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.
Auburn
Brody Potter (Dobyns-Bennett)
6-2 SG 2019
Camp Number: 22
Fundamentally solid player who showed the ability to shoot the ball. His shot form is predicated on his release which has a tendency to wander when his feet weren't set and he was adrift while trying to force the issue. He was a very good cutter without the ball, not afraid to run the floor and despite a lack of overt athleticism he seemed to have a good feel for the happenings of the game. As the camp went on his shot got more confident and he was shooting as well as anyone at the event. He will need to work on some other aspects of the guard position as he rarely did anything off the dribble and despite his willingness to hustle he was not an eager participant on the defensive side of the floor. The kind of player who really fits well into a structured system as opposed to one that excels at the camp level.
KeJuan Bullard (Austin East)
6-2 SG 2019
Camp Number: 23
"Arguably the best athlete in the gym today, bar none", seemed to be the consensus among those who contributed input into the overall player analysis. Gifted athlete who will flush at any time expecting it or not, he has some length and quickness but doesn't quite know what to do when he is not in close proximity to the basketball. His shot is a certain work in progress and if he is to play in the back court he will need to immediately refine his ball handling skills. His athleticism should lean towards becoming a lock down defender, another concept he will need to embrace. The potential is there and there is no denying his physical gifts, does he have the want to? He is the perfect candidate for a top junior college willing to work on finding him a position and working on his perimeter skills, a prep school perhaps, if this turns on a light then we have something to work with and I think the kid could be a very successful player down the road. Potential is a dangerous word but if molded and shaped can be devastating in a very good way.
Grant Reardon (William Blount)
6-1 SG 2019
Camp Number: 24
"Why is he not more productive", he has skills, he can handle, his shot is decent and he seems to have a grasp of the game was one evaluation and to a consensus the praise was high on his skill level, questions arose as the observations became more in-depth. "He takes an inordinate amount of chances with the ball, he wants to be a lead guard but he forces the issue much too often, he can pass but his consistency from possession to possession is concerning". His shot selection is in question as well, as he takes tough chances when either simple alternatives were available or starting over and having patience for another better scoring opportunity. Like we said at first he is not void of ability. He has some bounce, he can get fire hot from the perimeter, he seems to love to play but can he be your guy at the point? Time will tell and hopefully some of the maturation of his game will take over as he enters his senior season. He has the skill level to play at the next level, now make that a reality young warrior.
Jayden Housewright (CAK)
6-5 PF 2022
Camp Number: 25
"This kid knows how to pass the ball, he has great vision but someone needs to tell him he is not a guard". Youngster has yet to play a high school basketball game, but a kid who will be counted upon for minutes this season. Big bodied youngster who really needs to watch his conditioning and get in better shape for the rigors of the high school circuit. He needs to work on his back to the basket skills, foot work and such, you can still pass the ball from the post and the new age offenses allow you to do some perimeter work but lets be realistic and get ourselves in the post and create some havoc with our young and burgeoning skill set. He needs to get tougher and stronger but who doesn't at this age. He moves well for a big kid and is light on his feet, he isn't afraid to grab a rebound but he likes to lead that break, understand your surroundings as this will be more difficult as the levels get tougher. I like his upside and look forward to watching him become a better basketball player.
Braiden Brown (Cookeville)
5-11 PG 2020
Camp Number: 26
Active youngster who plays hard and is always in motion. He has some quickness and a decent build for his size. He will stick his nose in there and defend and doesn't have a bad shot despite some questionable attempts at questionable times. He tries to force the issue and plays entirely too fast, everyone wants to play fast but few have the ability to maintain their skill level when they speed themselves up. His ball handling is suspect and will be an area that he must work as his natural position will be the lead guard spot. Coaches love effort guys and he has a no shortage of that. His biggest challenge will be working on his decision making with the ball and becoming more confident with his shot.
Trey Hamilton (McCallie)
6-4 WF 2021
Camp Number: 27
"He is as productive as his confidence will allow him to be, he lacks physical strength and this hinders some of his production, he can really shoot the ball and he understands how to get open and clearly has some basketball IQ". Rising sophomore has good size at 6'4 but is rail thin and as the previous evaluation stated hinders his ability to be more productive. He is an excellent passer and isn't afraid to give up the ball, he goes for rebounds but is often moved out of position by bigger and stronger foes. He needs to show more aggression and we believe this will come when his strength allows him to be more confident and productive. A simple equation actually, he has some solid fundamentals basketball skills that are lying beneath the surface just waiting for his body and his confidence to let them free, lets go young fellow make it happen.
Spencer Boshears (Campbell County)
5-10 PG 2022
Camp Number: 28
It has always been my contention that it is awfully tough to evaluate young players. They have yet to play a high school basketball game, I have always been of the mindset when it comes to these youngsters my observations tend to focus on their toughness and stating it as simply as I can, are they scared? This young guard certainly answers that question with a big no, not scared at all. Tough and aggressive this rising freshman has a good feel for the game, a decent shot and understands what is going on. His skill level will obviously need to move towards another dimension but those who took notes were impressed by his scrappy demeanor, his tough nature and his workable outside stroke. He will need to improve his athleticism, working on his foot work and explosion, his size dictates point guard so continue to expand on his passing skills and decision making, the key to any successful lead guard is lack of turnovers and making everyone in your vicinity a better player.
Jake Gross (J. Frank White)
6-0 SG 2020
Camp Number: 29
Small guard who showed some toughness, stocky build and played with effort. He need to work on keeping his head up, tough to make basketball decisions looking at the ground. He likes to play too fast, as do most small guards, they think it gives them an advantage over size, but it clearly is not the case. The changing of the speeds is where this story needs to end up, Very little mention about his shooting in any of the evaluations so this is another area where he needs to establish himself as he grows as a player. He wasn't afraid to get dirty on defense, the effort was there. Playing the game at a tempo that is comfortable and leads to the least amount of mistakes is a path that we need to take this journey.
Corey Bohanan (Pigeon Forge)
6-1 SG 2022
Camp Number: 30
Incoming freshman guard with a nice build and a really solid shooting stroke. "Kid can shoot and dribble but clearly needs to work on his athletic prowess and foot work, athletes gave him fits on both ends of the floor". Once again a young man who yet to taste the floor on the high school level. We like his potential and his ability to shoot the ball with confidence. He has range and understands how to get open but lacks the foot speed and explosion at this juncture of his development. He has decent handles and isn't afraid to find the open man, his production does dip when bigger and stronger athletes come into the picture, simple solution become one of them. He obviously loves the game and will have no problem working on his skill level. As his game grows and his body gets tougher and stronger, I believe we will have a solid prospect on our hands.
