By: Cooper Hart
6’4” ’27 Braden Miller (Carolina Riptide/Lake Norman)
Miller was a pleasant surprise today out of the rising freshman class and is a name that I expect to garner buzz around the state sooner rather than later. He’s a forward that has good size, length, body control, and footwork, pretty much all the physical tools that you want from a reliable post presence. His feel for the game is apparent in the way he plays, with his timing on rebounds and contests being the most obvious example. His skillset gives him a high floor and a high ceiling. Miller has soft hands, especially around the rim, and can score in the post when he’s in position. He’s on the verge of a summer breakout and it would be wise to buy your stock early.
5’8” ’27 Nate Jones (WCBA/Grace Christian Sanford)
It seems almost unfair to compare Jones to players in his own grade considering how well he’s played as the starting point guard for WCBA’s dominant 2026 group. He shoots the cover off the ball while always seeming to prefer the paint touch to the more convenient (but less efficient) three. His finishing touch is truly different, especially when compared to other players in his class. He’s improved a lot as a passer and defender in the past six months, now being able to truly play either guard spot. Jones has a mentality about him that sees him play better the harder he’s tested, a trait often lost on young players. Expect him to be one of the more productive rising freshmen in the state next season at Grace Christian.
5’10” ’27 Darryn Johnson (Save Sports Elite/Durham School of the Arts)
Johnson showed an unusual amount of poise and composure for a middle school guard as he was able to handle pressure and create offense with relative ease. He played on and off the ball for Save Sports today, acting as a creator in both spots. On the ball, he handled pressure, generated paint touches, and made the right play with consistency. Off the ball, he attacked closeouts, acted as a connector by not letting the ball stick, and made shots when he needed to. He has good versatility at the guard spot and possesses an obvious passing feel that should serve him well at the high school level and beyond.
5’6” ’28 Jhett Tolbert (NC Spartans)
Tolbert was one of the more exciting players to watch today as he was able to command his offense with confidence, composure, and IQ. He was one of the more creative passers I saw today, regardless of age. He used his body, eyes, and words to manipulate defenses and create passing lanes that only he could see. Oftentimes he was throwing his teammates open, and they weren’t even aware until it got to them. That level of passing ability is rare to see at any age of young guard, especially so for a rising eighth grader. Arguably the most impressive thing about Tolbert’s game was that he didn’t need to score to be the most impactful player on the court. Too often are young players taught that they must score to be good, and it was refreshing to see such a pass-first player dictating the outcome of games.
6’1” ’28 Mekhi Allen (Charlotte Royals)
Allen possesses a ton of obvious upside thanks to his great frame and athletic fluidity. He has maybe the longest arms in the 13u division this weekend and he’s only going to get taller and longer as he gets older. While future size is difficult to predict, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him eclipse the 6’7” mark in the not-so-distant future. What makes him so enticing is not just his physical traits, but his ability to move and react within those impressive traits. He runs the floor well, can slide his feet relatively quick, and gets off the ground faster than most kids his size and age. His touch around the rim is raw but promising along with both his handle and shooting mechanics. Allen is a great upside bet over the next 3-5 years.
Other Names to Track
’27 Ben Whitney (Carolina Tritons/Cardinal Gibbons) – Has a ton of craft at the combo guard spot. I’m a big fan of his shooting mechanics and have no reason to believe they won’t translate well to the HS level. How well his frame fills out in high school will go a long way in determining his future projection.
’27 Walker Montague (WCBA/Cardinal Gibbons) – Similar to Whitney above, Montague is a lethal shooter at the combo guard spot and his future projection is dependent on how well his frame will fill out. Montague has a unique shot making sense about him that majority of eighth graders simply don’t have. Really crafty coming off screens and attacking closeouts.
’27 Khalil Valaka (WCBA/Rolesville) – Tons of length at the wing spot. Finally saw him take the leap and dominate a game from start to finish. Gets to the rim whenever he wants and doesn’t need to rely on athleticism to do so (although it certainly doesn’t hurt). His frame should fill out nicely, sooner rather than later.