Day 2 of the second session of the 2019 Generation Next Basketball Association saw some more strong performances from a handful of prospects. Here’s another perspective of those that stood out on Saturday in Wisconsin…
Note – Not listed in any particular order
Prentice Young - WI Phenoms 14U
Prentice Young had a couple of the most complete all around performances on Saturday for WI Phenoms. The two games I saw he scored in double figures, played great defense, competed on the glass and got teammates involved on offense. Young spent time running the point at 6’3 and did a great job of getting his team into sets and pushing the pace in transition. He also showed off his athleticism throwing down a couple of dunks in the final game of the night vs IL Irish.
Tye Pence – IL Irish Elite 14U
Pence had a solid showing in both his team’s games on day 2 of GNBA Session 2. A smooth wing, Pence can knock down shots from three and also showed a nice midrange game hitting a couple pull ups and floaters. He has good size on the wing allowing him to see over defenses and made some nice passes in the half court.
Mekhi Wesley – Milwaukee Rebels 14U
Wesley impressed on Saturday running the point for Milwaukee Rebels 14U. He has a good handle and did a good job of getting into the lane where he made some flashy passes to teammates for easy baskets. Wesley also showed promise defensively using his quickness to bother ball handlers and get a couple steals.
Ethan Thomas – Milwaukee Rebels 14U
Thomas has some of the biggest upside of any player I saw Saturday and did some really good tings in flashes for the Rebels. The biggest player on the court, he is able to to block and alter shots on defense and showed good footwork on a couple of post moves when he was able to establish position. Thomas looks good running the court and is one to watch moving forward.
Cole Hansen – Wisconsin Dynasty 14U
Cole Hansen had one of the bets offensive performances of the day dropping 27 points to help his team bounce back from a tough loss earlier in the day. He is a big time competitor and can attack the basket to finish or draw fouls. I loved Hansen’s toughness and competitive edge as he was determined not to allow his team to drop a 2nd game of the day and showed it on the court leading Dynasty to a big win.
Nazir Beamon – Team Takeover 13U
Nas Beamon can do it all on the court and had a couple of big time performances in 2 wins on Saturday. Beamon scored 31 pts against GetShook and then finished the night dropping 25 in a win over IL Irish Elite. He was relentless all day attacking the basket and more times than not ended in a bucket or trip to the FT line.
Eli Mimis – Team Takeover 13U
Mimis does all the dirty work for a very good Takeova 13U squad. He is a strong rebounder and can grab defensive boards and start the break himself off the dribble or with nice outlet passes. Mimis scored 16 pts vs GetShook and also did a really good job defensively of staying in front of smaller guards and getting some steals.
Tameron Ferguson – Team GetShook 13U
Ferguson was impressive for Team GetShook in their game vs Team Takeova showing a really good handle and making some nice passes to set up teammates. He does a great job of using subtle head and shoulder fakes and looking off defenders to get to his spots on the court. Ferguson finished with 12 pts and at least 6 assists.
Jency Davis – Team GetShook 13U
Jency Davis lit it up from outside for Team GetShook on Saturday knocking down 6 threes and finishing with 22 points in their close loss to Team Takeova. He has a quick release and great touch from deep. Jency is a solid ball handler and did a good job of staying poised vs defensive pressure.
Griffin Dahiya – Man Up 14U
Dahiya had a couple of nice games including a 25-point effort at 8 a.m. to help lead Man Up to a win over IL Irish Elite. He is big and strong enough to finish inside but also showed he was comfortable on the perimeter and made some nice passes off the dribble that stood out.
Darrin Ames – Mac Irvin Fire 14U
Darrin Ames is a big time scorer who can get his buckets from all three levels. He a couple of really impressive takes to the basket and is a knock down shooter in spot up situations with great compact shot mechanics and a quick release. Ames scored 25 pts in the Fire’s win over Quad City.
Aries Hall – Mac Irvin Fire 14U
Hall is a big bodied, physical post prospect playing with Mac Irvin and a really good game vs Quad City. He controlled the glass showing strong hands and had a couple of really impressive full court outlet passes for lay ups. Hall runs the floor well and was able to finish around the basket off of drop off passes and offensive rebounds.
Tracey Haslett – Quad City Elite 14U
Haslett had a solid showing for Quad City Saturday, scoring 17 pts vs Mac Irvin Fire. He is a really good defender and was able to get steals and the finish in transition. He also has a nice looking release on his jumper and gets great arch and was able to hit a couple shots from outside.
Clevon Easton – WI Premier 12U
Clevon Easton is one of the most intriguing prospects I saw on Saturday. He has great length and is the tallest player on his team but showed perimeter skill - even bringing the ball up at times for Premier. He had some nice takes to the rim and has a soft touch in the midrange area. Easton also made some impressive passes off the dribble and looks like he could develop into the next big time player out of the Madison area.
Dequarious Jones – REACH Dream Team 12U
Jones is a physical post player who was able to control the glass and finish around the rim, finishing with 14 pts in a win over WI Premier. He also impressed with a solid handle, grabbing defensive rebounds and pushing the break with his handle. Jones did a good job of drawing help and made some great passes to open teammates for lay ups and open jumpers.
Darius Acuff- REACH Dream Team 12U
Darius Acuff is true floor general at the point guard position and controlled the game for REACH while also dropping 20 points in a win on Saturday. He has a tight handle and great touch around the rim, breaking down defenders and finishing with a floaters and lay ups. Acuff also showed promise as a jump shooter and should become a very strong shooter from deep as he gains strength in the next couple years.
Joquan Johnson –Team Takeover 13U
Johnson went off for 32 points in Team Takeover’s final game of the day vs IL Irish. He knocked down shots from deep and shoots the ball with great rotation and a soft touch. Johnson also had a nice handle and was able to get by defenders into the paint were he was tough enough to finish in traffic.
John Kinzinger – WI Phenoms 14U
John Kinzinger is an excellent shooter and capped the day hitting 4 threes and scoring 17 points for WI Phenoms in their win over IL Irish. He has great form and a quick release making him deadly in catch and shoot situations off of dribble penetration. Kinzinger also did a good job of acting as a secondary ball handler for a Phenom team without Dalen Davis this weekend.