Garrett Tucker:
Future150 Southeast Analyst. Covering high school basketball across the Southeast.
Atlanta, GA (Future150) -- Saturday brought in another big day at the Power 24, as tons of coaches came in to view the next group of players to hit the college game.
With over 100 teams in attendance, players competed in pool and bracket play to end the AAU season on a positive note.
Led by some explosive guards, here are the standouts from Saturday:
Tookie Brown, 2015 PG, Southern Stampede: Brown showed why he is regarded as one of the most exciting young point guards in the Southeast. The 5-foot-11 guard showed his speed and quickness that allowed him to get to the rim and make plays. He found himself with several easy layups because of his speed with the ball in the open court. UAB was impressed with his performance and extended an offer after his performance.
Malik Massey, 2015 PG, Team United: Another strong, physical guard that made a statement was Team United’s Malik Massey. Massey’s muscular frame gave him an advantage over other guards, as he had mismatches throughout the day. He also rebounded very well among bigger players. His mid-range shooting touch was the most impressive thing the rising junior had going for him on Saturday. He was automatic from inside the arc.
Diamond Stone, 2015 C, Wisconsin Young Legends: After shedding 20 pounds, Stone has become quite a different player and it has made all the difference. The No. 5 overall player in the country moved around the paint with mobility and skill, as he showed a soft touch with both of his hands in the post. He also hit several mid-range jumpers to showcase his shooting ability.
Abdoulaye Gueye, 2014 PF, Birmingham Ice: The Birmingham Ice missed their 6-foot-9 shot-blocker last weekend; with that being said, the team got a huge boost going into the last evaluation period. Gueye impacted the game right away, as he blocked shots and ran the floor for easy buckets in transition. He has a world of potential and continues to improve.
Ethan Stair, 2015 SG, Alabama Elite: Stair was instrumental in a couple of his team’s wins, as his shooting from outside kept Alabama Elite in the game at times. There were times that the 6-foot-5 shooter could not miss; his money shot was at the top of the key off of a ball screen. Stair averaged 18 points throughout the weekend.
Dalton Barkley, 2015 SF, Alabama Elite: Barkley continues to raise eyebrows from coaches each time he touches the floor. The 6-foot-6 forward has taken his game to the next level since April. This weekend, he did a great job of hitting shots from the perimeter and getting to the basket. With an offer from Alabama-Huntsville on the table, Barkley could be a solid Division-II prospect; however, with his continued improvement, he could see his value continue to rise.
Tyree Crump, 2016 SG, Showtime Hoops: Crump has been one of the hottest young names in the country this AAU season, and he backed it up with his game at the Power 24. The Georgia native proved he is a high-major prospect with his scoring ability. He is known for his shooting from the outside, but he also showed he can score the ball in a variety of ways, whether it is a three or getting to the rim. He spent most of his time at the free throw line throughout the day.
Wendell Carter, Jr., 2017 PF, Birmingham Storm Elite: The 6-foot-8 forward showed why he is highly regarded as one of the top players in his class. Carter showcased his versatility, as he was hitting shots from the perimeter and making post moves down low. The sky is the limit for Carter, who is No. 3 in the 2017 Future150 rankings.
Cletrell Pope, 2015 SF, Birmingham Ice: Pope has been monitored by the Future150 staff very closely for the past few weeks and each time out he has shown flashes of being a successful player at the next level. He still needs to refine his skills, but the skinny wing oozes with potential. He has great length and athleticism at 6-foot-6 and he also jumps out of the gym. He stood out this weekend with his shot-blocking.
Jordan Bruner, 2016 SF, Upward Stars: Bruner may be one of the best 2016 prospects in South Carolina. At 6-foot-7, the youngster is very exciting to watch because of his ability to play above the rim. He also uses his length and athletic ability to block shots at a high rate. The most under-rated aspect of Bruner’s game was his passing ability. He saw the floor extremely well and showed a great touch when dishing it off.
Armel Tete, 2016 PF, Upward Stars: The Upward Stars program has produced a couple of nice big men in the last few years with Sidy Mohamed-Djitte and Javis Howard. In the next few years, Tete could follow a similar road Mohamed-Djitte did and be the next great post player to come through the program. He is very raw at this point, but Tete blocks shots and runs the floor well. His skills will come, but for now, he plays hard on the floor and makes an impact on the defensive end.
D.J. Lassiter, 2015 SF, Pensacola Elite: Lassiter may be the best prospect no one knows anything about. At 6-foot-5, the Florida product erupted for 30 points in a loss Saturday evening. The wing man scored the ball from all three levels, as he hit several beautiful shots from the outside to go along with his mid-range game and dunks in transition. This will be a name to keep an eye on over the next year or so. He could be a huge steal for a low-major program.
Ithello Cross, 2014 PF, Reach Higher Kings: Cross may be a little undersized for a post player at the Division-I level, but he could be the perfect prospect for a Division-II program. The 6-foot-7 forward showcased some very impressive post moves, along with a nice touch on his shots. He also ran the floor well and got easy buckets in transition.
Sajorn Ford, 2015 C, Team Speights: Another player with tons of upside is 6-foot-11 big man Sajorn Ford. The long prospect showed a glimpse of just about everything, ranging from ball-handling on the perimeter to stretching the floor and hitting shots. However, he showed a very impressive passing ability, whether it was from the low post or the high post. Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast had offered prior to this weekend, but according to his coach, he has also picked up new offers from Xavier and Auburn.
Mark Matthews, 2015 SG, Team Speights: Matthews was very impressive to watch and not necessarily because of his skills or talent, but because of his knowledge of the game. He showed great leadership and was vocal to his team, as he consistently made the correct plays. The 6-foot-4 guard also showed he could be labeled as a sniper with his knockdown shooting ability.
Jaquez Johnson, 2015 PF, Alabama Elite: Johnson may be undersized, but he makes up for it with his determination and strength. The 6-foot-4 post player was a vital part of Alabama Elite’s win over the Upward Stars. He finished shots with contact down low and rebounded at a high rate. The tough athlete paced his team to a big win with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Despite his size, he still finds ways to be productive on the court.
Sadik Spence, 2014 PG, Chattanooga Elite: Spence is a blur on the court with his speed and quickness. The 5-foot-10 point guard uses both to his advantage, as he blows by defenders in transition and can get in the lane in the half-court. The shifty play-maker also has an impact on defense with his quick hands and lockdown style of play.
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