Bruton’s Scouting Notebook: Rock City Classic (Middle School Standouts)
Rocky Mount, NC – The Rock City Classic brought out some high level talent. From start to finish, the gym stayed loud and the energy stayed high. Here are a few names that stood out in the middle school & grassroots division.
CJ Jackson | 6’5″ SF | Fireball Select | Class of 2029
Jackson is a long, developing wing with great instincts and natural feel. Showed flashes of athleticism and versatility on both ends. He’s mobile, can defend in space, and showed comfort handling the ball in transition. Once he fills out and the confidence catches up to the frame—look out.
Kymel Rodgers | 5’10” CG | Fireball Select | Class of 2029
Rodgers is a high-motor guard who plays with urgency. He can shoot it, get downhill, and defend full court. Was a pest defensively all weekend and didn’t shy away from any matchup. Played with a chip and backed it up.
Jahmez Dildy | 5’2″ PG | 7th Nation | Class of 2029
Dildy is a lefty floor general with elite feel and vision for his age. His handle is tight, his reads are quick, and he set the tempo every time down the floor. Showed great touch on floaters and kept defenders honest with his outside shot. Has that “lead guard” DNA already.
Jody Dudley | 5’5″ PG | Only Us Legends | Class of 2029
Dudley was a scoring machine. Got hot early and stayed hot, knocking down tough shots from all angles. Loves the big moment and plays with swagger. He was confident, fearless, and didn’t back down from bigger and stronger guards. Big-time offensive motor.
Eli Nelson | 5’7″ PG | Garner Road | Class of 2029
Nelson was a floor general in every sense. Made great decisions, stretched the floor with his shooting, and created easy looks for others. Always seemed to be in complete control of what was happening on the floor. His presence raised the level of everyone around him.
Jaden Morgan | 6’2″ G | No Guts No Glory | Class of 2029
Morgan is a big guard who combines shot making with unselfish play. Has good length and uses it well defensively and to finish over smaller guards. Never forced the issue and let the game come to him. High-ceiling prospect with a smooth game.
CJ Mims | 5’5″ PG | Garner Road | Class of 2029
Mims is a pure point who sees everything a step ahead. Quick, shifty, and locked in on defense. Has three-point range and loves to pressure the ball full court. Steady leader with high confidence and natural leadership traits.
Pierre Hewlin | 6’0″ G | Team Trezz | Class of 2029
Hewlin is a strong-framed lefty with a burner from deep. He gets into his shot quickly and doesn’t hesitate when given space. Played through contact well and showed good body control on finishes. Defenses had to stretch out beyond the perimeter just to contain him for small stretches.
Tolson O’Daniel | 6’6″ SF | No Guts No Glory | Class of 2029
O’Daniel is a big-bodied wing who plays with patience and feel. Rebounded in traffic, found open teammates out of the post, and pushed the break when needed. He’s unselfish and highly efficient. Quiet, steady impact player that does the little things right.
Kayden Keith | 5’10” SG | Truth Generation | Class of 2029
Keith is a tough-nosed scoring guard who consistently got to the rim. Used his frame to absorb contact and had a quick second jump around the rim. Put up numbers without hunting for shots. Plays with purpose and a strong motor.
Keith “KJ” McLawhorn | 6’1″ CG | WBC Elite | Class of 2029
McLawhorn is a do-it-all combo guard that can be a pass-first playmaker or take over as a scorer. Poised and skilled, with a deep bag and sharp court awareness. Took what the defense gave him and delivered every time. High-IQ guard with toughness and upside.
Quantay James | 6’4″ SG/SF | Team Trezz | Class of 2029
James is an ultra-competitive wing who thrived around the rim. Finished through length, rebounded like a big, and took on any defensive assignment. Strong frame with good agility. He’s the type of guy who’ll contribute from day one at the high school level. High level prospect.
Kentrell Johnson | 5’3″ PG | IYK Elite | Class of 2030
Johnson is a lightning bolt with the ball. Speed kills, and he used it to collapse defenses all weekend. Created havoc in transition, got into the paint at will, and knocked down timely shots. Made the game uncomfortable for opposing guards with his tempo alone.
Tionni Brown | 5’0″ PG | IYK Elite | Class of 2030
Brown plays much bigger than his size. Absolute pest defensively—took pride in locking up the ball. Pushed the pace, made good decisions in the open court, and got to the rim with creativity. Fearless, energetic, and relentless.
Sonny Watkins | 6’4″ CG | Team Loaded 919 | Class of 2030
Watkins was one of the most intriguing long-term prospects on the floor. A big guard who doesn’t need to score to impact winning. He rebounds, defends, moves the ball, and makes plays. Has a mature feel for the game and doesn’t force it. The upside here is real.
Isaiah Tsolenyanu | 6’4″ SF | No Guts No Glory | Class of 2030
Tsolenyanu has great size on the wing and plays with a high motor. Finished plays in traffic, showed nice touch around the rim, and sprinted the floor hard every possession. Active hands on defense and crashed the glass with intent. Physical, coachable, and getting better each game.
Zyon Howard | 5’3″ CG | Team Loaded 252 | Class of 2030
Howard is a natural scorer with range and confidence. Got hot in multiple games and showed touch from all three levels. Can break defenders down, hit tough floaters, and knock down threes off the bounce. Impressive shot-making ability for a young combo.
Braven Blount | 5’9″ CG | ENC Rebels | Class of 2030
Blount is a strong-willed combo guard who knows how to take over a game. Gets buckets in bunches and makes others better. Vocal leader who competes on both ends. Had stretches where he dominated as a scorer, passer, and rebounder. One of the top rising prospects from the 252 area.
MJ Thomas | 6’5″ PF | Team Loaded 252 | Class of 2030
Thomas was a true post presence and controlled the paint. Rebounded everything in his area and scored efficiently around the rim. Has good timing as a shot blocker and used his body well to seal. Hard to move inside and even harder to stop once he gets deep post position.
Davari Tuck | 6’0″ SF | DHBC | Class of 2031
Tuck plays with constant energy and doesn’t take possessions off. Long and active defensively, and made his presence known slashing to the rim. Finished strong through contact and even stepped out to hit an open jumper or two. High-motor wing with a strong two-way foundation.
Kayden Howard | 5’0″ PG | Team Loaded 252 | Class of 2031
Howard is a shifty lead guard who thrives against pressure. Keeps his dribble alive in tight spaces and has a tight handle that lets him operate under control. Showed poise as a floor general and didn’t shy away from taking big shots when needed. Quick, tough, and decisive.
Daziyon Carpenter | 5’3″ PG | Team Loaded 704 | Class of 2031
Carpenter was crafty and calm with the rock. Created for others, knocked down open looks, and stayed efficient all weekend. His pace, decision-making, and ability to keep defenders off-balance made him a reliable engine. Quietly productive and very consistent.
Jabari Grant | 5’8″ SF | NLBD | Class of 2031
Grant is a quick-twitch wing who thrived getting downhill. Finished strong to his right and absorbed contact well. Plays fast, stays aggressive, and looked comfortable pushing the break or attacking closeouts. A lot to like here moving forward.
Cayden Green | 5’9″ C | ENC Rebels | Class of 2032
Green is a physical young big with polished post footwork and strong rebounding instincts. Finished with touch, faced up and hit shots, and showed court vision from the block. Played well beyond his age and looked unbothered against size. Very skilled for a player his age and position.
Frederick Hayes | 5’4″ PG | ENC Rebels | Class of 2032
Hayes has an elite feel for the game at an early age. Calm under pressure, smart with the ball, and knew when to create or reset. Constantly made those around him better and played with a maturity you don’t see often in young guards. The IQ is already next-level.
Kamarii Farmer | 5’3″ CG | IYK Elite | Class of 2032
Farmer has a deep offensive bag and isn’t afraid to use it. Great handle, good vision, and tough shot-making ability. Showed confidence scoring off the bounce and used creative footwork to shake defenders. Slick combo who keeps the defense honest.
Jeremiah Corbins | 5’6″ SF | Team Trezz | Class of 2032
Corbins is a natural scorer who got to the rim at will. Played through contact, finished well with either hand, and attacked closeouts with purpose. Athleticism and strength stood out at his age group. Definitely a name to remember.