions alive for his squad. He showed he could score around the bucket and most importantly finished with contact inside. He must improve his shooting and ball handling skills at his size for the next level.
115) Lucas Ledbetter (Cookeville) 2013
Better than expected big man showed he understood the basics of Post play 101. He showed good hands, blocked some shots and grabbed several rebounds in and out of his area. He ran the floor well and hustled up and down despite not seeing the ball as much as we would have liked. He definitely needs to add strength and like most young posts work on his offensive game and develop a go to move.
117) Jarrod Brown (Grainger) 2013
Like a lot of the kids who hail from Grainger, Brown showed he could shoot the ball. His shot release will need to be much quicker especially against more accomplished athletes and he will need to work on his lateral quickness and foot speed as the high school season approaches.
118) Caleb Ruffner (Midway) 2013
Possesses good size and can score the ball, Ruffner plays hard and never gives up on a play. His shot release is good and the finish is also good, he needs to quicken his motion as he advances against better athletes. He should be a sound player on the Class A level and with improved footwork could be a player who challenges for player of the year honors at his level.
119) Taylor Bentley (Bradley Central) 2014
Bentley is a fun to watch young player, who plays with emotion and has craftiness about his game that immediately draws your attention. He is very active and has an outstanding first step for a player who is not exceptionally athletic. He knows how to finish inside and once his strength catches up with his game he could be a force down in his area. He uses both equally well around the bucket. He must improve his outside stroke which would only enhance his ability to put the ball on the deck.
120) Josh Coleman (Rhea County) 2013
Ever improving young post shows a high basketball IQ and is much more athletic than he is given credit for. Coleman plays with emotion and goes after every rebound; he attacks the rim on offense and has an array of moves he is learning which could make him an outstanding inside threat for the next couple of seasons. His shooting and ball-handling skills will determine as which level he can ascend after high school.
North Carolina (C2)
122) Chase Atkins (Claiborne) 2012
Chase is a solid catch and shoot player who has range out to the three-point line and beyond. His most effective spot is the deep corner and he has an understanding of how to play the game. He needs to work on his ball-handling and decision making from the lead guard spot and show some versatility by being able to play either guard spot equally well.
123) Christian Haile (Shelbyville) 2012
Good motor and active defender have always describe this Shelbyville product, Haile has improved his ball-handling and uses a nice change of pace dribble to score at the bucket finishing with either hand equally well. His outside shot is coming along but needs more work on his form and consistency; he needs to work on his decision-making skills from the perimeter and especially his entry into the post.
124) Michael Headrick (Grainger) 2012
Wide bodied youngster who relies on his size and strength to get buckets and out-muscle his opponent, Headrick will learn to use some finesse and absorb contact instead of always being the initiator. He can shoot the ball despite a flat-footed release. He has a tendency to hang on the perimeter a bit too often not utilizing his skills inside. He plays hard and is the type of player who helps his team win ball games.
126) Lucas Campbell (CAK) 2015
Campbell showed no fear despite being outsized and out muscled for majority of the day. The kid has a nice feel for the game and is in constant motion on offense which is hard to teach any young player. His skills will obviously come around as he gathers confidence and strength. He showed he could shot a little from the deep corner and has an idea of how things work just doesn't have the strength or skill to execute just yet.
128) Walker McGowan (Bradley Central) 2014
Perpetual motion is how to describe this kid, he sprints the floor and runs hard everywhere he goes on the court. He showed a knack for making the right pass and is a shot faker supreme when he tried to score on the interior. He needs to cut out the excessive dribbling and keep his head up to make better basketball decisions when he has the ball.
129) Tre Fields (Science Hill) 2014
"Needs to play hard all the time, he has a real chance", was the direct quote from one evaluation of Mr. Fields. We couldn't agree more this kid a world of potential and once he develops some confidence in himself he will be very good. His game is catch and shoot and he uses his length to score at the rim and has a decent outside stroke. He needs to obviously get stronger so his forays to the bucket will be more costly to his opponents but his skill level is above average for his age group, now it's up to him to put the whole package together.
130) Lannom Sowell (Signal Mountain) 2014
Sowell has made a steady improvement in every facet of his game and showed some really good passing and scoring skills at the showcase. He has a great feel for the game and doesn't do many things that get him in trouble. He passes well out of the post, looks for cutters, rebounds with consistency and runs the floor. He needs to play with more aggression and use his size to carve out space for easy buckets inside. He plays a bit straight up and will need to make himself into more of an athletic presence, especially on defense.
Clemson (C3)
131) Justin Ragsdale (Silverdale Academy) 2012
Justin did a very good job running the point at the showcase and proved he is an outstanding passer especially in the half-court portion of the game. He got people in the right positions on offense showing the leadership required from that dubious position on the court. He can also put the ball in the basket, either off the dribble or from the perimeter. He knows tempo and is good at controlling the pace of the game. He needs to work on his athleticism especially regarding lateral quickness against smaller and jet-like points.
133) Hunter Spaw (Grainger) 2012
Solid contributor on any team he a part of, Spaw has a knack for hitting the open shot, he runs the floor well and will knock down the deep one in transition if not guarded. He plays smart and is a very solid defender especially on the help side. Increasing his foot speed and lateral quickness could help him immensely against much quicker and athletic guards in the future.
134) Daron Nelson (Bearden) 2013
Big body that is still learning the nuisances of the game, Nelson must increase his quickness and learn to use that size to create plays and space for plays inside. He shoots the ball ok but doesn't understand a good from a bad shot. Nelson is inexperienced and still learning the game, especially on the high school level.
135) Thomas Moran (Grainger) 2013
Good size youngster still learning his craft but has a nice grasp of what he can and cannot do on the court. He moves ok but has a tendency to go much to fast and creates bad situations for himself. He keeps the ball high on the boards and doesn't try to do too much with the ball. As he advances he will need to add some offensive moves into his repertoire and become a bit of a threat with the ball. He is not void of offensive ability just needs to work on becoming more confident with the basketball.
136) Kaden Wampler (Science Hill) 2015
Youngster showed some heart and was certainly not intimidated by the older players which are an outstanding sign of his work ethic and his passion to succeed in the game. Kaden is a smart player with good size who takes it strong especially in transition, likes to run. Adding strength applies to everyone at this age but I have a feeling I will be hearing this name again in the near future.
137) Logan Cox (Bradley Central) 2014
Hard working player who has been very well coached and understands his strengths and weaknesses on the floor, Cox is a dead-eye shooter who is in constant motion and likes to come off the screen cocked and ready to let it fly. He has very active hands on defense and despite not being a great athlete he is a good position defender. He needs to work on his explosion and using the dribble more to make himself hard to guard.
138) Brad Richardson (Wartburg Central) 2012
Solid team player and glue guy who helps you win ball games. He doesn't do anything exceptionally well but he does a lot of things ok which in turn helps the final outcome. He should be effective this season at the Class A level with his ability to do a lot of things on the offensive side of the court.
Virginia Tech (C4)
142) Matthew Wagoner (Austin East) 2013
Good sized inside player who was not afraid to mix it up on the boards and played good position defense. He plays stationary and must learn to move laterally and add some quickness to his game. His offense is a work in progress as he gets more comfortable being on that side of the ball.
143) Brandon Crabtree (Scott) 2012
Pleasant surprise with his athleticism and overall basketball skill level, Crabtree can score from the outside with a nice looking shot and is not afraid to put the ball on the deck and finish at the rim. He has a quick first step, uses the pump fake well and possesses a nice one dribble pull-up to boot.
144) Micah Goss (Hardin Valley) 2013
Improving guard has some skills but needs to show more aggression more often when he is on the floor. Goss has a nice stroke from deep or mid-range but would benefit his percentage by holding his follow through longer. He knows how to play and when he learns to attack more he can become a much bigger weapon for his team.
145) Seth Shearman (Meigs County) 2013
Seth has made strides in his offensive production adding a short jumper to his arsenal; he needs to work on his hand strength and his face up game on offense. He has decent post skills but needs to speed up his foot work and be more deliberate on his decisions. His progress is noticeable and as he becomes more active on both ends his production will rise.
148) Xavier Howard (Harriman) 2013
Howard has a scorer's mentality and uses his size to make space and finish buckets at the rim; he loves to take the lead on the break and will go hard to the glass for his scores. His outside shot is good yet must be quickened especially on his release. Being left-handed he has a tendency to rely on this when easy buckets could come his way with a right hand. He makes things difficult at times and uses the spin into the lane entirely too often.
149) John Hall (Silverdale Academy) 2013
Creative scorer around the bucket, Hall uses a variety of fakes and manages to get the ball in the bucket. He has good hands and will make the entry pass into the post. He has a tendency to over commit himself to his finishes towards the rim. He will benefit from added lateral quickness and foot work drills.
150) Zachary Miller (Cloudland) 2013
Solid offensive contributor understands the game but doesn't always have the strength to make the play he sees develop in front of him. Miller needs to play with more reckless abandon, he plays hard but has a tendency to just stop and not finish his mission. Improving his overall game especially in the ball-handling aspect would benefit him greatly this season.
