Guards Make Early Statement At Spring Bling
by Spencer Pulliam, Future150 (1:45 PM CT, Fri March 14, 2014)

Houston, TX (Future150) -- Though the calendar shows that the first official day of spring has yet to take place, the Spring Bling recently returned to the Lone Star State, and many players at the event proved that their talents are blossoming early.

JrFuture150.com provided exclusive coverage of the tournament and directed our efforts to the eighth grade prospects in attendance. Here are the guards that caught our attention on a weekend that helped close out the winter season on a high note.

2014 Spring Bling: Top 2018 Backcourt Performers

Jamal Bieniemy, 2018 SG, RYTES Warriors: Bieniemy has stretched out to around 6-foot-2 and doesn't appear to be done yet. He's starting to gain some explosiveness around the rim and is a shooting threat off the catch. His floor game is rounding into form but he'll need to continue working on his ball-handling under pressure in order to be effective off the dribble. He looked great in transition at Spring Bling, finishing on the break, and serving as playmaker when the tempo increased. The Class of 2018 prospect is only scratching the surface as an eighth grader.

Bryson Etienne, 2018 SG, Houston Hoops: The JrFuture150.com staff has now spent three consecutive weeks evaluating Etienne and has a great feel for his game. At the Spring Bling, he was again a scoring machine, willing his team back in the semifinals and almost leading them into the championship game. Etienne is quickly developing his scoring game off the bounce and is an excellent finisher in the lane. He has a strong frame but the next step will be to establish himself as a defensive presence. The addition of a couple more inches would solidify him as a high-major recruit in the Class of 2018.

Eden Holt, 2018 PG, RYTES Warriors: The diminutive point guard is an emotional leader for his club and his teammates seem to feed off of his energy and intensity level. He wants the ball in pressure situations, and while it wasn't his best shooting weekend, Holt knocked down critical shots to keep his team within striking distance during the Spring Bling championship. His size and stature is a valid concern moving forward, and in order to diminish detractors he'll have to continue to limit his turnovers, consistently prove his abilities defensively, and demonstrate a short memory when it comes to mishaps on the floor.

Mark Murdock, 2018 SG, tNBA Elite: He was the bright spot for his team on this weekend and wasn't phased by being the focal point of opposing defenses. His father was the starting quarterback at Texas in the late 1980s, and the younger Murdock is already on the radar of collegiate programs for his abilities on the gridiron, too. On the hardwood, he's heady and athletic, and was able to penetrate and finish at the rim while also shooting the ball fairly consistently throughout the Spring Bling. Improvement with his handle and vision will aid his overall playmaking ability moving forward but Murdock was easily among the top tier of players at the event.

Kelyn Pennie, 2018 PG, Pro Skills: Of all the prospects highlighted from Spring Bling, Pennie was the youngest player competing in the eighth grade division, so his upside is noteworthy. He's a fairly stout lead guard with excellent quickness and a nice burst with the ball in his hands. He was the best facilitator for his club during the weekend, demonstrating the ability to get into the lane, and make plays happen. At his best when playing within himself and controlling the pace, Pennie will need to continue polishing his jumper, and work to develop a middle game in the lane.

Courtney Ramey, 2018 PG, Team Ramey: There was a time when his size was a concern but Ramey has now spurted to a legitimate 5-foot-10 and his slight frame suggests more growth may be on the way. He wasn't as effective shooting off the bounce at Spring Bling as he has been in the past, but he did knock down jumpers off the catch, and finished the majority of his opportunities in the lane. On a team that often plays five guards, he doesn't have as many chances to be a playmaker as he might like, but he showed great composure and a knack for making plays in crunch time.

Donald Richardson, 2018 CG, Arkansas HAWKS: Richardson is a blossoming lead guard with a reliable outside jumper. While there may have been more touted backcourt prospects in attendance, his Spring Bling performance was as good as any. His presence is steadying, and when focused, he made good decisions with the ball in his hands. Defensively, he's strong and disruptive on the ball, and anticipates nicely away from it. He'll need to show a bit more quickness and ability to breakdown defenders, but Richardson is certainly a name to remember in Arkansas' 2018 class.

Andrew Rios, 2018 PG, San Antonio Apaches: Rios is an undersized point guard that impacted the game in many areas for his undermanned squad at the Spring Bling event. He's quick, has an advanced handle and vision, and consistently made plays throughout the weekend. His biggest weakness at this stage are his size and strength but he did a good job keeping his hands and feet active defensively. It's likely he'll put up solid numbers at the high school level due to his aggressive approach and he should be monitored for further growth and development.

Noah Thomas, 2018 SG, RYTES Warriors: Thomas is quickly filling out his frame and surprised with his athleticism at the Spring Bling. Classified as a shooter first and foremost, Thomas showed some expanded ability with his handle, and finished above the rim in transition. He'll need to demonstrate the lateral quickness to defend at a high level in the backcourt, and continue to work on his ability to create off the dribble, but the current eighth grader has been putting in time with his game and it showed in a big way on this particular weekend.

Torrence Watson, 2018 SG, Team Ramey: There were a number of impressive backcourt prospects in attendance at the Spring Bling, but none possessed the blend of talent and upside that Watson holds. Though he'll need to continue tightening his handle, Watson proved to be a capable ball-handler, scoring and facilitating throughout the weekend. The current eighth grader has both the talent and physical tools that suggest excellent potential on both ends of the court. He's definitely one to keep an eye on in the Class of 2018.