Kings of the South: Bruton’s Middle School Standouts
CLASS OF 2030
Hall has good length and size for a young floor general. Advanced footwork at his age, especially from the mid post. Can take smaller guards inside and chops defenses up with his ball-handling ability.
Randolph showed a versatility that not many can match at this stage. Loved watching him compete on both ends of the floor for his team. He finished nearly everything near the basket and showed that he can step out and be a threat from the perimeter. Potential is high.
Thornton was an impressive an athlete you’ll find at this stage. Proved to be a difficult matchup due to his size, speed, athleticism and skill. Made some shots from the perimeter and attacked the rim with a purpose. Made his mark on the defensive side as a rebounder and he used his length to make life rough for anyone that drove to the basket.
Harrell is a pure athlete that makes an impact on the game with his speed and endurance. He applied pressure from beginning to end as a defender and got out quickly in transition for easy buckets. Was adept attacking the basket with either hand and mixed in some pull-up jumpers. South Georgia product has game.
Vann was by far the most impactful defender I witnessed over the weekend. He completely shut down his side of the floor. Blocked several 3pt shots and made players think twice about driving to the basket. Offensively, he showed off his athleticism with his above the rim play and provided flashes of wing skills. This could be a popular name on the east coast soon if he continues on his current trajectory.
CLASS OF 2031
Price could develop into a big time lead guard prospect. He surprised many with his physicality despite playing up. Has a deadly crossover dribble and routinely got by his initial defenders with ease. Bigtime scorer that is equally dangerous as a distributor and defender.
Without a doubt, Levi may have been the best long term prospects in his division. He has a profound game that allows him to approach triple double territory each time out. Excellent size and tremendous basketball IQ for a player this age. Very advanced. It’s not a farfetched idea to believe he’ll receive scholarship offers early into high school in the next calendar year.
James is a pure scorer. Whether he’s lighting it up from the outside or getting into the paint, he showed that he can score the ball at a high level. Turns the corner well when attacking off the bounce and he’s good at absorbing contact to finish around the basket.
Denoy was a fearless competitor that went head to head with any challengers. Has decent size for his position and a versatility skillset. Can guard multiple positions. Sturdy frame hints at a burst of athleticism in the near future.
Graves scored the ball at a high level with his 3pt shooting, creativity and floaters in the painted area. Showed great intensity and had no quit in his game. Also was intrigued by the consistency of his mid-range jumper. This kid is wired to score the ball and is equally intense on the defensive end.
Bozeman was hands-down the best mid-range scorer in his division. He dominated from 15ft and inside the paint with high arc pull-up jumpers. He also did an excellent job getting out in transition for easy buckets. Has good size and great strength for a guard.
Greene is a do-it-all guard that is strong defensively and equally dangerous on the offensive end. Does well getting his feet set and consistently knocked down shots from long range. Has good height and vision. Sees over the top of most defenders. Really good rebounder for a guard. He’s quickly rising and building his name on the Next Gen Circuit.
Lowery is a true floor general that makes everyone around him better. Showed that he is a bigtime threat to score the ball from deep, but was able to break through defensive pressure for easy buckets in the paint. Has strong vision as a drive and dish threat. Reliable pick and roll creator and has an air tight handle on the ball.
Williams showed he has the ability to go on big scoring barrages. His mid-range shooting and 3pt shooting was on point in his late matchup Saturday night. Has a good frame that will be more than capable of adding muscle as he grows. Younger brother of nationally #1 ranked sophomore AJ Williams could be able to build his own name sooner than later.
CLASS OF 2032 & 2033
Goldthreate proved to be a top notch floor general. Dominated his early matches with pure skill and court vision. Racks up assists by pitching ahead and breaks defenders down with creativity. The talent with this one is obvious once you watch him survey the floor a few times. Has an excellent feel for the game and a relentless style of play.
Dennis had no conscience when it came to shooting the ball. Put on quite the show from long-range in a comeback win over the weekend. Can handle the ball against pressure and moves well without the ball. One to monitor closely. Has the look of a budding guard prospect.
Coleman was a fun player to watch. He made shots from multiple spots on the floor and showed a mature game for a prospect in the 5th grade division. On the inside, he used a myriad of fakes, step-throughs and bank shots to create offense for himself. Looking forward to watching his growth.