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#RockyTopInvitational – Top 2023 Prospects

#RockyTopInvitational - Top 2023 Prospects
May 19, 2022

Gatlinburg, TN – There was a lot of talent to be seen at the On the Radar Rocky Top Invitational in Gatlinburg. Independents and shoe teams collided which showcased some new talent to begin tracking heading into the summer live period.

 

 

By: Jennifer Brazelton

 

Will Brent: STARS HSA – 2023

The 6’5″ shooting guard out of Ravenwood High School, Will Brent, was very impressive and consistent with his shooting capabilities at the Rocky Top Invitational. Brent really stood out in his game against Hawks Elite, coming out of halftime and hitting 3 consecutive 3-pointers. Brent has a very nice shot, and with his height, he’s able to get shots up over defenders.

 

Julius Clark: Pro One – 2023

The 6’6″ guard out of Mountainbrook High School, Julius Clark, is involved in every single play when he’s on the court. Clark is one of the more active guards; able to pull down boards and push the ball up the court. Clark plays fast and with his high IQ he limits turnovers and capitalizes on processions. Clark is a super athletic player that always makes the right play.

 

Caleb Cothron: STARS North – 2023

The 6’4″ guard out of Beech High School, Caleb Cothron, light it up at the Rocky Top Invitational. In one game, Cothron connected on 6 3-pointers and had some solid finished around the basket. Cothron is very consistent for his 2023 STARS North team by being a player that can score when needed and showed some nice athleticism grabbing offensive boards and put-backs.

 

Braylon Jackson: Team Breakdown – 2023

The 6’5″ guard out of Oldsmar Christian Academy, Braylon Jackson, put on a show at the Rocky Top Invitational. Jackson has great size and strength to be able to take defenders off the dribble and finish through contact. Jackson has a very nice spot up jumper, but can also hit off the catch. Jackson truly embodies a three level scorer. Defensively, Jackson keeps his players in front and does a great job positioning himself for getting blocks and rebounds. I expect a high uptick in his recruitment as he’s a big time stock riser.

 

 

Maki Johnson: Midwest Basketball Club – 2023

The 6’4″ guard out of Huntington Prep put on a show in his game against 1 Family. Johnson lit it up from 3, connecting on 5 3-pointers and finished the game with 22 points. Johnson is a super athletic guard that can jump out the gym and finish above the rim. Johnson has a high motor and is always going on offense and defense.

 

TJ Kolbe: STARS – 2023

The 6’2″ guard out of Hendersonville High School, TJ Kolbe, continued to show why he’ s a top prospect in the class of 2023. Kolbe is truly a relentless and fearless guard, with amazing confidence in his ability to knock down jumpers anywhere on the court. Does very well coming off screens and reading the defense. Kolbe does a phenomenal job of moving without the ball to get to open spots. Kolbe finishes each play at a high rate, by scoring the ball or finding his open teammate. I expect some offers to start to trickle in as he continues to show consistency through the live period.

 

Kyle Layton: Pro One – 2023

The 6” guard out of Mountainbrook High School showed that small guards can still takeover games. Layton is a very quick guard that plays with a ton of energy, which is what makes him so fun to watch. Layton is not afraid to attack the defense and does a great job of knocking down deep shots at a high rate. Layton does a great job finishing around the basket, embracing contact and leveraging his body well. Defensively, Layton does a great job staying in the passing lane to get steals and deflections, and does very well contesting his opponents shots. Layton holds D1 offers from Old Dominion, Samford, and Tennessee Tech.

 

JJ Mata: Carolina Riptide – 2023

The 6’3″ guard, JJ Mata, plays bigger than his size. Over the course of the tournament, JJ Mata averaged 23 points, 8 rebounds, and shot 60% from deep. Mata did a great job leading his team through the weekend and making an impact both offensively and defensively for his team. Mata was able to show that he can hit off the catch or dribble, but also take his defenders to the basket. Mata will be a player to track heading into his senior year.

 

Isaiah Sutherland: 1 Family – 2023

The 6’6″ shooting guard out of Orlando Christian Prep, Isaiah Sutherland, continued to stay consistent, proving he’s one of the best shooters in his class. Sutherland has great size and skill set to play at the next level. Sutherland is incredible confident in his shooting capabilities and had several games with multiple 3-pointers. As he continues to score the ball well, I expect to see more college coaches reaching out in the upcoming live period.

 

Deondrian Washington: Hawks Elite – 2023

The 6’6″ guard out of Bay High School, Deondrian Washington, is a big time player to track heading into his senior year. Washington has a nice quick release off the dribble, shoots it well from the outside, and can get to the basket while finishing above the rim. Washington averaged close to a double-double while at the Rocky Top Invitational and put the On the Radar staff on notice with his aggressiveness and play. Really long, versatile athlete that will be a fun player to track heading into his senior year.

 

After serving on college coaching staffs and working at several universities in the Southeast, Jennifer Brazelton joined On the Radar Hoops as a National Evaluator in April 2022. She has been involved in the Georgia basketball community since 2015 and can be reached at JenniferRBrazelton@gmail.com or on Twitter @thegirlinadidas.


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