Bruton’s Middle School Picks – Rock City Classic

April 8, 2024 | Tony Bruton |
FIRST LAST TEAM CLASS SCOUTING REPORT
Zaccai Allen Team Trezz 2028 Allen is a fast guard that consistently scored the ball all weekend long. Love his constant activity on the defensive side of the ball and he doesn’t stop moving that often offensively. Is a solod option as a secondary ball-handler and could develop into a solid two-way threat in time.
Ayo Awosanya Cota Elite 2028 Ayo was an impressive player that showed he can do virtually everything well on the court. He’s a next level athlete that can play above the rim, he can pass the ball well, defends and communicates well for a young wing. Love his motor and competitiveness. One of the better rising prospects out of his area.
Chase Bollinger ACTS Elite 2028 If you like high IQ players, look no further than Bollinger. He dominated games with his passing, pump fakes and fadeaway jumpers. Despite being undersized, he dominated games with his shot making ability, passing and attacking of angles.
Travis Cooper Team Curry 2028 Cooper blazed the scorebooks with 3-pointers and breakaway layups. He does an excellent job of getting deflections that lead to easy scores on the opposite end. Has really good size for his position and a good basketball IQ.
Eddie Cota Jr. Cota Elite 2028 Tremendous point guard prospect that made passing the ball look easy. When he wasn’t scoring, he was setting his teammates up for easy looks along the perimeter and inside the paint. When he looked to score, he showed a nice looking pull-up jumper and the ability to finish with either hand inside.
Reginald Gray III 7th Nation 2028 Very strong lefty that can power his way to the basket through most defenders. Showed some crafty moves along the perimeter and a solid in-between game when defenses tried to push him away from the basket. One of the better all-around offensive packages in his division.
Ray Herring Atlanta Swish 2028 Ray can flat out score the ball. He gets downhill off the dribble, makes shots at odd angles and gets to the free throw line regularly. He’s the type of player to score over 20+ consistently within the flow of the game. Doesn’t force much.
Camden Hill Team Curry 2028 Hill stands around 6’6″ and uses his size and finishing ability well for an 8th grader. Rebounded the ball at a high level, boxed out and ran the floor in a way that you love to see from a post player. A lot to like long term.
Antoine Moreman Jr. Team Curry 2028 Outstanding lead guard that plays with an advanced skillset & an advanced feel for the game. Made timely passes, timely shots and got key defensive stops every time his team needed it. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t a productive varsity player from Day 1 in high school. Well on his way to garnering many accolades in the coming years.
Brelyn Moses Team Curry 2028 Many people consider Brelyn as one of the top players in his class & he showed why. He’s as versatile as they come in 8th grade. Excellent athleticism, solid ball-handling skills and great size for his position. Will rise above the rim to hammer it home on drives to the rim & can knock down the jumper in rhythm. Excellent wing prospect.
Aaron Parker Jr. Garner Road 2028 Parker was a bright spot that scored the ball efficiently and made plays on the defensive side of the ball as well. Has really good size, length and versatility on the floor. Will be a productive player in high school and possibly beyond as his game & height continue to expand.
Jaleek Parson Warriors Life Elite 2028 Parson is one of the fastest guards with the ball that you’ll find. Very quick and changes directions at the drop of a dime. Defensively, he sits down well in a stance and hounds opposing teams point guards without fouling.
Lonnie Porter ACTS Elite 2028 Porter is due for a breakout travel season. One of the purest scoring guards in the 8th grade division but also effortlessly makes plays for others. The best way to describe his game is by calling him “smooth” with the ball. Made his case as a top guard in his class in NC.
Jeremiah Russ Cota Elite 2028 Russ did an excellent job of moving without the ball. Majority of his points came from catch & shoot situations and from filling in open lanes on fastbreaks. When he sees one shot fall, more are bound to fall through the net sooner than later. Excellent scoring guard.
Isaiah Walker NET Foundation 2028 Walker has some shifty moves that he converts regularly during the games. As a primary ball-handler, he got to wherever he wanted and made life easy for his teammates in the process. Very crafty lead guard that will make a name for himself over time.
Keshawn Wilson NET Foundation 2028 It’s arguable that Wilson had one of the best weekends on both sides of the ball. He applied a ton of pressure defensively and offensively was much of the same. He excels at getting downhill and converts floaters around the rim.
Saadiq Barber Team Trezz 2029 Strong guard that can do anything his team needs. Scores it well as a faceup creator, can defend up to 4 positions and can make his teammates life easy as a facilitator. One to track over time as he continues to grow.
Jabias Bradshaw Carolina Rockets 2029 Pass-first point guard that creates a plethora of easy opportunties for his teammates. He’s always on the attack and has little trouble getting into the painted area. Once he gets to his spots, he’s equally good at dropping in floaters, dropping dimes or finishing soft off the glass. Top notch young point guard.
Emory Chaney CP3 2029 Outstanding point guard that is incredibly difficult to rattle. Exceptional creator in pick and roll for a player his age. At times, he dominated games purely from skill and IQ. A point guard to watch closely as his body continues to mature over time.
Kayden Durham Elite Dynasty 2029 Durham is just a 7th grader that played up several age groups, but was still a dominant presence at the combo guard spot. He has a strong frame, good feel for the game and a deadly ability to convert at or around the basket. Instant impact player down the road that averaged over 20 per game despite the age gap.
Bryson Faulk-Warner CP3 2029 Bryson is a do-it-all type of player that excels at many things. He’s got a good motor, quick hands and rebounds well for a wing. He’s at his best offensively as a faceup creator. Creates well for himself and for his teammates. Good size for a 7th grader.
Braeden Greenup CP3 2029 Greenup showed a good combination of skill, power and IQ. He knocked down pull-up jumpers to his left, finished through contact at the rim and was a monster at times on the glass. One of the better inside-outside threats in his class.
Pierre Hewlin Team Trezz 2029 Hewlin impacts games in a big way with his ability to draw fouls, create off the dribble from the perimeter and create havoc on the inside. He’s a strong bodied lefty that can knock down shots from virutally every spot within the arc.
Jaiden Howard Carolina Rockets 2029 Lefty is due for a breakout. Scored over 20+ in his first matchup mainly by attacking the rim off the dribble. Has a very quick first step and is very good at converting counter attacks. Good size at an early age for a guard/wing. Expect to hear alot from Howard in the next few months.
Quantay James Team Trezz 2029 James should currently be in consideration as one of the top players in his class. At an early stage, he’s got excellent size, good feel for the game, versatility and a bigtime motor. He’s a natural scorer that can knock down jumpers, slashes to the basket and he’s athletic enough to play inside when necessary. His defense is one of his best attributes and he doesn’t back down. Remember the name.
Lloyd Jones 7th Nation 2029 Lloyd is an excellent athlete that is constantly in attack mode. He’s got really good size for a shooting guard and even moves out to the wing position defensively. It’s easy to appreciate his willingness to absorb contact while still finishing. Was one of the top scorers all weekend and his finishing ability was a huge reason why.
KJ McLawhorn Warriors Life Elite 2029 McLawhorn is an outstanding pass-first guard that kept defenses in retreat with his court vision. He can knock down the open jumper and he can create his own shot, but was at his best when setting up others.
Jayden Prather Atlanta Swish 2029 Prather was one of the strongest players in the middle school ranks over the course of the weekend. He scores the ball in bunches by using his frame to overpower defenders and by using his quickness to get around bigger players. Excellent athlete that knows how to put the ball in the basket.
Brycen Summers Warriors Life Elite 2029 Summers has a quiet game but a loud production. His facial expressions rarely changed, but his attacking style of play is consistent. Does an excellent job of getting out into transition and he’s got some sneaky shiftiness to his game that creates space for shots.
Cornelious Best Team Grind Black 2030 Best can score the ball well for a young player. He was constantly moving and always involved with plays around the basket. As he grows & matures physically, he could develop into a recognizable name throughout the state.
Braven Blount IGI White 2030 Blount can do a ton of things well on the basketball court. He keeps his head up and sees the floor well as a primary ball-handler. He’s got a quick release and a nice looking jumper overall. Versatile young guard that is primed to make quite a name for himself in the future.
Zyon Howard Team Trezz 2030 Howard showed off a very mature offensive game. Has a tight handle on the ball and doesn’t mind getting physical on either side of the ball. Bigtime scoring option at a young age but also is a dangerous passer. A player that is truly ahead of his time.
Kentrell Johnson Warriors Life Elite 2030 Fast guard that plays a surprisingly physical brand of basketball. Has a slender frame, but attacks the basket regularly and converts around the rim. Very fast lead guard that can dish and score it.
Jonathan Jones Cota Elite 2030 Jones is a fast guard with good size and defensive principles. Uses his size, speed and intensity well all weekend. Rare to see kids his age locked in on both sides of the ball.
Jeremiah Moore IGI White 2030 Moore is a player that has a world of potential. He’s a highly skilled guard with exceptional athleticism for a player his age. In the matchups I watched him, there were several instances that he blew by tough defenders and exploded to the rim. In addition to his athleticism, he’s an unselfish player that creates easy scoring opportunities for those around him. Top notch young player.
Jysir Buckram Warriors Life Elite 2031 Buckram is a high level guard that gets it. Very cerebral creator that makes his teammates better while also keeping himself afloat in the scoring column. Love his willingness to keep everyone else involved and he’s got impressive footwork for a young player. One to monitor.
Jalen Cowan Team Grind Elite 2031 Cowan is a crafty scoring guard that can pile up points with some of the best. Very tricky left-hand dominant guard that can finish at the rim and knocks down jumpers. Love how he uses the backboard.
Quamari Hollenback Team Trezz 2031 Hollenback is a high level shot maker already. You can’t leave him with any space or he’ll pile up points in a hurry without using many dribbles. One to watch closely as he continues to grow and round out his game over the years.
Kayden Howard Team Trezz 2031 Howard is as elite a creator off the dribble that you’ll find in this age division. Outstanding speed with the ball, crafty and is a relentless attacker. Despite being small, he makes up for it with his intensity, skill and basketball IQ.

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