We attended two periods of the USA Basketball Junior Nationwide Crew Minicamp and got here away with favorable impressions of the members who performed the appropriate means and below management. It was a pleasant vary of prospects, together with some getting their first USA Basketball expertise throughout Ultimate 4 weekend in Phoenix.
Roughly 65 of a few of the best residence grown highschool expertise was in show in Phoenix for the USA Basketball Junior Nationwide Crew Minicamp. For some camp veterans similar to Koa Peat, a 2025 ahead out of FAB 50 ranked Perry (Chandler, Ariz.), the expertise is nothing new and it is the beginning of the method of competing on the FIBA 17U World Cup going down June 29 by means of July 7 in Istanbul, Turkey. Count on Peat, a 3 time highschool state champion, to be one of many group’s leaders.
Right now we wished to focus on the gamers who made a positive impression over the primary two days by approaching the mini-camp enjoying the appropriate means, below management and with tempo. This isn’t about passing the look take a look at, as some gamers seem like they belong however have an extended option to go when it comes to their I.Q. and method. The theme right here is making a positive impression by being coachable and never urgent or forcing the motion.
This is 5 members who caught our eye in these departments and 5 extra who impressed.
Davion Adkins, Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas), 6-8 2026 PFWe we first evaluated this properly put collectively 16-year outdated ahead on the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camps, his motor and rim-running stood out, however he is added loads to his recreation since then. Adkins had added stable publish strikes over each shoulders to go with his vertical pop. He transformed a few terrific left-handed half hooks and displayed good contact across the basket. Adkins’ tempo and persistence made a giant distinction and nationwide scouts and a few NBA personnel positively got here away impressed. Adkins performs for a profitable highschool program and is utilizing the expertise to discover ways to alter his offensive recreation enjoying in opposition to forwards of comparable dimension and ability.
Devin Cleveland, Kenwood Academy (Chicago), 6-1 2027 PGWe counted 10 2027s in attendance and Cleveland was among the many few that actually turned heads in a category that has an extended methods to go (and loads of time) to develop. As a 15-year outdated, lots of the older gamers and upperclassmen in attendance might study a factor or two about place from Cleveland, who has a cool-under-fire disposition on and off the court docket. Whereas lots of the younger guards have been forcing the motion and moving into hassle with the dribble, Cleveland has grasp of the stop-and-pop recreation and never taking it too deep into the paint to get caught in no man’s land. Cleveland can cowl floor with the dribble and shows a nice-pull up jumper. He may also end below management across the rim with each arms and has a aggressive drive that can repay down the road. If he retains growing at a traditional tempo, Cleveland has a brilliant future within the recreation.
Hudson Greer, Lake Travis (Texas), 6-6 2025 WFThis 17-year outdated is a well known commodity on the highschool and grassroots circuit and is making a splash at USA Basketball this weekend. Greer had some nagging accidents this previous season for Lake Travis, and gutted them out properly sufficient to earn district MVP honors. Already a two-time district MVP, Greer displayed a terrific all-around ability degree and when his legs are bouncy and he is at 100% like he was right here, it takes his recreation to a complete different degree. Greer was flattening photographs at a excessive clip and ending in site visitors with authority. He additionally acquired behind the protection and used his stride to get out and end earlier than the protection might get set. Greer reminds us a few of former Florida St. standout Bob Sura and his confidence and eagerness to get higher actually shined by means of on Saturday.
Jacob Lanier, Maumelle (Ark.), 6-5 2026 WFThis 17-year outdated prospect is simply scratching the floor of his potential and popping out of his shell at this degree. On the primary day, Lanier turned heads and caught the eye of nationwide scouts together with his shot making potential off the dribble and his motion off-the-ball. On the second day, he was lauded for not shedding his composure throughout stretches of out-of-control play by the lead guards on his group. Lanier strikes with out the ball properly and may rating in a wide range of methods, with a greater than common float recreation. He is additionally an instinctual defender who’s studying the best way to develop into extra vocal on the court docket and take extra of an alpha position. His development is noticeable and can repay loads this spring and summer season.
Xavion Staton, Sierra Vista (Las Vegas) 6-11 2025 CWith a dearth of conventional large males in attendance, Staton stands out for a lot of causes, and even when there have been extra in attendance, he’d nonetheless stand out. That is as a result of he is a fast learner, good each on and off the court docket (wonderful pupil) and has great upside. In reality, scouts and NBA personnel have been stunned to study he is been enjoying the sport for less than a brief time period (lower than 4 years). Staton grew up enjoying soccer till a 6-7 inch progress spirt in the course of the COVID-19 Pandemic made him and his household understand the gridiron was seemingly not in his long-term future. Together with his defensive intuition and vertical pop and second soar potential, Staton has a brilliant future on the hardwood. The 17-year outdated was blocking photographs at a excessive clip and there may not be a participant within the nation that alters extra photographs together with his presence than Staton. One other plus is he does not do an excessive amount of he isn’t able to proper now and rapidly strikes the ball when he does not have a bonus. Few gamers are getting extra out of the USA Basketball expertise than this Las Vegas large man who rapidly has the curiosity of P5 faculties across the nation.
5 Extra That Impressed:
Mikel Brown Jr., Additional time Elite (Atlanta), 6-2 2025 PGNot many guards right here can rip a crossover right into a pull-up, however Brown has a pleasant offensive arsenal with the ball.Junior County, Utah Prep (Manti, Utah) 6-5 2026 SGOne of the perfect taking pictures strokes of any participant in attendance.Jaylen Mitchell, Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 6-7 2027 WFThis 15-year outdated was making the appropriate passes and displayed a pleasant taking pictures contact.Chris Nwuli, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah) 6-8 SFLas Vegas native has been up and down on the circuit the previous two years, however deserves credit score as a result of his exterior shot was on level on Saturday and he introduced his ordinary vitality and toughness to make profitable performs.Babatunde Oladotun, Blake (Silver Spring, Md.) 6-7 2027 SFThere is loads to love about this 15-year outdated who is aware of the best way to play with the ball and units grown man screens. He has offensive base, besides.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
