Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Dallas, TX (Future150) -- On Friday at PrimeTime Nationals, it was 2016 wing Carl Brown who made a lasting impression by racking up points in a hurry. Below is more on him and the rest of our standouts from the 8th grade division.
Carl Brown, 2020 SG, Omaha EYCE (NE): One of the best slashers of the day was the 6-footer headed to Westside High School (NE) in the fall. He was able to get to the rim with ease, and showed excellent athleticism on his aggressive drives to the rim. He’s also an unselfish prospect who has no problem sharing the ball with his teammates.
Henry Steele, 2020 SF, Monroe Elite (LA): With a father standing 6’6” and a grandfather at 6’10”, it’s easy to envision the 6’3” lanky wing sprouting in the near future. Right now, he knows his role well on the wing, and showed offensive ability on all three levels. While his defense needs work, he’s certainly got the body type to become a standout defender in the future.
John Shanklin, 2020 C, Omaha EYCE (NE): Young big men typically develop late, and that’s exactly what we’re thinking with the 6’6” Bellevue West (NE) big man. Already sporting a size 16 shoe and with a history of 6’8” and 7’0+ in his family, it’s easy to envision him being a late-blooming midwestern big. As of right now, he has an excellent motor and posts hard. His skills should catch up shortly.
Jalen Jones, 2020 PG, Monroe Select Elite (LA): To look at Jones when he’s on the court you would have to think this player is definitely a football player by his build and size. Don’t let that fool you, he is light on his feet, showed good athleticism, and a high skill set. He single handed brought his team back to within striking distance scoring at will with the dribble drive and finishing. Solid overall performance today.
Winder Vasquez, 2020 CG, Fastbreak 2020 Elite (TX): Vasquez is a scoring machine who can score in bunches in a short period of time. On Friday in their final pool play game, he scored eight straight points for his team on consecutive possessions. He has a good feel for the game and makes everyone on his team better by breaking down the defense and creating easy opportunities.
Giancarlo Matassa, 2020 CF, Basketball University (TX): Matassa was all over the glass all day long, clearing every rebound in sight. He made a living on the offensive glass scoring on put backs. He has a nice face up game where he can put it on the floor for a one and two dribble move. Finishing at the rim was definitely the strongest aspect of his game. His long arms and a wiry frame made him hard to stop. As he gets stronger, look for his game to take the next step.
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