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#OTRHoopsReport: Highlighted at Super 6 Showcase – August 3, 2018

#OTRHoopsReport: Highlighted at Super 6 Showcase - August 3, 2018
August 3, 2018

ATLANTA, Georgia, – College coaches filed in to take in the talent at Emory University during the third NCAA live period of July. As always the OTR Hoops Report was on hand taking note of the top performers. Here is a rundown of the players HIGHLIGHTED  in our notebook coming out of the Friday July 20th action.

By: @JLHemingwayPSB

Justice Ajogbor (Asheville, North Carolina), PSB Elite U17 – 2020

Ajogbor has a high major frame and the strength to finish effectively at the rim. The 6-foot-10 big man has a presence that seems bigger than his measurables. Most impressively was his agility away from the lane. He proved that he can defend the ball screen action well enough to deter opposing teams from isolating him at the top of the key. Per Zac Oakes of SB Nation, Ajogbor is picking up interest from the University of Kentucky following his performance at the OTR Super 6 Showcase.

Armando Bacot (Richmond, Virginia), Team Takeover U17 – 2019

Bacot is a throwback type of post player. He eats on the low block and craves the contact that comes with playing on the interior. Coach Keith Stevens and the Takeover offensive system highlights Bacot’s talents terrifically. They run the hi-lo offense with 7-foot Hunter Dickinson throwing lobs past the outstretched hands of defenders to where only Bacot can catch and score. While Bacot might not be the most springy post in the building, he has the feet, hands and instincts to be very productive. In the end, those are the qualities that will make a college coach very happy one day. Per Corey Evans of Rivals.com, Bacot is down to five schools: VCU, Oklahoma State, UNC, Duke and Georgia. 

Anthony Edwards (Atlanta, Georgia), Atlanta Xpress U17 – 2020

Edwards is on a course to start some heated debates around the city of Atlanta this year.

Is he the best player the city has produced since….(fill in the blank).

The safe answer is Jaylen Brown (2015 Wheeler graduate). However, if Edwards keeps on the same track that he is on, he could write a chapter of Atlanta basketball history that puts him up there with the best. Currently 247 Sports has him ranked as the third best prospect in the class nationally. What Edwards does best is score the ball. He is a big time athlete who can boom dunks over opponents or shoot daggers from the arc. Surprisingly Edwards is a very effective passer. He does a fantastic job of finding the open player when the help rotates towards him.

Eric Gaines (Lithonia, Georgia), Atlanta Xpress U16 – 2020

Gaines is an athletic guard who produces on both ends of the floor. He handles pressure well as a lead handler. The junior plays the game with poise and finds the open player with dump offs. He also showed explosive ups by finishing above the rim and chasing down opponents with blocks. Although listed at 6-1, Gaines has a wingspan like a 6-6 wing.

Tyrell Jones (Tallahassee, Florida), Showtime Ballers – 2019

Jones boomed off the charts this month. Several impressive tournaments in a row earned him more than a dozen offers including Florida, Minnesota and Louisville. There is a good reason for this as well. He is quick slasher who can punish defenses for even attempting to double team off of ball screens. Jones is most dangerous when he gets into the lane. He is a threat to score it at the rim and has the basketball intelligence to find the open man around the perimeter.

Tre’Shaun Mann (Oxford, Florida), Each 1 Teach 1 – 2019

Mann lept up the national ranking boards this year. He showed why at the OTR Super 6 Showcase. He has a sneaky quick, explosive step to finish at the rim. He is equally good at running off of screens after initiating the offense. This is an important detail in this basketball world where coaches are turning their noses up at ball dominant lead guards. In ways, Mann reminds us of Memphis Grizzlies guard Kobi Simmons because of his blend of length, athleticism and skill. At this moment, Mann projects to be a more efficient scorer than Simmons is. He is at the top of our #NaismithWatch Preseason 50 list, which will released prior to the high school season. Per Corey Evans of Rivals, UNC offered last week.

Keano Calderon (Orlando, Florida ), Showtime Hoops – 2020

As a 2020 playing up 17U, Calderon had no problem adjusting. His 6’5 thin frame allows him to be a versatile scorer from anywhere on the floor. A matchup problem on the perimeter, he can get his shot off over top or make his way to the rim with his killer crossovers. He can guard multiple positions on the floor and make it extremely difficult for them to attempt to guard him. Calderon recently picked up an offer from UNC Asheville, Florida Atlantic, and North Florida.

Marcus Niblack (Wildwood, Florida), Each 1 Teach 1 – 2020

When penciling in players to watch for next summer, Niblack will be at the top of the list of prospects from Florida. The rising junior is terrific in transition and very efficient at scoring in the lane. The 6-3 guard also showed the ability to get his shot in the midrange off the dribble as well. He is a talented prospect who showed himself as one of the better guards on the court versus Team South Carolina.

Dante Wilcox (Palm Beach, Florida), Team Mo Speights – 2019

It is time to buy stock in Wilcox. The 6-8 forward is exploding with production this summer. He is so versatile that is really hard to slap a position label on him. He shoots the 3-pointer like a guard, runs the court like an athletic wing and finishes at the rim like a dependable center. In a match-up versus the Atlanta Celtics, he made three consecutive plays that had coaches scrambling to find his name in the book. He picked up offers from Charlotte, Buffalo and FIU following the evaluation periods this month.

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Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. Hemingway serves on the Board of Selectors for the Naismith Trophy. He is also the publisher of CoachHemi.com. He has been involved in the community since 1996 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at JonathanHemingway@PeachStateBasketball.com and follow him on  twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

 


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