Ben Moore Fall League Underclass Standouts (10/2/19)
While it’s a tough time of year for me to get in the gym regularly due to work and personal matters, I was able to swing by the Boo Williams Sports Complex in Hampton yesterday for the Ben Moore Fall…
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Continue ReadingWhile it’s a tough time of year for me to get in the gym regularly due to work and personal matters, I was able to swing by the Boo Williams Sports Complex in Hampton yesterday for the Ben Moore Fall League. While the league is smaller this year than it’s been in the past, there was still plenty of talent from all over the 757 and more, and there were plenty of kids who stood out. Here’s a look at seven underclassmen that impressed me on Wednesday, October 2nd.
Jaylani Darden | 6’4” G | Norview 2021
Darden was possibly the best in the building on Wednesday night, as the super long combo guard showed good improvement in a number of ways and was super productive on both ends of the floor, including scoring 31 points in a win over defending VISAA D3 State Champs Life Christian. Darden has always impressed with his length and feel on both ends as a good defender and playmaker for his size, but he also showed improvements in the areas he needed to as he was more aggressive looking for his shot and looks much better shooting the ball from deep. He also showed a good floater and used his athleticism on the defensive end to get deflections and cause havoc.
LaSean Lee | 6’6” PF | Norview 2021
A throwback kind of big man, Lee isn’t going to beat guys down the floor or dominate you with a ton of strength and athleticism in the post, but he is a methodical big body in the paint with soft touch who can score with both hands. He has good footwork and good patience in the post, he utilizes fakes and can score over both shoulders, he’s a good passer out of the post and he plays hard in spurts which makes him even more effective. He’s an under the radar big man who gives Norview a much needed post presence to go along with their stable of talented guards and wings.
Jakari Wilkins | 5’8” PG | Williamsburg Christian 2021
Looks can be deceiving, and if you aren’t careful you could easily overlook Wilkins who was one of the more dynamic guards in the gym on Wednesday. The smaller lefty has good end-to-end speed and a quick first step, and to compliment that very well he also changes speeds and changes directions causing problems for defenders. He’s the only guy on his team that can create off the bounce and he got worn down after a while of being defended the length of the court, but he showed a good midrange game with a number of floaters, he made shots in spurts and put his teammates in good positions to succeed as well.
Bobby Johnson | 6’0” G | Western Branch 2021
It’s very hard not to like Johnson, as he’s a coach’s dream of a player who is pretty talented himself, but he plays with so much energy and such a high motor he’s able to make plays and energize his teammates on both ends of the floor. He’s a super tough kid who gets after it and wins 50-50 balls, he’s a good finisher in traffic and in transition and he can make shots from deep when he’s left open as well. He plays both on and off the basketball for the Bruins and will be an important glue guy for them this year.
Efrem Johnson | 6’3” WG | Western Branch 2022
I fully expect to hear more and more about mid and high major programs getting involved with Johnson moving forward, who will have a chance to be one of the top scoring and all around guards in the 757 as just a sophomore. He has a good frame that should fill out and get more athletic with time, he has a natural knack for scoring the basketball at all three levels and he’s able to make shots from all three levels with consistency. He’s a guy who can play on or off the basketball and create out of isolation or work within the set to get his shots, and he’s a guy who wants the ball in his hands at big moments in the game as well.
Kenyon Giles | 5’9” PG | Oscar Smith 2022
In a 2022 class that is stacked with talented guards in the 757 area, Giles can sometimes be forgotten but he showed if you forget about him he will flat out light your team up. He isn’t the biggest guy but he’s fundamentally sound, he understands the game well and he can flat out shoot the basketball with picture perfect form and good consistency from deep. He splits time at the point with senior Andre Bottoms but will likely move there full time after this year where he can show that he’s a good playmaker as well, but the way he took over the game shooting the basketball yesterday impressed a number of people, and I fully expect him to play a major role for a talented Smith team this year.
Dershon Ormon | 6’0” WG | Denbigh 2023
It’s always nice seeing a young kid that you want to keep an eye on moving forward, and I got that in the very first game I watched with Denbigh freshman Dershon Ormon. He looks very young and doesn’t exactly look the part, but the kid made all of the right plays and showed a tremendous feel for the game while also being very productive and one of his team’s top scorers despite being one of the youngest guys on the floor. He shoots the ball exceptionally well from deep, he attacked closeouts and showed a good midrange game and his poise and feel for the game was well beyond his years.