Andrew Force:
Future150 National Analyst. Covering High and Middle School basketball.
Houston, TX (Future150) -- Corbin Osby and Ani Umana contributed to this report.
RL9 motored through the Future150 Memorial Day Classic 5-0, beating four of their five opponents by double digits. Basketball University Black was the able to stay close, but they also succumbed to the boundless RL9 wings.
Despite desposing of BU Black in Pool Play, RL9 enjoyed a rematch Monday morning. The rematch was further indication of Jalilin Allen's and Charles Henderson's domination. Allen gave RL9 21 in the semifinal win over Basketball University Black. He repeatedly got to the free throw line.
Charles Henderson, 2016 WG, RL9: Henderson is a problem. The guard flies up the floor constantly flushes the ball through the halo. If he was only a fast break finisher that might be contained. He is so much more. Henderson's quick feet make defenders softly sink back onto their heels. It is difficult to predict where he is going with the ball.
Jailin Allen, 2016 WG, RL9: Highlight after highlight. Allen has great two-foot leaping ability. Over and over again he deflected perimeter passes and once he gets on the break it is curtains. Before he hits the three point line Allen has already decided a dunk is imminent. Teammates love to set him up and watch the fireworks. The slashing wing is most dangerous when he is absorbing contact.
Josh Washington, 2016 SF, RL9: Onlookers can expect Washington to hit the occasional triple and smash the frequent flush. Washington's game revolves around elite athleticism. He springs off the mat with incredible power. To be great Washington should hunt the ball in the halfcourt as aggressively as he attacks the rim in the open floor.
Isaiah Gorrell, 2015 SG, Imperial Hoops Select: Gorrell dropped numerous shots from beyond the arc. He can shoot both off the catch and after a couple dribbles. Standing 5'10" he is more scorer than distributor. Gorrell needs to get to the free throw line more often. It will allow him to take advantage of his shooting touch.
Alex Robinson, 2015 PG, Imperial Hoops Select: A junior college or NAIA could really use Robinson this upcoming fall. Robinson is a polished leader with that killer instinct. Late game situations see him break out. Robinson scores more late after involving his teammates early.
Dymond Hanks, 2017 PG, RL9: For the second time this spring Hanks obliterated the competition at a Future150 event. Hanks is a table setter with excellent outside touch. With these dual threats available to him Hanks can be difficult to stop. A defender's best option is to play him tight and hope the recipients of his passes cool off because Hanks himself rarely has a poor shooting night.
Richard Turner, 2016 SG, Forney Texas Elite adidas: One of the better teams in the 17u division was Texas Elite. Turner helped make this so. He made shots from all over the floor. Turner loves to attack to his right. Turner's best game came in a tight win over Texas Inferno during which he scored 12 points.
Alex Rawls, 2016 PG, Anthony Goldwire Elite: This guard from Katy, Texas thrives in key moments. Facing the Urban Kings in the Silver Championship Rawls drew a foul and split the pair with no time on the clock. His make sent the game to overtime where the Urban Kings prevailed. Rawls has solid handles and attacks the basket with confidence. His ability to finish when fouled can improve.
Devon Whyte, 2016 SF, Urban Kings: Athleticism makes him a potential threat attacking the basket. Jumping is his favored means of avoiding the defense. Whyte lacks a certain refinement that makes him entertaining and somewhat raw. The guard can dart into the lane pretty easily. He is not reliable from deep though he will bury the occasional triple. There is a lot of room to grow, but Whyte might just get there.
Caleb Starks, 2017 G, Champions Inc.: Starks has a decent jumper. As a second scoring option he is reliable for the kick out. If you give Starks the ball and ask him to go to the basket he might not succeed. Possibly because he is a younger teammate Starks can be a little timid in the lane. He has the physical skills to score outside or in, but needs to get even more assertive to thrive.
Jacob Ledoux, Champions Inc.-Building Better Boys: The right-handed twin, Jacob took very strong, purposeful strides. He understands where he needs to go on the floor and using his enormous shoulders and efficient dribbling he gets there. Ledoux patiently penetrates and uses his off arm to shield the basketball. Perhaps he greatest quality is touch in traffic. A grown man could be suspended from his non-shooting arm and Ledoux would still be able to place the delicate touch on his layup.
Kalob Ledoux, Champions Inc.- Kalob is wonderful walking into his three-pointer attempts. Moreso than Jacon, Kalob likes to shoot from the outside or even in the mid-range. He is good in the open floor and defends well off the ball too. Like most twins they have a silent understanding of purpose. If Jacob is pressuring the ball Kalob is poised to break out and get an outlet pass. Their synergy is palpable.
Cameron Patin, 2016 PF, Champions Inc.-: Between the Ledoux brothers and the Starks brothers this team had plenty of scoring. Patin provided the grit. The workhorse Patin collected two offensive rebounds in one play. At 6'5" he is kind of a tweener, but work ethic alone will get him college looks in July.
Terrell Evans, 2017 PF, Urban Kings: Truthfully Evans lines up in the frontcourt for his team's benefit. He is a wing with strong arms. Evans can finish in traffic and handle decently. In order to play college basketball he will have to develop his game away from the rim, which may exist.
Destry Wright, 2016 SF, Urban Kings: Wright squeezes everything out of his 6'4" frame that he can. He does not fit the ordinarily insulting high energy moniker because he produces on offense too. Wright scored 11 in a win over DFW Hornets. He scored around the basket all weekend. His effort forces the coach to keep him on the floor. The production is merely a bonus that makes him more appealing for the next level.
KeShawn Hamilton, 2017 SF, San Antonio's Finest: His ability to stop on a dime and use his stop and pop mid-range makes him deadly in the open floor in transition. He uses his lanky body frame well to get to the rim. He is a solid on-ball defender which because of his length he is able to frustrate opposing offensive players. College coaches are going to love him because he brings good solid energy on both ends of the floor.
Jacob Oyola, 2018 PG, San Antonio's Finest: The type of PG that is an extension of his head coach and knows how to break down any type of defense. This past weekend Jacob played every game like it was his last. He showed that he can manage his team and control the game is various ways. He has great change of speed which makes it hard for defenders to guard him and that allows him to utilize his mid-range jump shot.
Davis Tucker, 2016 PF, San Antonio's Finest: He is PF that has guard abilities, which makes him a stretch four and that allows him to do multiple things. He can defend the 2-5 positions and he shoots the ball very well. Tucker knows how to put himself in great situations. He sets up teammates to do great things on floor; he understands the art of spacing.
Kendall Banks, 2015 SG, Boom City Hornets: Shortly after the tip Texas Inferno started doubling Banks before the ball arrived. They were so fearful of his low block production that they attempted to deny completely. Banks helped Boom City with his aggression. In the final thirty seconds of a win, Banks dunked and collected two defensive rebounds. He is a 6'2" player without a true position. What he gives is invaluable. The question only becomes from where on the floor does he give it?
Thomas Hotchkiss, 2015 SF, Boom City Hornets: On the offensive end Hotchkiss can dribble to score or shoot to score. Defensively he appears more comfortable on a small forward. He keeps active for rebounds, but it would be better to see his activity continue when he doesn’t have the ball on offense. He is the kind of player that would get better looks coming off curls.
Derrick Godley, 2016 PG, Shooting Stars Red: Godley is a capable point guard. Godley scored 23 points against Texas Elite adidas in his Future150 debut. The outburst included 5-9 from deep. He truly does everything slightly above average every single time. Consistency makes him special. He is not explosive, but he gets his shot off over people with a slight lean back. He gets by defenders with subtle movements, not burst. Consistent players advance a long way and Godley is good enough to play beyond high school.
Kalu Idika, 2015 SG, Shooting Stars Red: Idika was an integral part of the Stars' push to the championship game. He has the frame of a college running back. Idika defends the perimeter with his chest, not his arms. It is very difficult to get around the powerful young man. He can rebound on the defensive end or score with a few dribbles to the basket. His strength is his strength.
Mike Kolnyang, 2015 PG, TX Elite Adidas: A very quick and athletic PG with a nice IQ, Kolnyang knows how to run a team. He has great vision in the full and half court, which he showed multiple times this past weekend. He is great in any two-man game or ball screen situation. Kolnyang uses a lot of screens to open up the defense and then he uses his great passing abilities to find open players.
Tommie Purnell, 2017 PG- Houston Lynx: Purnell is a quick guard that scores well inside with either hand. He has a fast pull-up jumper that can go over taller defenders. His first step off the dribble is what makes his scoring game so effective. Coaches love how hard he plays on both ends.
Maitlond Wanza, 2017 PF, Houston Lynx: Wanza runs the lane very well in transition for a post and that equals several easy layups. Reads shots well to put himself in position to get many offensive rebounds. His size and motor might be his best attribute so far. He's a great rebounder on both ends of the floor. He will get stronger and be more effective and if he stretches his game to 15-feet look out.
Tony Mullins, 2016 PG, Texas Inferno: Mullins was one of the better facilitators in the bracket as his ability to get in the lane and score allows for his teammates to get open for easy shots. Very strong for a player and that allows him to finish with contact.
Aziz Fadika, 2016 C, Texas Inferno: Fadika mainly makes his impact on defense due to his great shot blocking abilities. He has decent post moves but still very raw offensively. Will be a high level prospect when he develops his post game more
Tajzmel Sherman, 2017 CG, Fort Bend Blazers: Sherman scores very well from the midrange. Can post up smaller defenders and shoot a quick turn-around jumper. He loves to score in transition and is a good rebounding guard. He showed good transition court vision and his ability to break down defenders creates easy baskets for his teammates. Gotta get stronger.
Javaughn Dantzler, 2016 PF, Fort Bend Blazers: Dantzler is a high flying forward that finishes well in the paint. Looks to dunk anytime he has his feet together and rebounds at a high level defensively. He made a living on rebounds on both ends and can shoot the 8-10 ft. jumper as well. Energy is the name of his game.
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