2023 Freshmen U Camp Standouts
With another academic school year underway, another Freshmen U Camp was held to jump start the prep careers of about 100 Georgia prospects. Now in its 3rd year of existence, the showcase provides new 9th graders a platform to shine…
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Continue ReadingWith another academic school year underway, another Freshmen U Camp was held to jump start the prep careers of about 100 Georgia prospects. Now in its 3rd year of existence, the showcase provides new 9th graders a platform to shine as they inch closer to their first high school season. Drill, games, and a 30-minute session for academic advice on both the high school as well as the collegiate level make up the entire afternoon. Player evaluations following camp allows players a chance to receive feedback from high school coaches working the camp to ultimately improve on their weaknesses moving forward. The energy and talent were all present and these were the few standouts that enjoyed solid afternoons during game competition:
Standouts
Tahj Johnson- Tahj Johnson (Hart County) – Arguably the most put together athlete at Freshmen U Camp, Johnson was consistent in a variety of ways for his team. Already 6’5” with long arms he was able to use his size in the paint to rebound and score with an efficient back to the basket game. Johnson also showed his wing skills, putting the ball on the floor to finish in transition and knocking down perimeter jump shots. He led the way on the floor and will look to contribute early to an already talented Hart County squad that reached the Class 3A state championship game a season ago.
- Jaylen Weems (Carver) – Weems was “Mr. Do it All” on the floor for his team during games at Freshmen U Camp. On multiple occasions, I saw him single handedly change the possession via rebound or steal and unselfishly finish through contact on the other end. He has an old school game, doing a lot of scoring in the paint but never seemed to be slowed down during games in doing so, regardless of the opponent. Weems has a high basketball IQ and plays with a ton of energy on the floor which is the perfect recipe for a skilled player moving forward.
- Zak Thomas (Fellowship Christian School) – I loved the mentality of Thomas when he has the ball in his hands. He is an “A to B” type of player who doesn’t waste any time getting down hill and to the basket offensively. He made a habit of finishing tough drives to the basket and showed the ability to hit mid-jump shots in the half court and transition.
- Kavon “KD” Johnson (Early County) – This specific Johnson was my favorite floor general throughout the afternoon. A quick, fast twitch prospect that knows what to do with the ball in the open floor, making simple as well as complex passes and doing so with limited turnovers. He plays the game hard on both ends of the floor and did a good job of getting into opposing ball handlers defensively. He was able to knock down floaters in the paint in his own right and can finish if he can drive the ball all the way to rim.
Jalen Hilliard
- Kenric Lanier (Decatur) – The Decatur freshman shot the ball with a lot of confidence in the first few minutes into his first game and continued that later into the day. He has a quick release and big-time range for his age. Lanier was the beneficiary of a lot of drive and kick jumpers, but he was able to cash in on open as well as contested looks from the perimeter. He was the best shooter I saw at Freshmen U Camp by far and that part of his game allows everything else to open up for him on the floor.
- Lathan Minnifield (Jonesboro) – Like Tajh Johnson, Minnifield was another impressive prospect physically with his size and strength exhibited during games. He has a very balanced arsenal offensively and from an athletic standpoint, is right on the cusp of playing above the rim on a consistent basis. I foresee Minnifield as a defensive stopper on an opponent’s primary option and someone who can score in transition and hit perimeters jumpers on the other end for Jonesboro.
- Jalen Hilliard (McEachern) – Hilliard was the player I enjoyed watching the most at Freshmen U Camp because of his ability to take over first game I saw him play in. He has good size and patience when the ball is in his hands. He is a projected wing player, but he was most effective when driving to the basket to finish or dishing the ball off to a teammate whose defender was coming to help. Hilliard simply makes the game easy for him and his teammates and the way he finished games shows his winning attributes.
- Thomas Holmes Jr (Pebblebrook) – What impressed me most about Holmes Jr was his handle with the basketball. He consistently beat pressure and took the ball coast to coast on both sides of the floor almost looking left-handed with his ability to finish on that side, even though he is a right-handed player. The freshman played at a different speed than most of the freshmen in attendance and is well put together physically. He has a good change of pace to his game and knows how to facilitate the basketball as well. Holmes will be the next high-level guard to play for Coach Washington which shouldn’t be a drop off in the next few years with the skillset shown during camp.