There were several standouts this past weekend at The Grind Session – Orlando event held at Southeaster Prep Academy.  These are just a few of the players that caught our attention.

Andy Gemao, CN Royal Crown School: A 6’2 senior, Gemao was a steady hand at running the point guard spot.  He took care of the ball, got it to the right teammate in the right spot at the right time, and made good decisions when getting paint touches.  Gemao showed consistent three-level scoring skills as he drained three-point shots, converted mid-range jumpers and in-lane floaters and scored at the rim off the dribble.  His dunk in transition late in the contest shed any doubts about this athleticism.  Gemao worked hard on the defensive end to contain dribble penetration and showed good instincts when defending the passing lanes.

Dylan McGhee, CA DNA Prep: A 6’8 junior, McGhee tantalizes with his size, athleticism, and skill set.  With a solid frame and springs in his legs, he is tough on the glass and pursues rebounds in and out of his area.  McGhee is quick to get offensive rebounds back up to the rim and defensive rebounds up the floor to get the transition game going.  He scored well at the rim but surprised when nailing a couple of threes with good form and confidence.  McGhee showcased some defensive versatility by keeping up with smaller opponents when switching out in ball-screen action.  He played physically in the post without fouling and got in a few blocked shots when challenged at the basket.

Keonte Greybear, TX iSchool: The 6’3 senior is a classic scoring guard.  He has a lot of tools, a short memory, and little to no conscience when it comes to putting points on the board.  Greybear has deep range on his perimeter shot and is comfortable taking and making it off the catch or the dribble.  He has a quick first step to attack the basket, doesn’t shy away from contact, and has the hops to finish over defenders and the rim.  Greybear is solid with the basketball and has some creative ways to use the dribble to create separation from defenders.  He is a good rebounder for his size and doesn’t back down from a challenge on the defensive end.

Marcis Ponder, VA Gillion Academy: A 7’0 senior, we’ve been watching Ponder since he first stepped onto the scene prior to his freshman year at Miami Norland.  Arguably, too much had been expected from him at an early age, but he has stayed the course and continued to work hard and improve.  That development was very noticeable this past weekend.  He made some tough catches in traffic, kept the ball high and away from double-teaming hands and made his free throws, going 8-11 in the contest.  Ponder’s stat line of 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks was mandatory in getting Gillion Academy the win.  Ponder made some non-dunks, including a couple with his off (left)-hand.  He was physical without fouling and his presence in the paint allowed perimeter shooters open looks.

Hassan Abdul Kadir, AZ Bella Vista Academy: A 6’10 sophomore, Kadir is productive now but also possesses quite a bit of upside.  He has a solid frame, good athleticism, and a motor that runs high.  Kadir has a good touch around the basket, is active as an offensive rebounder, and is a good free throw shooter for a player his size and age.  He moves up and down the floor well, protects the basket, and doesn’t shy away from physical contact. Kadir did not display perimeter skills of any type but at his size and age that isn’t (and may never be) an issue.  He is plenty productive at both ends of the floor doing “traditional big man” things.

Elton James, NC Winston-Salem Christian: A 6’8 senior, James showed plenty of good things in his 23 points, 10 rebound performance.  He proved he could stretch the floor by consistently making shots behind the arc, attack the basket with strong drives, and getting on the offensive glass to keep possessions alive or get easy putback points.  A rugged rebounder that excels more by positioning and anticipation than sheer leaping ability, James was able to grab missed shots in traffic and maintain possession despite a lot of contact.  He plays with great fury and energy at both ends of the court.

Aviv Aronov, WV Huntington Prep: A 6’5 senior, Aronov impressed with his ability to draw contact and play through it.  He played a lot of point guard in the game we watched and with his size and strength Aronov was a tough cover.  He creates space by bouncing off defenders, making a sizable number of shots from mid-range.  Aronov is adept at getting defenders on his hip as he attacks the basket, keeping them from challenging his shot or getting into a position to take a charge.  He was one of two from behind the arc but he uses that shot to complement his game closer to the basket.  An alert defender (four steals in the game we took in), Aronov makes opponents work to get points.

Beckham Black, Southeastern Prep: A 6’3 junior, Black seems to have “it”, whatever “it” is, when it comes to being a high-level point guard prospect.  All the physical tools are there such as size, speed, and strength.  There isn’t a fundamental skill that isn’t highly honed.  Black can score and distribute at a high rate, makes the game easier for his teammates, makes good pass vs. shot decisions with the basketball, and understands when to push the pace and when to pull it back.  He is solid as a defender both on and off the ball, quickly converts opponent’s turnovers into transition opportunities, and does a good job of helping on drives and recovering back to his man.

Deng Ngor, CN Fort Erie Prep: A 6’8 junior, Ngor seemed to get a lot done in a short amount of playing time.  Though on the thin side, he plays with an exuberance that makes a lot of positive plays happen.  He seemingly chases every missed shot, sprints the floor every possession and defends like there is money on the line.  Ngor showed off a good-looking perimeter stroke that, while not yet consistent, it is more a matter of repetition than mechanics until it is more reliable.  Ngor may have a raw skill set, but the ingredients are there to make it worth cooking.

Rukai Bethel, Southeastern Prep 2: A 6’6 sophomore, Bethel was one point shy of a double-double in the final game on Saturday.  All his points came within the flow of the offense whether it was a set play lob, cut to the basket, or quick catch and drive.  Bethel has a knack for being around the ball and coming up with it at the most opportune times.  Whether it be a rebound or steal, he seemed to find the ball in his hands more often than not.  A good run/jump athlete with strength, a developing skill set, and a competitive mind set, Bethel is certainly a player to track going forward.