The highschool season is now in full swing. Marshall County Hoopfest had a stable degree of expertise on show, with a mixing of public and prep colleges. Right here’s a rundown of a few of the high prospects.
Zac Foster 6’3 165 PG/SG – Woodward Academy 2025 (Clemson)
Foster confirmed some ball-handling, he’s not the kind to get to the rim a lot off the dribble however makes use of his deal with to create for himself as he likes to pull-up off the dribble. He can shoot the three and has a midrange jumper. He retains his dribble alive properly with contact and knew his choices passing off the dribble mid-attack. He scored 16 factors within the loss to Huntsville. He performed arduous in Woodward’s second recreation in opposition to Cathedral, however they didn’t come away with the win, shedding 71-59 with Foster scoring 19 factors (7-15 FG, 1-5 3PT) and grabbing 6 rebounds within the recreation.
Deke Cooper 6’6 180 SF – Woodward Academy 2025
Cooper was superb in opposition to Huntsville with 26 factors and 11 rebounds. He’s bodily and really athletic. He had some aggressive dunk makes an attempt and landed a behind-the-back dunk in visitors on one play. His shot was a bit flat at instances, however he related on a number of. He has room to broaden his perimeter recreation, however he was very productive. Cooper performed some robust protection and drew some fouls in opposition to Cathedral, however he wasn’t fairly as productive or environment friendly offensively with 10 factors (1-7 FG, 8-10 FT) and seven rebounds.
Simon Walker 6’4 175 SG – Huntsville 2025 (Auburn)
Walker began sluggish in opposition to Woodward Academy however completed with 21 factors. He has a robust higher physique and did a heavy majority of his offensive injury from the perimeter with a number of 3PT makes an attempt, some from NBA 3PT vary. He doesn’t have a whole lot of creativity in his recreation or explosive athleticism however he’s always shifting offensively, and his complete crew is at all times in movement. Walker completed with 20 factors (7-20 FG, 6-19 3PT), 6 rebounds, and 5 assists to no turnovers in Huntsville’s second recreation in opposition to Norcross.
Chris Cenac 7’0 230 PF – Hyperlink Academy 2025 (Houston)
Cenac posted an environment friendly double-double within the 82-56 win in opposition to La Lumiere with 15 factors (7-8 FG) and 10 rebounds. He has an excellent physique that can get stronger, and he performs with aggression. He’s greatest within the excessive publish, however he can broaden his offensive recreation as he tends to duck and pressure himself to the basket at instances. He additionally misplaced the ball on a number of drives, generally with little defensive strain. He flashed some contact going through up, however the consistency can enhance. His mobility and athleticism was arduous for opponents to match on a number of jams. Cenac helped Hyperlink take down Legacy Early School 58-39 with 7 factors, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Jerry Easter 6’5 185 PG/SG – Hyperlink Academy 2025 (USC)
Easter was massive in opposition to his former college, La Lumiere, with 16 factors (7-8 FG, 2-2 3PT). He dealt with the ball in opposition to strain and performed throughout the circulation, not forcing his influence. He handed out 10 assists to just one turnover. Defensively he got here away with 3 steals and defended full courtroom. He introduced it once more the subsequent day in opposition to Legacy Early with 19 factors (8-12 FG, 3-5 3PT), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a couple of steals. His constant 3PT capturing could be very encouraging for his growth.
Amare Bynum 6’9 210 PF – Hyperlink Academy 2025 (Ohio State)
Bynum (pictured) was the person in Hyperlink’s first recreation. He’s actual harmful across the rim, as he’s bouncy, aggressive, and constructed for contact. A whole lot of his scoring got here from passes and offensive rebounds, taking an influence dribble and dunking or utilizing a bounce hook/floater. He did step out and knock down 2 of his 3 3PT makes an attempt over the 2 video games however he’s greatest within the paint. He ended up with 19 factors (8-11 FG) and 6 (3 offensive) rebounds in opposition to La Lumiere. Bynum adopted up with 10 factors (4-10 FG, 1-2 3PT), 8 (offensive) rebounds, and a couple of assists to 4 turnovers in opposition to Legacy Early School.
Jalen Haralson 6’7 215 PG/SG – La Lumiere 2025 (Notre Dame)
Haralson scored 9 factors (4-8 FG, 1-3 3PT) within the loss to Hyperlink Academy. He did an excellent job dealing with the ball, however I believed he may’ve regarded to get to the rim extra, selecting up his dribble early at instances. He was good defensively, doing a stable job on Chris Cenac, taking part in bodily regardless of giving up some measurement and defending guards on the perimeter at different instances all through the sport. He adopted up with a robust efficiency in opposition to Veritas Academy, successful 64-54. Haralson received to the rim rather a lot and completed properly by means of contact, placing up factors when his crew wanted it. He completed with 24 factors (9-16, 3-5 3PT), 9 rebounds, and handed properly with 4 assists to 1 turnover.
Darius Adams 6’5 185 PG/SG – La Lumiere 2025 (UConn)
He wasn’t actual environment friendly in opposition to Hyperlink, however Adams displayed his offensive capacity with 18 factors on 6-17 capturing. He confirmed his plus capturing vary, going 3-8 from 3PT. He favors his proper hand when driving however nonetheless penetrated properly off the dribble and dealt with contact properly. He’s easy taking it to the rim however I’m undecided how properly he’ll end within the paint on the subsequent ranges along with his lack of energy and athletic pop. Adams additionally had 7 rebounds and three assists to 4 turnovers within the recreation in opposition to Hyperlink Academy. His second recreation in opposition to Veritas consisted of 19 factors (7-17 FG). He missed all 3 of his 3 3PT makes an attempt however did a pleasant job taking it to the rim and drawing fouls, making 5 of his 7 free throws.
Melvin Bell 6’4 195 SG – La Lumiere 2025 (San Jose State)
Bell had no drawback scoring in opposition to Hyperlink’s measurement down low. He drove to the basket and confirmed persistence to not go up with fast pictures, as an alternative utilizing pivots and fakes whereas dealing with contact to complete. He didn’t seize a rebound however scored properly with 19 factors on 7-8 capturing and made all 5 free throws makes an attempt. His efficiency in opposition to Veritas was the exact opposite, going scoreless on 7 shot makes an attempt, grabbing 7 rebounds, and committing 4 turnovers.
Jaron Saulsberry 6’6 170 SG – Norcross 2026
Saulsberry had some good moments. He began the occasion with 22 factors and 4 rebounds to beat Cathedral 75-62. He has some size and stable energy. He hit a number of pictures from the perimeter (2-5 3PT) however didn’t present a whole lot of offense within the half-court. He was good defensively and confirmed some athleticism within the open flooring. Saulsberry scored 13 factors on 5-12 capturing in opposition to Huntsville.
Griffin Starks 6’7 185 PF – Newport 2027
Starks posted a quiet 10 factors within the 65-54 win in opposition to McCallie. He adopted up with a 17-point (7-12 FG, 2-3 3PT) and 9 (4 offensive) rebound efficiency in opposition to Daviess County to win 66-61. He’s agile and has good size, mixed with good coordination. He can enhance his half-court recreation and discover simpler methods to attain. He’s not a nasty athlete, ending with a number of dunks, however he missed fairly a number of dunk makes an attempt over his two video games. General, consistency can enhance however the sophomore exhibits good potential.
