Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Pottsville, PA (Future150) -- This week, Future150 was on the road in Pennsylvania taking in three seperate holiday showcase events, all of which played host to several of the best teams in the state. A lot was learned along the way, and several prospects and teams showed promise of better things to come this March. Below you'll find our standouts from the Parkland Holiday Showcase, the Reading Holiday Tournament & the Shamrock Showcase.
Lonnie Walker, 2017 SG, Reading High (PA): No star shined brighter this week than the Miami (FL) signee and concensus top 25 prospect nationally. In a 91-67 statement win over Math, Civics & Sciences, the 6'5" wing put the Red Knights on his shoulders, totaling 36 points, 12 rebounds & five assists while winning MVP honors of the tournament. It was a dazzling performance by the 2016 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, and might be the start of something special as we continue through the high school season.
Austin Gilbertson, 2017 SG, Trinity (PA): Last night was a special one for the 6'3" shooting guard with offers from schools such as Boston University & St. Anselm, as he not only led the Shamrocks to a blowout victory over Thomas Edison High School (VA) with 27 points, but he scored his 1,000th career point in the process. A big-bodied natural scorer, he should continue to see his stock rise with a monster high school season unfolding.
Micah Parsons, 2018 PF, Harrisburg (PA): A 5-star football recruit and PSU verbal, the 6'3", 240-pound big man is fresh off leading the Cougars to their first state title game appearance in the history of the school. After taking a few weeks to get acclimated to the hardwood, he's now starting to round into basketball form. In a win against Lower Merion, he was dominant around the rim, finishing with 19 points while using his frame to gain positioning in the paint. As he gets better, so will Harrisburg.
Malik Archer, Math, Civics & Sciences (PA): While it was a tough game overall for the Mighty Elephants in their loss to Reading High, the 6'3", 170-pound wing did his part, scoring 23 points. Throughout the game, he showed off deep shooting range and no shortage of confidence, even with Red Knights draped all over him. Division two schools should be positioning themselves for his services, as he continues to improve his game.
Trey Koehler, 2019 SG, Abington Heights (PA): The Comets have a history of putting out talented prospects in recent years, and it looks like the 6'4" sophomore wing is next in line. In a 51-31 win over Berks Catholic, he showed off a sweet shooting stroke on his way to 17 points, making him the high scorer for Abington Heights.
Tamir Green, 2017 PG, Constitution (PA): The heart and soul of the Generals is their 5'11" floor general. Not only was he extremely vocal on both ends of the floor, but he also showed what an explosive scorer he is, finishing with 25 points in a blowout victory over Paul International (D.C.). He's obviously hungry for a state title ring, and is willing to do whatever it takes for Constitution to make that happen.
Seth Maxwell, 2017 PF/C, Abington Heights (PA): It's not easy being a 7-footer at the high school level, as most observers expect total domination at all times. While Maxwell is far from dominant, he continues to improve and is without-a-doubt a huge part of the Comets success. On Tuesday, he put up 12 points, eight rebounds & nine blocks in their win, showing that his presence is very valuable to Abington Heights.
Chris Whitaker, 2017 G, Harrisburg (PA): The catalyst for the Cougars is their explosive scoring senior guard. While he only tallied 14 points in their win, his improvement in playmaking and leadership categories is what can make this team very dangerous down the line. An underrated prospect in the state, there's no doubt that division two schools should be inquiring about him.
Wesley Butler, 2019 PG, Reading High (PA): The 6-footer continues to make his case as one of the best young point guards in the state of Pennsylvania. Tuesday night was business as usual for him, as he put up 14 points, five rebounds and three assists in the Red Knights blowout victory. Expect schools to start sniffing around by the spring.
Luis Garcia, 2019 PG, Berks Catholic (PA): The 5'10" point guard may have only scored 12 points in their win, but his court vision and passing were very impressive. He seemingly always made the right plays on offensive, and was a steadying force on the floor. As he continues to mature, he's going to make the Saints a hard team to beat.
Levaugn Soles, 2017 SF/PF, E.L. Meyers (PA): While the Mohawks dropped an important game, the play of the 6'4" forward was a bright spot for them. A long and athletic player, he scored 21 points in the loss, including two big slams on the break. Ranked in the state in 4A right now, their success in the postseason will depend largely upon the play of Soles.
Timmy Edwards, 2017 SF, Trinity (PA): As if having Austin Gilberston in the backcourt wasn't enough, they also have the 6'4" Edwards as well. An explosive athlete, he scored 26 points in a vareity of ways, including several big slams. As it stands right now, he sits only 31 points away from 1,000 after last night.
Steve Payne, 2019 PG, Lower Merion (PA): It's easy to envision the 6'2" guard competing at the division one level in a few years after watching him the other night. Not only does he have good size, but he is a strong prospect who is explosive when heading downhill. The future is bright for the Jersey Shore Warriors guard.
Sean Good, 2018 PF/C, Trinity (PA): Although he was hampered by foul trouble for most of the night, it didn't stop the 6'11" junior from posting seven points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks & four assists in their big win. He's a no-brainer high-major prospect who continues to improve every time we watch him play.
Maurice Waters, 2017 PF, Constitution (PA): While Tamir Green may be the heart of the Generals, their postseason success may depend on their interior threat, the 6'6" forward prospect. A springy rim-running post, he scored 17 points and rebounded the ball well on both ends of the floor for Constitution.
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