ELITE 60 SHOWCASE c/o 2029 DAY 1 STANDOUTS
The legendary Berkmar High School plays host to some of the top players in the 2029
class at the ELITE 60 SHOWCASE. As day 1 ends, here are some of my standout players.
Elliot’s game isn’t hard to miss. From the second warmups began, he showed off his beautiful jump shot. It has a high release and he jumps as high as he can on each shot. And the bounce isn’t just at the base of his shot. Preston wowed the crowd today with many athletic slams… open and contested. It’s early, but as time goes on he could mirror former Illinois wing, Matthew Mayer.
Colbert is a floor general stuck in the body of a wing. He is bigger than most of the other guards his age. He also makes the gap between him and others even bigger with his ability to dunk from the point guard position. He knew exactly where everyone should be on the court. Colbert is a willing passer and a willing scorer. This keeps defenders on their toes. He should continue to attack opponents with his downhill drives and pick apart defenses with his good vision this winter. I can’t wait to see Colbert’s progression as we move forward.
Silky smooth. That’s how I would describe Watson’s game. He stands 6’7” and has skill out of this world. He hypnotizes defenders with dribble moves headlined by a McGrady like hang dribble. Confidence is not lacking for Watson either. There is no shot on the court that he seems to dislike… and who can blame him? He does take VERY tough shots, but when he is on, it is almost impossible for Watson to be stopped by any of his peers. IF his foot speed and athleticism catch up with his confidence and skill, we could be looking at a Brandon Ingram type of player.
Duor stands 6’5’’, but his game seems to have a larger presence. With arms that touch each sideline, the young swingman causes havoc on defense. He is good at anticipating passes of the opponent. Make no mistake though, Duor’s specialty is offense. He is good at going to the bucket and creating shots for himself from twelve to fifteen feet. His jump shot looks okay from three and as he gets older and stronger it will match his lethal midrange game. Junub Duor is a name every college will have written on their recruiting board in the coming years.
Taylor is a 5’10” combo guard that excels in transition. At first, he may not stick out, but as the game unfolds, he seems to catch every eye with his microwave scoring ability. The kid scores from all three levels, off the dribble or the catch. What’s most impressive is his uncanny knack for grabbing rebounds amongst taller players. As time moves on, he will see many people, coaches and spectators alike, interested in his talents.
Christopher Mims is a lead guard with a young Kyle Lowry type build. He seemed to have the best vision of all the players present at today’s event. He throws rockets across the court. He lofts feathery lobs over the out stretched arms of defenders. His
favorite look in his bag of dimes? A no look back door to athletic cutters (which the ELITE 60 is full of). As Mims’ game grows, he will turn into a great floor general for any team he commands.
When I laid eyes on Adcock, I thought he was the doppel ganger to Kyle Singler. But his game is nothing alike. In fact, the 6’3” wing has a flashy handle to go along some flashy passing. Any time the ball is in the hands of Adcock, keep your eyes up and hands ready, as he throws no-look passes and executes acrobatic finishes. His admiration for highlight plays will land eyes on him. So with the spotlight on him, how far can Adcock rise up the ranks of his peers?
Nelson stands 6’2” and the point guard uses every bit of his height to get to the rim and finish fearlessly. He has defensive prowess on the ball as well as in help situations. He seems to be everywhere on the court all at once. He plays best in an organized offense, as his IQ stands out amongst others. He is an interesting prospect that will be exciting to see in this upcoming winter season.
This was one of my favorite players to watch today. Leonard is a down right scorer. He has a natural feel for buckets, operating on all three levels. He has the scoring ability that makes up the DNA of our all time favorite scorers. He flows so effortlessly from dribble to jump shot in the mid-range. From three point, his shots usually drill the back of the rim converting through the net, as if the ball couldn’t be more sure it wanted to be there. I was very impressed. Also important to add, the athleticism of Leonard is
effortless. He jumps off of two feet mostly, but defenders are often caught off guard as he lifts off the ground with ease to dunk the ball. Going forward I would not be surprised to see him move higher and higher in his classes rankings.
Littleton is clearly a dual sport athlete. He is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than everyone else on the court. He has a Nick Ward type of effect, but he dunks off one foot mostly which surprised me. Each dunk rattles the rim, as he punches it with strength and force. Not to mention, in such a versatile game today Littleton is able to grab rebounds and push it in transition effectively. There’s not much flare… in fact, his tendency to get
straight to the point is refreshing. He is a runaway train, and players in his class better look out.
Jeremiah seems to have a nose for finding buckets. Whether it’s hustle plays, transition layups, or three pointers, he just knows where to be when it’s time to be there. He is an everything type of guy. His speed is a great asset, allowing him to fly by everyone once he spots the ball is up for grabs. If he continues his trajectory, Murchison will bring value to every team he is a part of moving forward.
Skinner is a point guard who plays the game as if he is a ball of energy. His motor is clearly his best asset and it’s far above that of his peers. With energy and speed, mistakes come. But Skinner has a short memory as each play is played like it’s his last.
He isn’t afraid to make the extra pass and he doesn’t mind being on the other end of it either. He can shoot the ball well, but is best in transition. Skinner will continue to grow and eventually will make a big jump amongst the ranks of his peers.