We attended two periods of the USA Basketball Junior Nationwide Staff Minicamp and got here away with favorable impressions of the contributors who performed the best approach and underneath management. It was a pleasant vary of prospects, together with some getting their first USA Basketball expertise throughout Ultimate 4 weekend in Phoenix.
Roughly 65 of a number of the most interesting residence grown highschool expertise was in show in Phoenix for the USA Basketball Junior Nationwide Staff Minicamp. For some camp veterans reminiscent of Koa Peat, a 2025 ahead out of FAB 50 ranked Perry (Chandler, Ariz.), the expertise is nothing new and it is the beginning of the method of competing on the FIBA 17U World Cup going down June 29 by way of July 7 in Istanbul, Turkey. Count on Peat, a 3 time highschool state champion, to be one of many workforce’s leaders.
At the moment we needed to focus on the gamers who made a positive impression over the primary two days by approaching the mini-camp taking part in the best approach, underneath management and with tempo. This isn’t about passing the look take a look at, as some gamers seem like they belong however have a protracted option to go by way of their I.Q. and method. The theme right here is making a positive impression by being coachable and never urgent or forcing the motion.
This is 5 contributors who caught our eye in these departments and 5 extra who impressed.
Davion Adkins, Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas), 6-8 2026 PFWe we first evaluated this nicely put collectively 16-year previous ahead on the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camps, his motor and rim-running stood out, however he is added loads to his sport since then. Adkins had added strong publish strikes over each shoulders to go with his vertical pop. He transformed a few terrific left-handed half hooks and displayed good contact across the basket. Adkins’ tempo and endurance made an enormous distinction and nationwide scouts and a few NBA personnel positively got here away impressed. Adkins performs for a successful highschool program and is utilizing the expertise to discover ways to alter his offensive sport taking part in in opposition to forwards of comparable dimension and ability.
Devin Cleveland, Kenwood Academy (Chicago), 6-1 2027 PGWe counted 10 2027s in attendance and Cleveland was among the many few that actually turned heads in a category that has a protracted methods to go (and loads of time) to develop. As a 15-year previous, most of the older gamers and upperclassmen in attendance may be taught a factor or two about place from Cleveland, who has a cool-under-fire disposition on and off the court docket. Whereas most of the younger guards had been forcing the motion and stepping into hassle with the dribble, Cleveland has a superb grasp of the stop-and-pop sport and never taking it too deep into the paint to get caught in no man’s land. Cleveland can cowl floor with the dribble and shows a nice-pull up jumper. He can even end underneath management across the rim with each arms and has a aggressive drive that can repay down the road. If he retains growing at a standard tempo, Cleveland has a brilliant future within the sport.
Hudson Greer, Lake Travis (Texas), 6-6 2025 WFThis 17-year previous is a well known commodity on the highschool and grassroots circuit and is making a splash at USA Basketball this weekend. Greer had some nagging accidents this previous season for Lake Travis, and gutted them out nicely sufficient to earn district MVP honors. Already a two-time district MVP, Greer displayed a terrific all-around ability stage and when his legs are bouncy and he is at one hundred pc like he was right here, it takes his sport to a complete different stage. Greer was pulling down pictures at a excessive clip and ending in visitors with authority. He additionally received behind the protection and used his stride to get out and end earlier than the protection may get set. Greer reminds us a few of former Florida St. standout Bob Sura and his confidence and eagerness to get higher actually shined by way of on Saturday.
Jacob Lanier, Maumelle (Ark.), 6-5 2026 WFThis 17-year previous prospect is simply scratching the floor of his potential and popping out of his shell at this stage. On the primary day, Lanier turned heads and caught the eye of nationwide scouts together with his shot making skill off the dribble and his motion off-the-ball. On the second day, he was lauded for not dropping his composure throughout stretches of out-of-control play by the lead guards on his workforce. Lanier strikes with out the ball nicely and may rating in quite a lot of methods, with a greater than common float sport. He is additionally an instinctual defender who’s studying easy methods to develop into extra vocal on the court docket and take extra of an alpha function. His development is noticeable and can repay loads this spring and summer season.
Xavion Staton, Sierra Vista (Las Vegas) 6-11 2025 CWith a dearth of conventional large males in attendance, Staton stands out for a lot of causes, and even when there have been extra in attendance, he’d nonetheless stand out. That is as a result of he is a fast learner, sensible each on and off the court docket (glorious scholar) and has great upside. In actual fact, scouts and NBA personnel had been stunned to be taught he is been taking part in the sport for under a brief time frame (lower than 4 years). Staton grew up taking part in soccer till a 6-7 inch progress spirt throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic made him and his household notice the gridiron was seemingly not in his long-term future. Together with his defensive intuition and vertical pop and second bounce skill, Staton has a brilliant future on the hardwood. The 17-year previous was blocking pictures at a excessive clip and there may not be a participant within the nation that alters extra pictures together with his presence than Staton. One other plus is he would not do an excessive amount of he isn’t able to proper now and shortly strikes the ball when he would not have a bonus. Few gamers are getting extra out of the USA Basketball expertise than this Las Vegas large man who shortly has the curiosity of P5 colleges across the nation.
5 Extra That Impressed:
Mikel Brown Jr., Extra time Elite (Atlanta), 6-2 2025 PGNot many guards right here can rip a crossover right into a pull-up, however Brown has a pleasant offensive arsenal with the ball.Junior County, Utah Prep (Manti, Utah) 6-5 2026 SGOne of the most effective taking pictures strokes of any participant in attendance.Jaylen Mitchell, Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 6-7 2027 WFThis 15-year previous was making the best passes and displayed a pleasant taking pictures contact.Chris Nwuli, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah) 6-8 SFLas Vegas native has been up and down on the circuit the previous two years, however deserves credit score as a result of his outdoors shot was on level on Saturday and he introduced his normal vitality and toughness to make successful performs.Babatunde Oladotun, Blake (Silver Spring, Md.) 6-7 2027 SFThere is loads to love about this 15-year previous who is aware of easy methods to play with the ball and units grown man screens. He has a superb offensive base, in addition.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Remember to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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