With the highschool season in full swing, loads of expertise was on show in Kentucky. I spent two days in Benton to catch the primary two days of Marshall County Hoopfest and one other two days in Louisville for the Derek Smith Invitational.
Marshall County Hoopfest
Ace Buckner 6’2 175 PG – La Lumiere 2024 (Clemson)
Buckner was a key part for La Lumiere’s offense and was pretty constant in each video games. He performed properly off the dribble, altering his pace and promoting his crossover to get into the paint or create a bounce shot. He constantly broke down any defensive barrier the opposing groups tried to throw at him on the perimeter. He shot it properly all through the sport. He additionally did properly defensively, harassing the ball-handler, leaping passes off the ball, and got here away with a couple of steals that led to offense. Over each video games, Buckner averaged 13.5 factors (10-17 FG, 4-7 3PT, 3-3 FT) and a couple of.5 steals per sport.
Jalen Haralson 6’7 210 PG/SG – La Lumiere 2025
All of Haralson’s subject targets towards Orangeville Prep had been on 3PTers off the catch to attain 9 factors within the 70-39 win. His shot nonetheless doesn’t get a number of rotation, however he shot it properly, going 4-7 from 3PT in each video games mixed. He didn’t rating on the rim in his first sport, however he beat the protection on the perimeter a couple of instances and he made some good passes, seeing the ground properly and is aware of his choices as a passer. He combined it up extra within the second sport towards Oak Hill with some good takes to the basket. He didn’t have any explosive finishes however was good across the rim to attain 16 factors and drew a number of fouls with 8 free throw makes an attempt. Defensively, he performed strong on and off the ball and defended up and down the line-up all through the sport towards Oak Hill. Sadly, Haralson turned his ankle and La Lumiere ended up shedding to Oak Hill 79-75 in time beyond regulation.
Jerry Easter 6’4 195 SG – La Lumiere 2025
Easter performed properly defensively and got here away with a couple of baskets after leaping passes for transition layups within the sport towards Orangeville. He’s not the kind of athlete to stay above the rim, however he did a superb job of utilizing his quickness to beat his man at a superb fee. Early on, he didn’t shoot it too properly and pushes the ball slightly, even banking a right away 3 from the highest of the important thing in La Lu’s first sport to attain 12 factors (4-12 FG, 1-5 3PT). He shot higher towards Oak Hill, together with 2 clutch 3s in essential moments, ending with 21 factors (7-16 FG, 3-5 3PT).
Darius Adams 6’5 180 PG/SG – 2025 La Lumiere
Adams grabbed 5 rebounds and got here away with 4 steals, however he wasn’t an excessive amount of of an offensive issue towards Orangeville with 4 factors on 2-8 capturing and 0-2 from 3PT. In opposition to Oak Hill, he hung out on and off the ball, exhibiting effectiveness enjoying each. He shot it at a strong fee and will get to the rim when he finds that hole. He’s a superb ball-handler and handles contact higher than he would seem. He completed with 19 factors (7-16 FG, 4-8 3PT) and 6 (4 offensive) rebounds to beat Oak Hill.
VJ Edgecombe 6’5 195 PG/SG – Lengthy Island Lutheran 2024
Edgecombe began the sport with a bang, exploding off the ground for a giant jam. That wouldn’t be his solely explosive second with a couple of different dunks within the sport. He has excellent burst with the ball and adjustments his pace properly when wanted, staying beneath management and never at all times having to go full throttle. He’s excellent defensively as properly, exhibiting constant dedication on that finish. His shot is his greatest weak point proper now, because it doesn’t get ideally suited ball rotation and lacked consistency, going 1-6 from 3PT and 0-1 from FT. His utilization with the ball wasn’t that prime however he had no hassle filling it up with 17 factors on 8-15 capturing within the 84-57 win towards Oak Hill Academy. Edgecombe is a big-time expertise with nice two-way potential.
Kayden Mingo 6’3 185 PG – Lengthy Island Lutheran 2025
Mingo had a terrific sport towards Oak Hill, extremely efficient and environment friendly. He combined it up offensively, scoring on the rim and outdoors capturing throughout the circulate. He completed with 22 factors whereas going 9-12 from the ground and 4-5 from distance. He acquired the place he wished with the ball and has nice contact on his floater. He didn’t power his impression or hunt scoring alternatives and he moved the ball properly, recording 6 assists and no turnovers. Mingo additionally rebounded properly in LuHi’s solely sport to drag down 9 boards.
Kaden Magwood 6’1 170 PG – Oak Hill Academy 2025
Within the sport towards LuHi, Magwood acquired it going for an Oak Hill workforce that was struggling to attain. He was all bounce pictures and didn’t get to the rim a lot, finally ending with 10 factors on 4-14 FG and 2-6 3PT. He adopted up with a 41-point outburst to beat La Lumiere in time beyond regulation. He hit tough pictures and acquired to the rim, even throwing down a couple of dunks within the half-court. He additionally made a residing on the free throw line, scoring 15 factors on his 18 FT makes an attempt. He’s a really proficient shot-maker, hitting contested jumpers within the defender’s face from anyplace on the court docket on an environment friendly 11-20 FG and 4-7 3PT. At his dimension, an space Magwood can look to develop is in his facilitating, recording 2 assists to no turnovers towards LuHi and a couple of assists to five turnovers towards La Lumiere.
Shon Abaev 6’8 185 SF – Calvary Christian Academy 2025
I solely noticed one in every of Calvary Christian’s video games, towards Religion Household Academy, and Abaev shot and scored properly with 27 factors. He’s eliminated the wasted movement in his shot since final yr. He has a excessive launch and hits contested pictures from midrange and three. He handles the ball properly sufficient to create a shot and he made some good passes mid-dribble whereas it seemed like he was creating for himself. He had a couple of offensive fouls whereas making an attempt to create however general, he acquired his shot off properly. He didn’t rating an excessive amount of on the rim however did present a floater when attending to the center. Calvary Christian beat Religion Household Academy 82-79.
Cayden Daughtry 5’11 130 PG – Calvary Christian Academy 2027
Solely a freshman, Daughtry was large in Calvary’s win towards Religion Household. Regardless of his shot getting practically no backspin or rotation, he connects at a excessive fee. He’s an excellent ball-handler and he created properly to get pictures off within the midrange in addition to on the rim. Whereas he’s a freshman and appears the a part of a freshman bodily, he handles contact very properly and is stronger with the ball than one would suppose at first look. Daughtry introduced a number of confidence and led all scorers with 28 factors.
Rakease Passmore 6’5 180 SG – Mix Academy 2024 (Kansas)
Passmore had a superb sport towards Evangel Christian, successful 66-50. Mix pressed defensively and Passmore got here away with a couple of steals that led to alternatives to indicate off his hops within the open flooring. He dealt with the ball properly and acquired to the rim in half-court conditions all through the sport. He additionally shot properly from 3PT, and his capturing has improved since final yr.
Jahseem Felton 6’5 175 SG – Mix Academy 2024 (Seton Corridor)
Felton acquired into the paint and used his robust physique to complete by way of contact. He’s fairly good about attending to the rim within the half-court. He’s at all times been a man to place factors on the board, however he shot it very properly towards Evangel Christian the perfect I’ve seen him, flattening 4 3Pters on his option to rating 23 factors within the win.
Each (Hyperlink Academy performed one sport in every occasion)
Tre Johnson 6’6 190 SG – Hyperlink Academy 2024 (Texas)
Johnson displayed his capturing and ball-handling. Though there have been instances he over-dribbled and settled for deep contested pictures, he performed very properly to beat Legacy Early 81-66 with 16 factors (7-11 FG, 2-5 3PT). He created properly off the dribble and will get his shot off towards any defender. Along with his scoring, he made some good passes, hitting cutters with good timing to document 4 assists to 1 turnover. Johnson additionally did a pleasant job as a rebounder and was fast to the unfastened ball, with 8 boards within the win. He didn’t fail to deliver it within the extremely anticipated matchup towards Prolific Prep. He created for himself in addition to teammates. He hit some high-level pictures and combined it up properly to get to the rim on events. He can work on defending the ball higher as a ball-handler and whereas attacking, groups like Prolific turned stay turnovers into fast baskets. Johnson recorded 25 factors (8-19 FG, 3-7 3PT, 6-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals within the 77-76 loss to Prolific Prep.
Labaron Philon 6’4 175 PG – Hyperlink Academy 2024 (Kansas)
Philon was nice in each video games. Within the sport towards Legacy Early Faculty, he got here off the bench and acquired scorching shortly, ending with 12 factors on 5-9 capturing, together with 2-3 from 3PT. He’s acquired an excellent shot, and his makes didn’t hit the rim. He’s additionally a shifty ball-handler, he acquired caught dancing with it at instances, however he was a tricky cowl for the protection. He did most of his injury as a shooter however he had a couple of performs the place he threw down jams to indicate off his athleticism. He would get the beginning towards Prolific, and it was extra of the identical so far as capturing and general manufacturing with 10 factors, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Jalen Shelley 6’8 190 SF – Hyperlink Academy 2024 (Arkansas)
Shelley was strong towards Legacy Early. He didn’t need to create to attain, profiting from reducing alternatives and changing offensive rebounds into baskets. He didn’t present lots athletically or consistency as a shooter, on his option to 11 factors (4-5 FG). He got here up massive towards Prolific Prep, hitting pictures from the perimeter and did a superb job moving into the paint to attain on the rim. He took benefit of his dimension and athletic benefit when matched up towards Winters Grady and completed with 24 factors (9-14 FG, 3-6 3PT, 3-3 FT) within the loss.
Jasper Johnson 6’6 170 PG/SG – Hyperlink Academy 2025
Johnson has a simple demeanor. He can penetrate off the dribble, generally attending to the rim or different instances stopping within the midrange to complete with a floater. His shot will get a number of ball rotation, and he can join with deep vary. He has the instruments as a defender and covers floor very properly on each ends. Whether or not he’s on the ending finish of an oop or attending to the rim himself, he will get up properly and isn’t afraid to leap within the crowd. He scored 12 factors (5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT) within the sport towards Legacy Early. Johnson adopted up towards Prolific with some massive 3s, capturing deep and letting it fly with confidence and no hesitation. He acquired into foul hassle early within the second half however completed with 9 factors, all on 3PTers.
Derek Smith Invitational
Tyran Stokes 6’7 245 PF – Prolific Prep 2026
Stokes (pictured) has a powerful mixture of energy and explosive athleticism at such a younger age, with some massive dunks over each video games. He can end in transition or discover methods to dunk within the half-court, successfully leaping off the vert with out a lot collect. He demonstrated some outdoors capturing, however the consistency can enhance from each 3PT and on the free throw line. He acquired to the rim all through each video games however can tighten up as a ball-handler, particularly when choosing up pace because the ball acquired away from him on a couple of events. Stokes was spectacular in each video games, scoring 12 factors within the first sport and 20 within the second.
Bryson Tucker 6’6 180 SG – Bishop O’Connell 2024
Tucker scored 19 factors within the 52-41 win over Southern Coast Academy. He scored across the rim when he might and as ordinary, he excelled within the midrange and iso conditions. His shot is a bit flat, however he hit quite a lot of 3s in addition to loads of pictures on the transfer. The subsequent step might be persevering with so as to add energy so he can get the place he needs higher when taking contact.
Derrion Reid 6’7 180 PF – Prolific Prep 2024
Reid was excellent for Prolific, enjoying off the ball. He hit pictures when given area and took it to the rim at different instances. He had a giant sport towards St. Xavier and did the perfect job of anybody on the workforce of using his bodily and athletic benefits to attain as usually as potential. He had a couple of massive dunks that the protection couldn’t contest and used his lengthy strides to get to the basket effectively. Whereas solely scoring 8 factors within the win over Hyperlink, Reid adopted up with 22 factors within the 83-74 win towards St. Xavier.
Zoom Diallo 6’4 190 PG – Prolific Prep 2024
Diallo was finest enjoying off the ball, the place he scored extra throughout the circulate. His robust construct and broad shoulders allowed him to deal with contact. He did a superb job beating the primary defender to attach on floaters as soon as he acquired to the center. He had a couple of turnovers in each video games, overthrowing passes, not defending the ball, and touring at instances when operating the purpose. He can work on minimizing turnovers and discovering constant methods to attain however Diallo was nonetheless efficient with 16 and 11 factors in every sport respectively.
AJ Dybantsa 6’8 200 SF – Prolific Prep 2025
In Prolific’s first sport towards Hyperlink Academy, Dybantsa didn’t create a lot for himself or present a lot dribble penetration, however he was excellent spacing the ground and flattening pictures to attain an environment friendly 26 factors (7-12 FG, 5-7 3PT). He additionally noticed the ground properly and made some good passes with 5 assists. He wasn’t as productive in his second sport. His passing was nonetheless strong, however he didn’t rating an excessive amount of and left a number of factors on the free throw line, together with two journeys lacking each free throw makes an attempt over the 2 video games. He may also work on limiting turnovers, with a couple of making an attempt to dribble by way of a number of defenders.
