Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Philadelphia, PA (Future150) -- On the final day of the Philadelphia JamFest, the games were tightly contested. With championship berths and titles on the line, teams brought their best effort. Here are some of the players who shined as they tried to bring a championship home with them.
Donte Grantham, 2013 SF, DC Assault:
Grantham showed why he is currently one of the most coveted prospects in the class of 2013. The small forward was all over the place on Sunday; scoring at the rim and disrupting the offense of Team Takeover Orange. Grantham is a great athlete with great length who can put the ball on the floor. There is a slight chance that he will prep and become a member of the 2014 class, but don’t be surprised if he commits as a member of 2013 in the next two weeks.
Zane Waterman, 2014 PF, Team Loaded:
One of the bigger surprises this weekend, Waterman was a major reason Team Loaded walked away with the 17U title. Solid around the rim, Waterman also stepped out and hit the three ball with consistency. The stretch-four looked every bit the part of a great mid-major big man this weekend. His ability to score down low along with his rebounding and jumper make him a dangerous player.
Derrick Jones, 2015 SF, We-R-1:
Derrick again proved why he is one of the top prospects in the class of 2015. He used his athleticism to give fellow 2015 forward Leroy Butts fits in the semi-final against DC Assault. In the final he dominated from start to finish. He took over during the final five minutes, closing out Sports U almost single-handedly. Jones has all the tools to be a special player down the road.
Sean Lloyd, 2015 SG, Team Philly:
Lloyd put on one of the better scoring performances throughout the weekend during the 16u semi-final game. He attacked the rim almost constantly, knowing Sports U defenders were wary of stepping in front to attempt to draw a charge. While he was unable to lead his team to victory with his 36 point effort, Sean has put both coaches and scouts on notice; he is a big-time player.
Makai Ashton-Langford, 2016 PG, Mass Rivals: Arguably the most solid prospect on the Mass Rivals 15u squad, Ashton-Langford put in a solid performance during the 15u semi-final. At 6-foot-1, he looks the part of a high major point guard. On Sunday he caused problems by pushing the pace and either getting to the rim or finding his open teammates. Makai is young for his age, he’s supposed to be part of the 2017 class but skipped a grade. With such a high basketball IQ at a young age, the ceiling is high for Makai Ashton-Langford.
Caleb Martin, 2014 SF, Team Loaded: Martin proved that he is one of the better scorers in the class of 2014 on Sunday. He dropped 26 on a talented Sports U team who had no answer for him defensively. He used a series of head-fakes and good footwork to get himself open in the paint as well as hit shots from deep. He should be a fan favorite at N.C. State due to his ability to score at all three levels.
Tyler Kohl, 2015 SG, We-R-1: Kohl was impressive again this weekend; especially in the title game. His ability to score it both off the dribble and from behind the arc gave Sports U problems. He is a stocky 6-foot-3 guard who uses his big frame to his advantage. Kohl also is unselfish and a decent passer; and could even play point guard in certain spots. He was a major reason that We-R-1 took home the title and looked every bit the part of a high major shooting guard.
Steffen Davis, 2014 PG Mid-Atlantic Select: The scoring point guard was at it again on the final day of the Philly JamFest as he scored 30 points in his final game. He uses his quickness to get to the rim almost whenever he wants to. He also shot well from the perimeter on Sunday, ultimately leading his team to the win in their final contest. While Davis has yet to receive his first offer, he has interest from Grambling and Lehigh. Expect that to change after a strong showing in Philadelphia.
Joe Hampton, 2016 PF, DC Assault: Hampton was a major factor during both the semi-finals and final in the 15u bracket. The 6-foot-6 forward controlled the boards and was a beast on the block throughout the tournament. Few players were able to match his physicality as he finished almost everything around the rim. Hampton has been called the next great player to come out of DeMatha. At this point, we would have to agree.
Cody Martin, 2014 SF, Team Loaded: While he didn’t put points up the way his brother did on Sunday, Cody was still a major factor. He crashed the glass and made winning plays throughout the day. Martin is special in the regard that he often puts his team above himself. He is a kid who will win you games because he brings a little something extra every time he steps between the lines. N.C. State should be just fine with him and his brother set to hit campus in the fall of 2014.
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