Music City MLK Classic Top Performers (Sunday)
The Sunday Music City MLK Classic crowd was a little subdued, but the fiery players competed with vigor. 2019 PG Antonio Thomas (Memphis Ridgeway) Ridgeway played plenty of zone, but Thomas didn’t settle in. He actively challenged the ball-handlers and disrupted…
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Continue ReadingThe Sunday Music City MLK Classic crowd was a little subdued, but the fiery players competed with vigor.
2019 PG Antonio Thomas (Memphis Ridgeway)
Ridgeway played plenty of zone, but Thomas didn’t settle in. He actively challenged the ball-handlers and disrupted passing lanes. Thomas has exceptional floor vision. He can feed a pass before his man opens up, because he understands predictable defensive movement.
2019 F Michael Moreno (Scott County)
Moreno loved the fight from his Scott County Cardinals, but once again the ball-handling let the team down. Moreno is not responsible for the breaking pressure. He owned the defensive glass, almost single-handedly. Facing a larger frontline, Moreno corralled seven defensive rebounds and a total of 10. Moreno secured critical rebounds for the cause. An isolation play on the low block served as the potential game-winner. He missed with two men rising to challenge. Scott County lost in overtime to St. John’s Collegiate.
2017 F Nicolas Claxton (Legacy Charter)
A lanky forward, Claxton took a half to find his shooting touch. He did convert a triple early in the second half. Claxton is signed to the Georgia Bulldogs. His length tantalizes, but he has to improve grip strength. Though he easily tugged down defensive rebounds in traffic, a couple times he spilled the ball on the deck amid scrapping hands. His agility is really strong, but the lefty remains a raw prospect in need of continued skill training.
2017 C Tyrell Mendenhall (Legacy Charter)
Mendenhall had a quiet AAU season, as he suffered through a left shoulder injury. Now he is back and battling down low. Mendenhall has ok lift. His strength is power and eagerness to bang bodies. The senior has decent touch. He doesn’t stray from the low blocks on offense, nor should he.
2017 G Tajah Fraley (22 Ft Academy)
A physical guard, Fraley comes alive on defense. He likes to jump the passing lanes and disrupt with elevated effort. Despite his size, Fraley moves his feet a lot on defense. He can bulldog his way into the lane. Outside shooting is an area he can improve.
2018 F Shy’Qua Grimes (Legacy Charter)
Grimes has wonderful natural strength. He runs the floor effortlessly. Grimes gets lost a little on defense, but the physical gifts are undeniable. Ridgeway had nobody near his size, so he ate all afternoon. Shy’Qua might realize his full potential out on the wing. Regardless he can help a college program on the blocks, for sure.
“I feel like I did (get) more aggressive,” said Grimes of his second half. “I was getting in better position for the ball. Then, they were giving me some points, but I think they were just scared.”
Grimes was evaluated by a coach from Florida Golf-Coast.
2017 G Emanuel Hylton (St. John’s Collegiate)
Hylton created so many problems. The senior guard finished with 14 points, but he dealt with the Scott County guards on both ends. Hylton and friends held the capable Cardinals’ guards to 29.1% shooting. Hylton is signed to San Diego.
2019 G Ian Lee (Mountain Mission)
Wildly undersized for elite prep school standards, Lee is a pass-first point guard. His team suffered tough turnovers when Lee rested. He is a patient, but quick floor general. Lee craftily dribbles through pressure. He is not strong enough yet to absorb hard fouls in the paint though.