#OTRHoopsReport – KnoxVegas Recap – April 17, 2014

Jaylen Fisher showed his potential as a must watch point guard last weekend in Knoxville.

Knoxville, Tenn. – The Knoxville Heat Tournament is one of the better events in the month of April. The event attracted elite travel teams from across the Southeast who competed in pool play and a single game playoff. Here are a number of prospects that caught our eye from this weekend’s tournament.

Pick-and-Pop Specialist

Luke Maye (Huntersville, NC), Hough HS-2015
AAU Team: Team United
Maye is a skilled forward that can stretch the floor with his ability to effectively shoot the ball. He knocks down the open 3-pointer in pick and pop situations. He also is a threat to put the ball on the floor in space. He displayed soft hands around the basket with his ability to finish. Maye’s ability to stretch the floor helps him stand out from other forwards around the country.

Sweet Stroke

Andrew Fleming (Nashville, TN), Ensworth-2015
AAU Team: Team Thad
Fleming is a confident shooter that possesses great size and strength. He has a sweet stroke, quick trigger and deep range. His size and length allow him to shoot over smaller opponents with ease. Every shot he takes has a chance to go in. Fleming shoot the ball well off the catch, but he also has the ability to sprint the floor and score in transition.

2015 Players to Watch

Tyler Hooker (Simpsonville, SC), Hillcrest-2015
AAU Team: SC Raptors Elite
Hooker is a competitive lead guard that can score in bunches. In transition he attacks the basket, mostly going right, but he shoots the running floater off the glass well. He is an excellent passer when he draws a second defender and is also good at working the high ball screen.

Gage Ellis (Greenville, SC)-Legacy Charter-2015
AAU Team: SC Raptors Elite
Ellis claims offers from Gardner-Webb, Radford, and Western Carolina. This 6-foot-4 forward was in attack mode every time down the floor. He has the ability to get into the lane at will and finish above the rim.

Jax Levitch (Louisvile, KY), Trinity-2015
AAU: The Ville
Levitch was one of the better shooters that I saw over the weekend. He displayed the ability to shoot the ball well off the dribble. He has a high basketball IQ and knows how to move without the basketball.

Most Potential 

Nick Marshall (Lexington, TN), Lexington-2015
AAU Team: Team Thad
Marshall is a true center who runs the floor well for his size. He rebounds well in and outside of his area with two hands. He did a great job of blocking and altering shots around the rim. Marshall showed good touch in the lane as well.

Best Young PG

Jaylen Fisher (Millington, TN), Bolton-2016
AAU Team: Team Thad
Fisher is very quick and handles the ball as if it’s on a string. He is elusive in the open court which places a great deal of pressure on opposing defenses because of his ability to get into the paint. Off of his penetration, Fisher gets the ball to his teammates in places where they can score easily.

Biggest Surprise

Myo Baxter (Cincinnati, OH), Lakota East-2015
AAU Team: Club Ohio
Baxter has a strong and athletic body that allows him to attack the rim off the dribble and score through contact against smaller perimeter players. He is a willing and able passer as he attacks the basket and draws a second defender. Baxter also displayed a polished back to the basket skill set.

Most Exciting

Ronald Bell (Fayetteville, Ga), Sandy Creek-2016
AAU Team: Vanguard Elite
Bell is a high energy forward who has improved his offensive skill set in the past year. He excels in transition with his ability to get out on the break to finish above the rim. Bell has developed his pull up jumper very nicely that keeps the defense off balance. His defensive ability could be what ultimately sets him apart, because of his anticipation in the passing lanes. He proved to be a difference maker on both ends of the floor as he crashed the glass and competed on every possession.

Shun Williams is the owner of On the Radar Hoops, Inc. The On the Radar Hoops Report is picked up by Division I and II colleges and universities across the country. He serves as the director of the On the Radar Hoops Fall Showcase, On the Radar Hoops Spring Showcase, On the Radar Hoops Invitational, Elite 32 Session I, Elite 32 Session II and Power 24