6’3 ’21 Bennie Brooks (East Carteret)
After a day one performance that was relatively pedestrian by his standard, Brooks came alive in their battle against Washington. He did a strong amount of everything, including operate as the primary creator and scorer from start to finish. Brooks utilizes his body well when attacking the basket and shows a willingness to get on the floor/make hustle plays whenever possible. He shoots the ball at a high clip from the perimeter but really knows how to mix it up with his offensive approach. Brooks was also extremely clutch when the situation called for it.
5’8 ’20 Rashod Smith (Washington)
Despite being one of the smallest overall performers on display, Smith was simply incredible today. He led in basically every way, making smart decisions, setting the tone for others, and scoring with phenomenal efficiency from all three levels. Smith took care of the ball but also proved to be a very willing passer. He plays bigger than his size would imply on both ends of the floor and highlighted a complete game throughout this contest.
6’0 ’20 Jajuan Carr (Pender)
No individual performer has been more absolutely dominant than Carr, who simply does everything for this Pender team. He leads by example and knows how to set the tone extremely well on both ends of the floor. Carr stays in attack mode with the ball in his hands, always looking to get downhill and finish through contact, but also knocked down a flurry of jumpers throughout this showing. He’s a game-changing presence that simply makes everyone around him better.
6’8 ’20 Todd Burt (Trinity Christian)
Although known for his athleticism, Burt has continued to expand his game and role for this Trinity Christian squad. He knows how to maximize his offensive touches around the basket, especially when filling the lane. Burt is a quality two-way rebounder with nice rim-protection instincts and the ability to overwhelm opponents with his interior length. He should start becoming a priority for various different schools.
6’7 ’20 Henry Coleman III (Trinity Episcopal)
At this point, it should be pretty unsurprising to see Coleman’s name on a list of high-level performers, as he’s been simply unstoppable all weekend long. He’s such a strong, physically-imposing presence with nice two-way versatility and the ability to control the game on both ends of the floor. Coleman handles the ball and creates well for his team, but can also hurt opponents in a variety of different ways. He’s a quality athlete that rebounds the ball at a consistently high rate on both ends of the floor.
6’4 ’22 Donald Hand Jr. (Landstown)
No contest has been more exciting than Landstown versus Trinity Episcopal, and Hand was at the forefront of their success. Although young, Hand has already proven capable of being a leader and controlling the action with his exceptional offensive game. He shoots the ball very well from the perimeter but also loves to get downhill and utilize runners/floaters to finish inside the paint. His physical tools are quite favorable, but will only become more appealing over the next few years with additional strength.
5’8 ’23 Daylinh Brown (South Central)
Though young and somewhat undersized, the appeal should be fairly obvious with Brown. He’s already proven to be one of the smartest, most electric and fundamentally-sound floor generals in the entire state. His feel for the game is simply ridiculous, especially for his age, and shows the ability to absolutely put opposing point guards in a blender. Brown plays a nearly mistake-free game which, given how much he touches the ball, is undeniably impressive. He leads by example and makes everyone better on both ends of the floor, a true winner.
5’11 ’22 Jacob Newman (Myers Park)
The presence of Newman can be immediately noticed from the opening tip, as he does whatever possible to hound opposing ball-handlers and highlight his breakneck speed and quickness. He does an incredible job of utilizing his quick-twitch instincts to get downhill and attack the rim, where he’s capable of setting up others quite regularly. Newman doesn’t require offensive touches to make a constant impact, given the way he defends and applies pressure in transition.
6’11 ’20 Isaiah Todd (Word of God)
At this point, what more can be said about the Michigan commit' Todd has NBA-level tools and a body to match, and it appears that he’s ready to take another step forward in his dominance. He looked like a man amongst boys for much of this contest, although he’s going against a slew of Division I opponents. Todd protects the rim like a center, has the fluidity/athleticism of a forward, and handles and shoots the ball like a guard. He has no apparent weaknesses and will only continue to get better going forward.
6’0 ’20 Samage Teel (Farmville Central)
It was stated in our feature piece on Farmville Central, but Teel continues to stand out as the unsung hero of this group. He simply does everything and does a great job of offering a role as a secondary creator and scorer. Teel is a quality athlete and heady defender with IQ, toughness, and craftiness. D2 programs should be prioritizing Teel, as he’s the type of guy that is necessary to win games.
6’8 ’21 Dontrez Styles (Kinston)
Kinston is known as a perennial powerhouse and always has a high-level prospect to tout, and Styles has proven to be more than a worthy representative. He has the physical tools, frame and athleticism, but also continues to dismiss questions surrounding his offensive game. Styles plays well within himself but also knows how to create scoring opportunities with relative ease. He utilizes his body well around the basket, both as a scorer and rebounder, and has the versatility to play four or five positions at the high school level.
6’1 ’20 Dylan Blake (First Flight)
After some struggles on the first night of action, Blake rose to the occasion and was excellent on Saturday. He’s one of the few players that legitimately hunts, and can knock down, thirty-plus footers on a regular basis. As it’s been said before, Blake is more than just a shooter and does a remarkable job of showcasing it on both ends of the floor. He passes the ball very well, gets where he wants off the dribble, and has far more interior toughness than he gets credited for. It’s difficult to understand his recruitment, but Blake should be a priority for various different programs.