Zachary Lyon:
Future150 Regional Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball: NC, SC & VA
Cartersville, GA (Future150) -- The storyline on Thursday from the Under Armour Finals in Atlanta was the dominant performance from Florida Vipers forward Darius Days, but he wasn't the only standout.
Darius Days, 2018 PF (Florida Vipers): The 6'8" post came out of the gates hot and never looked back in a big matchup with Sports U big man Naz Reid. He easily racked up a double-double and scored from both the post and the perimeter. His motor and athleticism has always been his calling card, but his game is rapidly developing. It was a dominant performance that really opened up some eyes here in Atlanta.
Naz Reid, 2018 PF (SportsU): Not to be outdone, the 6'9" specimen showed his incredible potential with several rim-bending slams, including a putback dunk over Darius Days. Very few prospects have the package of skills that the New Jersey native possesses, and it's just a matter of putting it all together. Overall, a good day for the highly-touted big man, who rebounded on both ends and controlled the lane on the defensive end.
D.J. Jeffries, 2019 SF (Team Thad): Talk about a high-upside prospect. The 6'8" wing was showing off his improved perimeter skills in a Team Thad win. He's bouncy, has soft touch, and has all of the tools that you look for in a future college standout. It's showing that he's not just resting on his upside projection. He's been in the gym, and it's clear to anyone evaluating the Missisippi product.
Coulter Dotson, 2018 CG (Alabama Celtics): The 6-foot-5 inch small forward has shot the ball pretty consistent all July live period. That didn't stop on Thursday. He has a great mid-range jumper and can knock down the long ball if he gets a good look at the rim. As he continues to add strength and quickness, look for him to take the next step in his game. Playing up in the 17U division is doing nothing but making him better.
Jalek Felton, 2017 PG (Team Felton): The 6'3" combo guard takes his fair share of criticism for his inconsistency, but yesterday he was outstanding. He was impossible to stop when going downhill, finishing anything and everything around the rim. He also showed off his ever-improving jump shot and got his teammates involved in a Team Felton win.
Eric Ayala, 2018 SG (WeR1): Is there a more physically imposing guard in the 2018 class? Last night, he flexed his figuarative and literal muscles against a talented D.C. Premier team, scoring the ball at will around the rim. He's so good at finishing in traffic and wearing down the defense. His jump shot has also been improving, which makes him nearly unstoppable on the offensive end.
Russell Barlow, 2018 PF (Team Hard Work): Barlow was crashing the glass on both ends and running the floor well throughout the day. He’s nimble on his feet and has a great back to the basket game. Currently holding offers from Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M it shouldn’t be surprising to see the other mid-west schools continue to throw offers his way.
Jordan Perkins, 2017 PG (Team Felton): Arguably one of the biggest sleepers in North Carolina, Perkins continues to improve. He was showing off his crafty ball-handling and fantastic court vision during their win over Earl Watson Elite. There were stretches in the game where he would assist three and four baskets in a row without any turnovers. One of the most underrated aspects of Perkins game is his on-ball defense. He racked up plenty of steals while smothering his opponents and staying alert and active in the passing lanes.
Drue Drinnon, 2018 CG (Team Thad): The Future150 alum was firing on all cylinders on Thursday. It’s quite easy to see why we have Drinnon as a top 25 prospect in the nation as he was scoring, defending, and hustling at an extremely high level. You’re never going to get less than 110% from him when he’s out on the floor competing. Thursday night his team was down 14 points in the first half and he got it going in a hurry. He scored 25 points and had 4 assists as he put his team on his back leading them to victory over Team Breakdown 70-68. His recruitment has been a bit quiet lately and a new string of offers seems due sometime in the near future.
Nico Mannion, 2020 PG (Earl Watson Elite): Mannion is one of the top prospects playing in the UAA 15U division, already earning offers from the likes of Arizona State, Cal State Northridge, Grand Canyon, and San Francisco. His most impressive asset of his game at this point is his overall feel for the game on both ends. He frequently makes the right pass, takes the smart shot, reads the defense correctly, etc. Overall he’s a very mature player for a rising freshman and you should fully expect to see Mannion be featured among the top tier prospects in our upcoming 2020 rankings.
Sid Wilson, 2018 SF (New Heights): Wilson’s versatility on the wing at 6’7 is so impressive. He can score from virtually anywhere on offense and attacks the passing lanes on defense with his long arms. His size isn’t the only thing lengthy about Wilson as his official offer list has 17 schools on it, including the likes of Indiana, Memphis, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Temple, and VCU among others. Wilson has yet to reach his ceiling and it’s not silly to think his offer list could exceed 20 offers within the next few months.
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