Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Birmingham, AL (Future150) -- In the 16U division at the Birmingham Main Event, it was a highly competitve field. With plenty of talent in the group there were a number of close games leading up to the championship. The Arkansas Warriors and Birmingham Gators faced off in the finals, with the Gators ultimately walking away with the 16U title. Lead guard Tray Croft was a major problem all weekend, and the championship game was no different. Here are a few others who stood out throughout the weekend:
DJ Heath, 2017 PG, Alabama Generals: Heath is a blur in the open floor and makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, no matter who he plays with he makes his teammates better thanks to his passing and court vision. Right now he must be considered one of the better point guards in his class.
Trevion Hardin, 2016 PG, Alabama Hornets: Hardin is a talented guard who does a good job of getting into the lane and either kicking out to open teammates or finishing at the rim. He is solidly built and can finish through contact with relative ease. He is one to keep an eye on.
Devin Whitfield, 2016 SG, Alabama Magic: Whitfield is a talented combo guard who impressed us yet again after having a strong showing in our Atlanta Main Event. He can score on all three levels and has good size for his position. Low-majors would be wise to track him this summer.
Jeremiah Clifton, 2016 SF, Arkansas Blue Chips: Clifton is a lanky and active forward who can play on the wing or in the post. He is hard to account for on the offensive end thanks to his versatility and quickness. The next step for him will be to expand his perimeter skills further so that he may play on the wing at all times.
Prentice Mullins, 2016 PG, Arkansas Kings: Mullins is another undersized lead guard that relies on his speed to be effective. He has decent vision and good strength so he is capable of finishing through contact. On Saturday afternoon he did a great job of causing havoc for the opposing defense by getting into the lane and kicking out to open shooters.
Corty Winston, 2016 PG, Arkansas Warriors: Corty is an undersized but diminutive guard who makes good decisions and gets into the lane at will. He plays extremely hard and doesn’t take any plays off. He is great defensively and does not back down from anyone. Low-majors would be wise to track him.
Robert Hatchett, 2016 PG, Atlanta Lakers-Purple: Hatchett is a solid decision maker with the ball in his hands. He is a tad undersized but makes up for it with good quickness and court vision. He is also very solidly built, making it hard to push him off of the ball or speed him.
Jordan Smith, 2016 PF, Atlanta Lakers-White: Smith is a solid forward who attacks the glass and can grab rebounds at a high clip. He has good size to his frame and is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. Low-majors would be smart to keep an eye on the talented big man.
Tray Croft, 2016 PG, Birmingham Gators Storm Elite: Croft did a good job of balancing distributing the ball amongst his teammates and getting his own points by attacking the rim. He has great speed and good vision, allowing him to make his teammates better.
Andrew Strickland, 2016 PF, Hoover Crush: Strickland is a crafty forward who did a majority of his damage from the high post and attacking the glass. He plays hard despite his being undersized and uses his strength to his advantage. He will be a solid small school forward.
Mahrion Butler, 2016 SF, Memphis Deciples: Butler first impressed us at Future150 Atlanta Main Event and this past weekend he did the same. He is a long and lanky wing prospect who excels at putting the ball on the floor and attacking the rim and once he puts some muscle on and expands his jumper, he will be a serious problem.
Dre Duplechain, 2016 PG, Louisiana Rockets: A blur in the open floor, Duplechain is more than capable of running a team in the half court as well. He is under sized for his position but more than makes up for it with his motor. He is a tenacious defender who uses his agility to cause havoc for the opposing team.
Evan Wiley, 2016 CF, MC Warriors: Wiley is an interesting prospect that can play either forward position. He may be best suited working from the high post where he can take bigger defenders off the dribble. He is a solid rebounder who must work to expand his perimeter skills.
Evan Perrigo, 2016 SG, Western Kentucky Elite: Simply put, Perrigo is a shot-maker. The talented shooting guard displayed his stroke from the mid-range and from beyond the arc. The next step for him will be working on his lateral quickness and becoming a better defender.
Darrius Hall, 2016 CF, The Warriors: He might be slightly undersized but makes up for it with his high motor. He grabbed rebounds at their highest point and was a force down in the paint. Conditioning may be a bit of a concern but overall he has a nice future ahead of him.
Quentin Carlson, 2016 SG, Tuscaloosa Warriors: Carlson found a way to put up points all weekend, whether it was hitting shots or attacking the rim, he played like someone looking to prove a point. He has good length and was an active defender. He has the tools to be a solid division II player.
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