UBA Blue Vs Pro Skills Elite 8:30 Friday (Court 1)
The Teams:
Pro Skills Elite comes into the event with 8 players getting Division 1 interest. UBA Blue, has a team full of winners who do nothing but produce.
The Matchups:
Point Guards – Each team is led by scrappy and quick unsigned senior point guards. 5’9” Julius Barnes led Garner HS to a state championship this year. He will be at the helm for UBA Blue, looking to gain his first offer. Unbelievably, 6’ Kenny Hairston is in the same boat. He also is a highly productive, cat quick lead guard for Pro Skills Elite. This match up should be exciting.
Wings – Both teams have scrappy wings that are playing to prove their worth. 6’5” Mike Buckland is out of all shadows and playing a leading roll with Pro Skills Elite. 6’6” Daquan Lilly missed most of his high school season with a broken ankle. Prior to his season, Lilly picked up a Coastal Carolina offer. He is ready for the momentum to pick back up, and his play this weekend could dictate that. Expect this match up to be heated both ways.
Other Players to Watch – 7’1” Raekwon Long (Pro Skills Elite), 6’4” Ben Robertson (Pro Skills Elite), 6’7” Parker Julian (Pro Skills Elite), 6’1” Antonio Watson (UBA Blue), Ajay Sanders (UBA Blue)
Garner Road Vs Carolina Flyers – 6PM Friday (Court 2)
This match up of teams is very much about an individual match up.
6’10” 2016 Jay Huff (Carolina Flyers) comes into the event as a consensus Top 100 player. He is kind of an enigma however, in that he opted to not play big time AAU and concentrate on working out. The long and super skilled Huff opted to play in the Grassroots Tip Off Classic, and should bring in great crowd.
Garner Road will bring in 6’7” Unsigned Senior Austin Burnette. Burnette is on the opposite side of things, he was an early commitment to Rutgers and spent most of his recruited time there. He has since decommitted and is playing great. Over the last few weeks several schools have started recruiting, and/or offered Burnette.
This match up will intrigue. Both players have a lot to play for and are sure to have coaches from all levels courtside to watch them play.
SEBL Vs Upward Stars – Raleigh 9:45 Friday (Court 1)
SEBL was the winner of the Phenom Hoops Challenge. They carry five players that picked up varying college interest. A run down of their guys, lightning fast 6’3” 2015 Cheikh Diallo picked up Citadel interest. Sharp Shooting 6’ 2016 Zach Boggs picked up Radford and Citadel interest. 6’6” 2016 wing Myquan Gooding picked up Western Carolina and Citadel interest. Emerging 6’9” 2016 Henry Odunze picked up Appalachian State and Chowan interest.
Upward Stars – Raleigh carries a very unique backcourt with 6’6” Sophomore Brandon Lamberth and 6’5 Unsigned Senior Romaeo Ferguson. Ferguson led his high school team (Burlington School) to a state championship this year. For Upward Stars – Raleigh, Ferguson plays the point guard. Lamberth is a new name quickly emerging onto the scene. He is a high motor, versatile defender, whose ball skills are developing each time out.
Expect this match up to be a dog fight as both teams play with huge chips on their shoulder, and high motors.
Spectrum Sports Academy Vs TMP 8AM Saturday (Court 1)
Western Virginia Vs Low Country South Carolina, both areas of the region are undermined and under recruited. Both of these two teams are the premier programs in their areas, and both programs have sure fire, multi offer type, D1 players.
TMP is led by 6’6” 2016 Jamez Rogers. Rogers led his Wando High School to a South Carolina 4A State Championship as a Sophomore, where he scored 24 points and won MVP awards. Rogers is a lengthy, highly athletic player, who has a good wing handle and the ability to shoot with deep range. They also carry 6’7” 2017 Maurice Hardiman, who has upside for days. Hardiman’s mother is 6’4”, he has a size 17 shoe and a 7’ wing span. The physical dimensions are there. Hardiman, possesses a nice jump hook close to the basket and is developing his rebounding and footwork by the day. Upside!
Spectrum Sports Academy is led by 6’7” 2016 Devonnte Holland. Holland may not particularly pass the look test, however the play and production test are never an issue with him. Holland has a great motor, great hands, great footwork, and sneaky explosion. Upside is there and will get many more than the one Howard offer he carries. Holland’s Martinsburg HS also won a state title this year. 6’3” 2016 Justin Kier is a jack of all trades winner. He affects the game in multiple areas and produces at a high level. Kier carries a Fairfield offer, but he also should have a lot of coaches walking away, talking about him. Spectrum also has 6’8” 2016 Adam Sledd, who carries a Mt St Mary’s offer.