No. 19 4’11 ’23 O’Shae Fernanders of Winston-Salem, NC
Fernanders was one of the smallest and youngest players at camp. He demonstrated a good attitude and a willingness to listen. For his age/grade, he had a good concept of the game. He played hard and exhibited the ability to shoot off the dribble. More importantly, he was effective with his dribble penetration in the lane.
No. 17 5’0 ’22 Keith Peten of Goldsboro, NC
Peten played with a high motor and demonstrated good intensity especially on the defensive end of the court. He was active and anticipated loose balls and rebounds. We were impressed with his ability to make good decisions on the court particularly for his age. Peten has good court vision and is a willing passer to open teammates. More importantly, we like the fact that he plays so hard and competes no matter the level of competition.
No. 60 5’10 ’20 Mark Parker of Johnsonville, NC
Parker showcased an outstanding attitude accompanied with a team first approach. He has a good basketball IQ and proper understanding of the game. He played well within the team concept, but also took advantage of fast break opportunities. Parker finished extremely well in transition and has a really quick first step to the basket. He makes good decisions on the court and scored from multiple levels. He was strong at finishing at the rim with contact, but also knocked down perimeter shots.
No. 79 5’4 ’21 Derek Gates of Charlotte, NC
For a seventh grader, Derek Gates has a knack for getting open and knocking down perimeter shots. He has good shooting mechanics and a quick release. In addition, Gates has a quick first step. He was effective getting into the lane. While Gates showed quickness with the ball, we were equally impressed with his ability to move without the ball. He has good court vision and overall court sense. Unlike many players, he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective.
No. 82 5’4 ’21 Oliver O’Brien of Davidson, NC
O’Brien definitely made his mark on the defensive side of the court. He was tremendous with his “on the ball” defense and really had a good idea of team defensive principles. How often can that be said about players at the seventh grade level' More importantly, O’Brien plays with good intensity and pride. It’s refreshing to watch a young player have the determination to make his efforts known on defense and not just offense.
No. 116 5’7 ’20 Miles Merriweather of Chapel Hill, NC
One of the first things that pops out when watching Merriewather is his team first approach and how truly unselfish he is as a teammate. He is constantly moving without the ball and gets ample opportunities to get open. Merriweather was very effective knocking down his perimeter shots especially from 15 feet. Most young players can only score by going one on one, but with Merriweather, he did it all within the team structure. This will pay dividends when he gets to high school.
No. 157 5’10 ’20 Jordan Lynch of Rocky Mount, NC
Lynch has the ability to see the court extremely well. More importantly, Lynch has excellent court sense and has a knack of getting his teammates involved. He has the ability to go either direction. Lynch is not “strong hand” dominant and his quickness and ball speed will be a valuable attribute as he continues to grow and develop. More importantly, Lynch understands what it takes to be an excellent teammate.
No. 130 5’8 ’22 Elijah Gray of Charlotte, NC
Gray played aggressively. He has a very nice jump shot and good first step to the basket. Gray aggressive play was evident in his scoring and rebounding. He has a “junk yard dog” mentality with his all out hustle play. Gray understands you can make things happen without having the ball in your hands at all times. He simply goes out and makes positive things happen. We were impressed with his full throttle approach throughout the day.
No. 87 6’2 ’20 Caleb Theriault of Jamestown, NC
Theriault is an extremely hard worker on the court. He uses his size effectively around the rim and finished with authority. He has passer friendly hands and rebounded the ball with two hands for the most part. We liked his footwork in the paint and he has some nifty and crafty moves. The next step in his development is work on his perimeter skills in case he doesn’t continue to grow. Right now, he has good size and a compatible skill set for the interior.
No. 195 6’3 ’20 Blake Lanier of Mt. Holly, NC
Lanier is such a fundamentally sound player. He has a high basketball IQ and plays within the team structure. He’s the epitome of team player. He scores when he needs to, but will pick up loose balls, grab rebounds and do all the little things that are necessary for a team to be successful. More importantly, Lanier is always under control. He doesn’t play out of character or try to do things beyond his comfort zone. While some players try to manufacture their points, that is not the case with Lanier. He takes advantages of scoring opportunities, but doesn’t force the actin.