Bruton’s Standout Performers Pt. 1 – Who Got Next Tip-Off (2025)

Travel season is back! Dobbs Creek in Cumming, GA was the place to be this past weekend. Part 1 of 3 articles covering standout performers from NGSHoops Who Got Next Tip-Off.

Jaxon Posey – LBD 2031 – Posey towers over the majority of his opponents, but make no mistake about his position. He’s a wing that can seamlessly transition from the wing to the post area when needed on both ends of the floor. Does well protecting the rim with his length, but can stay in front the bulk of ball-handlers on opposing teams. Scores well around the rim with a soft touch and is hard to contain in transition play. Has the makings of an excellent long-term prospect.

Elijah Humphrey – Memphis War Eagles 2033 – A shifty, quick guard with size at a very young age. Gets to the rim and finishes at a high level. Solid shooter from the outside. At an early age, is showing next level burst and explosion. One that we believe should be monitored closely as his development continues over the years.

Izzy Thornton – SDA 2029 – Big-time shot maker that plays without a conscience. Will take shots from deep, but isn’t afraid to mix it up. Can get “shot happy”, but also can dial it in enough to make sure that he’s distributing the ball with his teammates.

Azir Hatchett – Atlanta Celtics Beyond 2031 – 6’0” forward as a 6th grader that has a soft touch around the basket, good footwork on the inside and potential as a stretch forward. Plays strong on the inside, rebounds the ball well and keeps it high. Has good feet and a quick short hook against taller defenders. A player we are certain to hear a lot about down the road.

Cason Browne – Atlanta Celtics Beyond 2031 – An incredible ball-handler despite being a 5th grader playing up. Gets to wherever he wants, even against immense pressure. Strong defender that picks the pockets of crafty dribblers. Has the “IT” factor when it comes to possessing true point guard skills. Never appears rattled and doesn’t get sped up, even when being met with traps. Will win a ton of games one day at the high school level.

Davari Tuck – Team Loaded 2031 – Very strong, athletic wing that does a lot of things well on the court. Has an excellent motor. Will not be outworked by anyone. Has a solid form and was able to knock down a few jumpers from deep range while still mainly being a slashing wing. Love his potential as a consistent two-way threat. His constant activity created tons of opportunities for second chance points, steals, transition layups and blocks.

Kayden Howard – Team Loaded 2031 – Tremendously crafty scoring guard that plays bigger than his size. Can score it from the outside but has figured out a way to convert finishes consistently over taller defenders around the rim. Has a good swagger and energy about him. Always appears to be in complete control on the floor and doesn’t back down from any challenges. Fan favorite and for a good reason.

Xaviar James Team 1 of 1 Elite 2032 – James established himself as the current best player in the 5th grade division. Dominated all weekend long offensively with an advanced scoring skillset. Has excellent size around 5’7”, but handles the point guard position while being skilled enough to score it consistently in the paint with his footwork and shotmaking off the glass. Lefty with a world of potential if he continues to work and enjoy the process. Has a picturesque form, is excellent out of triple-threat and let’s his game talk for him.

Jackson Harmon – AE5 2032 – Harmon is a lightning quick floor general that can shoot it from deep. Shifty with the ball and routinely shakes defenders out of his line of sight. Can score it at a high level, but can also facilitate at a high level for his teammates. Did a good job of keeping his eyes up and finding open teammates around the perimeter.

Samir Yocub – Memphis War Eagles 2033 – High level lead guard that has a flair to his game that is beyond his years. Witnessed him split multiple traps with well-timed crossovers and spin moves. Showed a quick release and deep range on his jumper. You can tell this kid is in the gym a lot. Not many kids his age (or older) can handle the ball at the level he does. Will be an exciting prospect for years to come.

Elijah Mathieu- Team Tooki3 2032 – Incredibly agile floor general that changes directions at high level speeds. Ambidextrous ball-handler that made life incredibly difficult for opponents with his end to end speed and handle. In the open floor, nobody was able to keep him from making plays. Always appeared to be moving at a different pace than his opposition.

Loren Hall Jr – Game Elite 2031 – Outstanding long-range threat that can go on some incredible scoring runs by himself. Has supreme confidence in his shooting ability & impressive range. Not a one trick pony however. Has some craftiness to his game off the dribble and can get into the painted area at will.

Ajani Howard – Decatur Blazers 2034 – Incredibly skilled young point guard. I generally wouldn’t cover a 2035 player at this stage in development, but he’s fun to watch. Has a tight handle on the ball & a high IQ on the floor. Was able to shift his way out of traps and showed a nice touch on his pull-up jumper. Very impressive to witness this level of skill at such a tender age.