Aaron Britt, Tre Mann Elite 17U NxtPro: A 6’1 junior from The Villages, Britt showed growth in his game with his ability to facilitate this weekend. Already a reliable scorer from all three levels, Britt changed hats and got his teammates good looks by moving the defense with his dribble penetration then finding the right open teammate for a shot. He was quick to advance the ball up the floor with the pass, alert for cutters in the lane, and toss lobs to the bigs inside for easy conversions. Britt is a very good athlete that uses his physical gifts well at the defensive end of the floor, keeping opposing ball-handlers in front of him and quickly jumping passing lanes to disrupt offensive flow.
Myheir Session, Skills Center Elite 2027 UA Rise: A 6’3 junior from Tampa Prep, Session struggled a bit early on but finally found his footing on the offensive end to help his team get a win. He is a good athlete that can get to his spots off the dribble and he will rise up for mid-range jumpers or get all the way to the rim depending on how the defense plays him. Session is a competent shooter on either side of the arc. He moves well without the ball, beats defenders down the floor in transition and contributes in the rebounding department. Session has good instincts and quick reactions on defense.
Emmanuel Martin, Tre Mann Elite MHC 17U: A 6’6 junior from Port Orange Atlantic, Martin may be a tad undersized as an interior player, but he has strength, energy, and an understanding of how to be very effective in his role. He is an opportunistic scorer, making his mark with putbacks, quick shots in the paint after catching the ball on the move and when rolling to the rim in ball-screen action. Martin owns his rebounding area and doesn’t hesitate to pursue balls outside of it. He does a good job of defending physically without fouling, denying post position, and challenging shots in the lane.
Prince Lewis, FL Pro 2028: A 6’3 sophomore at Plantation HS in Broward County, Lewis was one of the more intriguing “finds” of the event. He has a good enough stroke from behind the arc to be respected but he made the most impact by using his strong frame to attack the basket and score. Whether in transition on the half-court, Lewis was able to get defenders on his hip and score through contact in a crowd at the rim. He converted multiple “and one” opportunities. Lewis has the ability to rip-and-run a rebound, pushing the ball up the floor on his own and either getting it up ahead to a teammate or taking it all the way by himself if unchallenged. In the game we watched, he did well in challenging bigger players for rebounds.
Johnas Maurice, FL Rebels 16U EYBL: A 6’0 sophomore at Winter Park Lake Howell, Maurice is a dynamic scorer. While his shot from three wasn’t dropping in the game we took in, he was quite successful in creating and making mid-range shots off the dribble. Maurice also hit a couple of floaters on drives and beat defenders down the floor to score in transition. While he has a scorer’s mentality, he plays unselfishly and is quick to get the ball to teammates for better shot opportunities. Maurice is speedy and quick, both with the ball and on defense where he disrupts passing lanes, harasses opposing ball-handlers, and in double-team situations.
Derwyn Link, Showtime Ballers 16U: A 6’6 sophomore from Bartow, Link excels in an up-tempo setting like this. He gets a lot of dunks in transition, completes lobs from teammates in half-court sets, and will power down putbacks when the occasion permits. Very athletic with a chiseled physique, Link is a rough and ready rebounder at both ends of the court. Offensively he can take his man off the bounce from the high post and/or short corner areas with a couple of dribbles and score through contact. We have seen him on occasion drain perimeter shots but that is still an improving facet of his game. Link has the speed, quickness, and strength to successfully defend in the post and on the perimeter.
Mike McClendon, Skills Center Elite 2028 UA Rise: A 6’2 sophomore at Tampa Jesuit, McClendon is an athletic and feisty guard that backs down from no one. He made shots off the dribble on both sides of the arc, pushed the pace at every opportunity, and did his best to get under the opponent’s skin as an on-ball defender. McClendon showed a knack for making good shot vs. pass decisions on the move and while not always successful when challenging defenders at the basket after drives, those paint touches put a lot of pressure on defenses and open up opportunities for teammates.
Khamani Pessoa, SOH Elite 2029: A 5’9 freshman at Hialeah Mater Lakes Academy, Pessoa showed a good combination of speed and quickness with the basketball to go along with a more-than-respectable perimeter shot. He knocked down a trio of threes in the game we took in and also had a couple of steal-and-scores, beating defenders to the basket. Pessoa is learning the art of decision-making when the pace is fast and furious, but he has time to turn that into a positive. He has the footspeed and wingspan to be effective on defense as he physically matures.
Robert Greene, Skills Center Elite 2029 UA Rise: A 6’2 freshman at Clearwater, we liked Greene’s competitiveness, hustle, and decision-making. He rebounded well thanks to a sturdy frame, challenged defenders off the bounce, and showcased a reliable three-point shot. On more than one occasion Greene snuck in to convert offensive rebounds in a crowd of bigger defenders. He read passing lanes well and was quick to help and recover on opposing drivers.