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Lasting Impressions from The Gauntlet – April 18, 2023

Lasting Impressions from The Gauntlet - April 18, 2023
April 18, 2023

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – On the Radar Hoops returned to the Sunshine State for a second time this spring to host The Gauntlet at Mainland and Seabreeze High Schools. Our media team was in full force at the event, and we took note of the top performers from the event. Here is an initial installment of standouts from last weekend.

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Our staff was surprised to see Christian Anderson pop up at the event on Saturday evening. Anderson, who attends school in Atlanta, does have family ties in Florida, which explains his appearance with Judah Nation. One would not have to check the scorebook to confirm the identity of Anderson on the court, however. The 2024 point guard had his signature crossover into his smooth jumper working. He scored a most efficient 16 points on Saturday night by sinking threes and connecting on pull-up jumpers in the midrange. Anderson, a University of Michigan commit, is an elite prospect nationally.

Perhaps the biggest revelation of the weekend was Trey Murray from Born to Impact Elite. He is a 2024 guard that is built to score. He is a superb athlete who thrives in transition and will finish plays with exclamation point dunks. Murray proved to be more than just a run-and-dunk type guard as he connected on four 3-pointers in a game versus Tony Bradley Elite on his way to a 26-point outing. Murray belongs on any list of top guards coming out of the state of Florida.

There were a handful of available seniors who were still playing, competing, and looking for their next step in their basketball journey. Ty Owens from Palm Beach Prep made his case as the top 2023 guard at the event last weekend. We peaked in on all three of the games that he played, and Owens impacted in each game. He acted as a lead playmaker often, creating off the dribble and setting up teammates for easy looks. But it is his scoring ability that will draw the most attention as a prospect for the next level. We watched him put up 20-point games last weekend while doing it with jumpers, paint finishes, and trips to the free throw line.

Owens Palm Beach Prep teammate, Marouf Moumine, is another top available 2023 prospect from the event. The 6-foot-6 wing is a shooting specialist. While he does exude exceptional athleticism, Moumine excels in the spot-up action where he can knock down perimeter 3-pointers in the half-court offense. Add in his ability to score in transition and his willingness to attack a long closeout and the left-handed prospect looks to have the tools to play the game at a high level for years to come.

A player that grabbed everyone’s attention immediately was Cameron Coachman with North Point Youth. The 2023 wing-forward brings versatility to the floor. He acted as a rim protector for his squad. He swatted multiple shots in his team’s opening game of the day. His timing and quick leaping ability make him an ideal player to anchor the defense with shot blocking and rebounding. Yet the 6-8 prospect can also stretch the floor with his 3-point jumper. He is comfortable handling in the open court as well. There is plenty of upside for Coachman and the next level and the right program would be wise to recruit his services.

We got one look at Jermaine Freeman with On Ball Elite and were highly impressed. The 2023 guard has a polished offensive game. He plays the game with poise and instinct. Freeman never seems to be sped up too fast as to where he will make unforced errors. Instead, his smooth footwork and ability to keep his head up allows him to make the right play consistently. Freeman is a superb athlete, and he demonstrated his ability to accelerate to the rim to finish through traffic. We think that Freeman’s game will only grow once he finds a spot at the collegiate level. He is the type of player who has many tools that will translate.

We bought stock in Shadrack Kakora’s game this weekend. The 6-4 wing projects to be a prototypical two-way wing in the future. He is well built and can impact the game in traffic whether it is rebounding or defending in the paint. However, it is his offensive game that will gain the attention of coaches at the next level. He sports a high follow through on his jumper and showed flashes of being a consistent long-range shooter. He seemed very comfortable in the mid-range while connecting on several jumpers off the dribble while playing with CCTG. Keep Kakora on your radar, he is a guy that could pop soon.

Jonathan Hemingway has been a National Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2013. He has been involved in the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him at JLHemingway@gmail.com and follow him on twitter @JL_Hemingway.


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