Future150 Birmingham Main Event: 14U Recap
by Zachary Lyon, Future150 (5:27 PM CT, Fri May 6, 2016)

Birmingham, AL (Future150) -- Future150 kicked off the annual Main Event Tournament in Birmingham this past weekend and saw over 125 teams from 8 different states competing.

There was talent all over the board, but the 14U division was loaded considering most of these guys are still in middle school. At the end of the weekend the Alabama Steel captured the 14U gold championship. While Tennessee Rising Stars captured silver, and Atlanta Select Silver won the bronze championship. 

The Steel had a big time talent in the frontcourt coming from 2021 PF N'Faly Dante'. The 7th grader already stands at a legit 6'9 and can finish around the rim with force. He even showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and hit the mid-range jumper. 

Here are the other players that stood out from the 14U division this weekend. 

Zondrick Garrett, 2020 PF, Elite Squad: Garrett makes an argument for the best player in the entire division this weekend. Standing at 6'6, he used his elite athleticism to control the boards and rattle the rims plenty of times. He was able to dunk over the top of the defense off of lob passes and just slashing the lane himself. He's a powerful four man that should have a very bright future ahead, especially if he gets a little taller and develops a solid jumper. 

Sam Youngblood, 2020 SG, Elite Squad: Youngblood scored in bunches all weekend long and showed his potential as a sharpshooting, first hand weapon on offense. In the gold quarterfinals against the 6th Man Warriors, Youngblood dropped 24 points including four three pointers. Once this kid gets hot it's very hard stop him. It also helps he already has a size advantage over most his age standing around 6'2. Once he gets a bit stronger and continues to develop his on-ball defense, he could be a special player in the years to come. 

Gabe Allman, 2020 SF, SOS Warriors: Allman is an athletic wing prospect who excelled at slashing to the rim and rebounding. He can get to the rim on straight line drives and moved to get open. He will need to improve as a shooter from beyond the arc. 

Gage Elrod, 2020 PG, Tuscaloosa Heat: Elrod is a fundamentally sound lead guard who can really shoot it from beyond the arc. He can also get to the rim thanks to his ball-handling ability. While it is early, he is still very undersized, which is a concern moving forward.

Melvin Edwards, 2020 SF, Atlanta Select Silver: Edwards was a force on the wing and in the post all weekend long. His bread and butter on offense was short jumpers and driving the lane to draw fouls. His on-ball and help side defense was tremendous as he used his long arms at 6'2 to disturb the passing lanes and block shots. There was a sequence in the silver semifinals where Edwards blocked three shots in a row on one possession. If Edwards gets a few inches taller and develops a three point jumper, he could be a dangerous threat on the wing during his high school career. 

Marcellious Lockett, 2020 SG, Atlanta Select Silver: Lockett always got onto the score sheet early and often. As an 8th grader, he already possesses the abilities to score on all three levels. His ball-handling skills are nice, and loves to pull up off the dribble. He also impressed with his overall ability to make plays whether they were for himself or his teammate. 

Jailon Tyson, 2020 SF, Arkansas Knights: Tyson's post impressive aspect during the weekend was his feel for the game, and his overall maturity. He was always in the right place on both ends of the floor, and ran the floor and finished in transition very well. Tyson already has a good skill set for a SF, if he can grow and continue to add strength, he could be special. 

Joshua Stinson, 2020 PG, Memphis Suns: Stinson was a playmaking machine on the ball for the Suns. He was lightning quick in transition and could knock down the deep ball when left open. Despite his lack of height and strength, Stinson was very impressive finishing at the rim around and through defenders. Once his court vision catches up with his scoring abilities, Stinson will be a true floor general. 

Dallan "Deebo" Coleman, 2021 PG, Memphis Suns: The Suns had two very skilled lead guards running the team at almost all times this weekend. Deebo Coleman was the second half of this duo. Coleman didn't score the ball at a high rate like Stinson did, but he did impress with crazy ball-handling abilities. Coleman looked like he had the ball on the string whenever it was in his hands, and his court vision was solid as well.  

Randy Brady, 2021 PG, Tennessee Rising Stars: The first thing that impresses you with Brady is his elite size for a 7th grade point guard. Standing around 6'3, Brady almost always had a size advantage over his defenders. His rebounding and overall versatility is what stood out most. He could bring the ball up and make plays on offense, and then guard the paint on defense and contest shots. Not hard to see the potential in this young prospect. 

Richmond Priestley, 2020 C, Birmingham Raptors: Priestley locked down the paint on both ends all weekend for the Raptors. Even when he's not scoring he still effects the game by using his strength to muscle down offensive rebounds and keep possesions alive. Even though he's only 6'3, he certainly has the skill set and strength (right now) to be a productive big man. If Priestley is blessed with more growth throughout high school, he could certainly develop into a college prospect. 

Caleb Brown, 2020 SG, Team Carroll: Brown impressed with his ball handling and slashing abilities at the two guard spot. Standing just under six foot, he has decent size, but certainly needs to work on his strength. Overall, Brown had a solid weekend making plays on and off the ball and looks like he can be a solid prospect down the road. 

Octavious Palmer, 2020 PF, Team Carroll: Palmer ran the floor very well and worked hard on the glass for Team Carroll. Like his teammate Brown, he has decent size at his age at 6'1, but will need to add plenty of strength heading forward. Once Palmer can finish through contact more consistently, and obviously grow a bit more, he could be a productive frontcourt player. 

Jahmal Byers, 2020 PG, 6th Man Warriors: Byers was certainly one of the more productive players for the Warriors all weekend. Whether he was scoring, running the fast break, or playing tough-nosed defense, it was easy to tell he was a valuable piece to his team. Once he grows a few more inches and , Byers could be a very good floor general. 

Tyland Boatan, 2020 C, 6th Man Warriors: Boatan put up a good amount of points in the paint over the course of the weekend, but that definitely wasn't the part of his game that stood out. His rebounding and overall IQ for a big man at his age was very impressive. Not many turnovers were marked down for Boatan, and when he did score points it was off of tough offensive rebounds, or good footwork in the paint. He needs to work on finishing with both hands moving forward. 

Carlos Stewart Jr., 2021 PG, Capital City Crushers: Even though he only stands at 5'5, Stewart showed his playmaking abilities thorughout the weekend. The main reason he gets the job done lacking elite size is his speed. Good luck staying infront of him if he comes down with a rebound on defense and decides to take it the full length of the floor. Very solid showing this weekend from Stewart. 

Donovan Jones, 2020 PG, Rocket City Pride: Jones was a very active guard on and off the ball and never let up on a play until the whistle was blown. He had a good jumper and almost always made the right passes in both the halfcourt and transistion offense. Jones needs to start putting on some muscle as he heads into high school and work on finishing through contact.

Nick Traylor, 2020 PF, Monroe Select Elite: Traylor has decent size as an 8th grader at 6'3, and made sure he used that size to his advantage on the glass. He also showed potential as a go-to scorer in the post with a few pretty moves with his back to the basket. Traylor was also very impressive protecting the rim all weekend long as he always made sure to contest a shot that was anywhere in the paint. As a result he came away with plenty of blocks. Very good intangibles and raw skills in Traylor's game. 

Deontay Edwards, 2021 C, Monroe Select Elite: Edwards size and strength alone as a 7th grader should give him plenty of advantages when manning the middle. He impressed with his strength on the boards and showed decent footwork once he got the ball in the paint. Looking forward Edwards will need to work on his ball-handling and cotinue to add muscle as his opponents are only going to get bigger from here on out. 

Brandon Stroud, 2020 SG, GA Knights: Stround was probably one of the most well rounded guards this past weekend regardless of age group. His ability to score the ball all over the court made it hard for him to be guarded. He can score on any type of ball screen situation and displayed shooting ability off the dribble and catch. 

Ashton Young, 2020 PF, TN Edge: Young is skilled around the rim and proved to be dominant by getting every rebound on both ends of the floor. He used his height and length to his advantage in the half court where he put defenders in tough stiuations because he is deadly in ball screens situations. His pick and pop ability puts himself in the right places at the right time.

Larry Holmes, 2020 PG, Jackson Lakers Elite: Holmes is a phyiscal and skilled lead guard that has a big body frame that he use to his advantage. This past weekend he showed that he can play at a elite level, despite his young age. The ways he plays in the open and half court makes him a well rounded player on both ends. He shoots the ball off the catch and dribble well.

Benjamin Raspberry, 2020 SG, GA Knights: Raspberry is a skilled and talented scoring guard that has a Kevin Durant style of game. He showed that he can shoot ball off the catch and dribble, along with elite abilities to slash the lane. He is a great on ball defender, using his length helps him lock down players and cause turnovers.

Micheal Scott-Myers, 2021 PG, HCBC: Scott-Myers is a skilled and tough guard that doesn't let his short size stop him from playing against bigger competition. He showed his ability to score on and off the ball, he plays at an elite level for such a young age.

Rodrique Ruffin, 2020 CG, Jackson Lakers Elite: Ruffin has good size and strength and uses it to his advantage. He's a very well rounded player that displayed his versatile skill set. The biggest thing that stood out was his high level shooting. He's still growing and is no where close to his ceiling.

Cole Chaudions, 2019 C, Tennessee Edge: Chaudions is a skilled big man who showed off his versatility with his good shooting and high post game. He showed glimpses of being able to put the ball on floor and drive the lane. His upsize is a huge plus because you can always teach skill but not height and he is the type of player that is going to get better year after year.

Thaddeus Williams, 2020 PG, Alabama Magic Blue: Williams is a terrific lead guard that can put the ball in the basket from all three levels. His court vision is solid and already has decent height for an 8th grader. If he can shoot up a few more inches and continue to develop his defensive game, he could be special. 

Kylan Blackmon, 2020 SG, Mississippi Heat: Blackmon loves to drive and slash the lane using his good length to finish over the top of the defense. He also uses this length to his advantage on the defensive end. Blackmon is a solid overall guard that can take defenders off the dribble with his quick first step. 

Tyquan Rawls, 2020 PG, Alabama Premier Black: Rawls is a very efficient scorer and has the ability to do so on all three levels. His ball-handling skills and court vision are decent but could use some improvement. Once he develops and grows a little bit more, he could be a handful to deal with on the court. 

Jamarkus Alexander, 2020 SG, Alabama Magic White: Alexander is a pure shooter and has a beautiful stroke from beyond the arc. If you need a bucket or need to start heaving threes because your team is down, Alexander is your man. Alexander needs to add some go to dribble pull-up moves to take his game to the next level. 

Torrance Hogan, 2020 SG, Jaguar Elite: Hogan already stands close to 6'0 and is more of a raw prospect at this point. He uses his legth to rebound well and he is certainly capable of hitting the mid-range jumper. He can slash the lane off the dribble and get the defense into foul trouble. Once Hogan develops a more consistent jumper and hits another growth spurt, it will all start coming together.