Jack’s 16U Southern Standouts (Part 1)
The Hoop Group Southern JamFest was this past weekend, and being a guy who covers Virginia high school and AAU basketball it is one of the biggest and best tournaments of the year that I cover. With shoe company team and other great programs coming from all over the east coast to compete with teams in our backyard, it is always one of the most entertaining weekends of the summer for us.
We had all five of our Prep Hoops contributors from Virginia and Maryland in attendance, so we’ll have all sorts of coverage from the event this week. With that being said, I will be breaking down some of my standouts from not just Virginia, but all teams. Here’s a look at part one of the 16U standouts I saw.
Javon Swinton | 6’1” PG | The Dream 16U
A two way star that gets it done on the football field as well, Swinton showed terrific poise leading his team to victory over a talented Team Durant group. The 6’1” point guard has good length and quickness, and he used that to get in the lane and finish with floaters, layups and dunks with ease. He finished with 19 points, but he did much more as he set the tone on both ends of the floor.
Marcus Dockery | 6’1” PG | DC Premier 16U
A smooth shooting lefty, Dockery showed that not only can he shoot the lights out from deep, he’s able to flat out score the basketball. He can play on and off the basketball, he has good change of pace with the ball in his hands and he’s able to take and make contested shots with his quick release and ability to create space. Dockery stepped up big in clutch situations and made plays constantly when his team needed it.
Amir Nesbitt | 6’1” PG | Boo Williams 16U
This guy was a walking bucket all weekend, and was one of the biggest reasons that Boo Williams 16U went on to win the championship. Nesbitt’s ability to play on and off the basketball works well with his other backcourt mates, and while he’s mainly a scorer he has grown into more of a playmaker with time. However, his innate ability to score the basketball in bunches with the ball in his hands makes him a special player and scorer.
Aminu Mohammed | 6’5” WF | Boo Williams 16U
The WCAC leading scorer as a freshman, Mohammed showed his ability to score the basketball throughout the weekend, especially in the championship game. Unlike Nesbitt who’s a tough shot maker, Mohammed is a high motor, very strong wing that attacks the basket and scores in the lane both as a slasher and on second chance opportunities. Muhammed has so much room to grow, but what he has already are things you can’t teach.
Allen Strothers | 6’3” PG | Boo Williams 16U
While the two guys ahead scored the basketball at a high rate all weekend, Strothers was one of the biggest reasons as he handled the basketball most of the game and he set the tone on both ends of the floor. A freshman playing up, he’s starting to find his way as a dual threat point guard. He mixed in a perfect amount of scoring and distributing, and he made the biggest play of the weekend as he hit the game winning floater in the championship game to beat Team BBC.
Elvin Edmonds | 6’2” PG | Team Loaded VA 16U
Edmonds continues to improve as a true point guard, and he’s becoming a dual threat guy that can score and create with the ball in his hands. With his set shot, he has a quick release and he’s always a threat to shoot it off the pick-and-roll, and that gives him the edge to make plays for others as well. He’s a crafty finisher around the basket and he gets to the free throw line with ease.
Marchellus Avery | 6’6″ F | The Dream 16U
There aren’t many prospects who are as naturally talented as Avery, who at 6’6″ can play on the perimeter and in the post and is as productive as they come. He rarely comes out of the game, he scores from all over the floor from 18 feet and in and he plays above the rim with ease. He plays with both hands and he rebounds on both ends of the floor, and the best part about him is that he’s still extremely raw. He has a lot of room to grow with training and coaching at the next level, and if he finds the right fit there he could be a high major talent that pans out with his natural feel and ability on the basketball court.