Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Birmingham, AL (Future150) -- In the 17U Gold Bracket Championship at the 2014 Future150 Birmingham Main Event, Terriers TNT took down the Mobile Warriors Elite by a score of 84-83 in a nail-biting, back-and-forth battle. Both squads used a plethora of athletic guards to make action fast an furious all weekend long for opponents.
Here are some standouts from the Gold Division over the weekend...
Nate Bridges, 2015 PG, Birmingham Blue Devils: The 5-foot-10 lead guard is the epitome of a scoring point. He can get you baskets in a hurry and does it from anywhere on the floor. He loves to play uptempo basketball and thrives on adrenaline and physical play. Fun to watch.
J'Honathyn Smith, 2015 PG, Tennessee Racers Elite: The high volume scoring guard has excellent mechanics on his jumper, and was a long distance marksman all weekend long. He is a high IQ prospect who controls the flow of the game and plays with excellent pace.
Tyson Carter, 2016 CG, Da House: Now 6-foot-2, Carter has not only grown over the past several months, but his game has too. He is a dangerous scorer from the perimeter and can knock down shots with ease out to 22 feet. While not overly quick, he has more than enough speed to take his defender off-the-dribble to the hoop, where he is a crafty scorer.
Lyndell Wilson, 2016 PF, Alabama Ballers: An elite football prospect who holds offers from the likes of Alabama, South Carolina & Florida already, it's safe to say Wilson's future isn't on the basketball court. However, that doesn't stop him from being an extremely athletic and strong forward prospect, who gets results on the floor, regardless of how undersized he is. His strength and aggression make him nearly impossible to stop.
Rhyse Randolph, 2015 PF, Tennessee Racers Elite: The undersized post was a fan favorite at 6-foot-4 due to his work ethic, leadership on the floor, and his rebounding and finishing ability. He is the type of kid who can rack up double-doubles on the floor and wants to win every single time he plays.
Josh Hill, 2016 CF, Mobile Warriors Elite: The Faith Academy (AL) product is an intriguing prospect on the floor. While undersized at 6-foot-4, he uses his muscular frame to get results on the low block, where he is a crafty scorer. He is also expanding his range out to the three-point line, making him a matchup problem for power forwards guarding him.
John Petty, 2017 SF, Terriers TNT: The 6-foot-5 small forward gets better every single time we see him, which is a scary thought. He already is a top 100 prospect in the country, and as it stands, he seems to be knocking on the door of the top 50 right now. He can post small forwards on the low block and take bigger ones on the perimeter. In essence, he can play the SG, SF & PF positions if needed. Excellent player.
Ricky Lang, 2015 SF, Tennessee Racers Elite: Maybe the most impressive rebounder from the wing over the weekend was the Pope John Paul II (TN) prospect. At 6-foot-2, he has the ability to play the small forward spot as well as the shooting guard spot, but needs to refine his perimeter skills. Hard working defender as well.
Tucker Campbell, 2015 SF, Memphis Bulls: The 6-foot-5 small forward continues to show growth in his game. This week he showcased more of an ability to lead the fast break and handle the basketball. He was a capable finisher around the rim and is beginning to show more of a mean streak on the floor.
Justin Hopkins, 2016 SG, Team Vigilance: A gem that we discovered over the weekend was the J.O. Johnson (AL) wing. Strong and explosive at 6-foot-3, the high motor prospect scores easily around the rim and uses his brute strength to dominate his opponents. On defense, he is also a problem with his strength.
Jesse Little, 2017 PF, Da House: An emerging prospect in the state of Mississippi is the Starkville (MS) prospect. He's a 6-foot-8 big man with very soft hands on the low block. He rebounds well and is relentless in his pursuit of the ball. Right now, his offensive game is raw but shows good footwork in the paint.
Austin Smith, 2015 PF, Terriers TNT: The driving force on the low block for the Terriers in their run to the championship was the 6-foot-4 blue-collar big man. He was extremely productive on the inside as both a rebounder and a reliable finisher. He also was able to stretch the defense with his shooting ability out to 15 feet.
Rashaan Benson, 2015 PG, Memphis Bulls: Since first seeing him at our Future150 Birmingham Camp in 2012, Rashaan has steadily improved. The 5-foot-11 guard is now a muscular 175 pounds and uses his strength and speed to get into the lane in order to finish plays around the rim. His feel for the game and high IQ make him an appealing prospect, especially if his jump shot continues to develop.
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