Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Knoxville, TN (Future150) -- This past weekend was the annual Knoxvegas Heat tournament held in Knoxville, Tennessee. While there were some big name teams in the competition, there were also a number of smaller teams that made solid runs and knocked off some of the big boys. Here a few of the players who stood out:
Ty-Mere Pierce, 2015 CG, Tucker Running Rebels: Pierce is a solid shooter who can also create his own shot as well as opportunities for others. He is a capable ball-handler that is crafty in getting into the lane and breaking the defense down. He slowly making a name for himself this spring with back to back solid performances in from of the Future150 staff.
Gage Ellis, 2015 SG, SC Raptors Elite: Ellis is a major catalyst for his team as he helped to lead them to the 17U championship. He was relentless in attacking the rim and finished around and through defenders all weekend. He has a quick first step and decent strength, making him very hard to stop when going to the basket. If he improves his jump shot he is a solid mid-major recruit.
Jordan Harris, 2016 SG, Team Thad: This was Harris’ first weekend with Team Thad and he had an impact from the first game. He showed off his shooting ability and got to the rim throughout the weekend. Harris is a bouncy athlete that is one to keep an eye on as he continues to prove he is one of the better players in his class. His teammate at Seminole County High PG Anfernee King has joined Harris on the Team Thad squad.
David Reynolds, 2015 CF, Team United: Reynolds was exceptional in his team’s quarter-final game, tallying 24 points and 7 rebounds. He moves incredibly well without the ball and possesses a fantastic basketball IQ. While it remains to be seen what position Reynolds will ultimately play at the college level, his motor and IQ set him apart from his peers.
Trevor Anderson, 2015 PG, SC Raptors Elite: While his teammates were effective in attacking the rim, it was Anderson that spread the floor with his shooting ability. He also did a good job of running the point and defending the opposing team’s top perimeter option. Low-majors would be smart to give him a look this spring and summer.
Nick Marshall, 2015 C, Team Thad: Marshall continued to show his rapid improvement and is getting better game by game. The big man was aggressive on the glass and dunked everything that came his way. He is also an imposing shot-blocker that plays with a very high motor. Marshall could see himself become the biggest riser in the class of 2015 when it’s all said and done.
Luke Maye, 2015 CF, Team United: Maye was impressive all weekend, rebounding the ball both in and out of his area. He also showed off a decent stroke from beyond the arc and played bigger than he is. The next step for Maye will be to improve his ball-handling, making him even harder to match-up with.
Eli Wright, 2016 SG, Kentucky Elite: Wright was the surprise of the weekend, bar none. The wing is known in his home state thanks to a great sophomore campaign, but has yet to hit the national radar. He got to the rim with ease and had a series of highlight reel dunks in transition. He also showed that he is a nightmare on the defensive end, coming away with five steals in an early morning game on Saturday.
Zi Lie Shen, 2016 C, Game Elite: Shen is still a bit of a project at this point but the potential is there. He is a great defender and a good shot blocker. His touch around the basket is good, as is his shot from the foul line area. He must become stronger in order to maximize his potential, that being said, he has a high-major skill set.
Najee Garvin, 2015 CF, SC Kings: Garvin is a talented player who can score on all three levels. His ability to take larger players off the dribble might have been his best quality. At 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds, he was able to rebound against bigger players and finish at the rim with ease. He made a numerous face up mid-range shots while expanding his range to the three-point line as well. Overall, Garvin is an unknown prospect that will soon be on the radar this spring.
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