Work Trip Riptide Ballers 16u: Part I
After a successful 2-1 weekend playing up at The Finale in Kansas City, Missouri, the Riptide Ballers 16u returned back to the Jackson area. Late Sunday evening, Director/Head Coach Nathan Reed graciously dissected the play of each player.
Read the latest 2022 rankings.
Kobe Ward Kobe Ward 5'11" | PG Jackson South Side | 2022 State TN (Jackson South Side) #75 in TN
2021, PG, 5-foot-11, Wears #23
Coach’s Analysis: Kobe had three good games this weekend. He was scoring a lot. He probably shot 70% from free throw line for the three games. He ended up with like 22 points the first game.
Rico Sain (Jackson South Side)
2022, G, 6-foot-0, Wears #22
Coach’s Analysis: Overall Kobe and Rico Sain probably had the best weekend. Rico, had like 15 ppg. He is probably my best defender on the team. He had like 2 steals per game. He can play the 1-3. He is small playing the 3. He can stick with a solid 3, but his [best] position is the 1-2. I actually asked him to be a little more selfish at times when he has a defender that can’t guard him. [In college] somebody is going to have to get him to understand you can be a little selfish.
College Chance?: Rico projects as a 1/2 at the next level. College basketball is in his future. Coach Reed gave a couple reasons, “Rico? He will be able to. He is coachable. Very coachable. He is humble…somebody is going to have to get him to understand you can be a little selfish…”
Jaylan Cole (Jackson South Side)
2022, F, 6-foot-4, Wears #24
Coach’s Analysis: He is a big guy. He can shoot the 3. Free throw line and in it is hard to stop him. He knows how to use his pivot real well. [Jackson South Side] only lost 3 seniors. JJ left and 2 guys off the bench. They were talking about Wooddale beating them, but I think South Side would have gotten them with the depth. Jaylan and Kobe didn’t even start. They were like 6th and 7th or 7th and 8th. They could have started on any high school team in our district.
College Chance?: Coach Reed sees college basketball in Cole’s future, but he would need to evolve into a wing. “After high school he would be undersized to play the “4”. He is not big enough to be a [college] 4. We are only 16’s, he is one of the big ones. He has put in a lot of work to be able to shoot the jumpshot.”
Zach Reagor (Obion Central) Wears #3
2022, SG, 6-foot-2
Coach’s Analysis: He is a shooter. If he is open, then he will knock it down. Coachable. He is not the best defender, but because he gives you so much energy and effort he has to be on the floor. He crashes the boards, boxes out. If we are down…Kobe is my guy that can create his shot. Zach, I have to run him off a screen to get open. He can shoot with Kobe. He started as a sophomore. The way I use him is the way they [Obion Central coaches] use him.
Emerson Fussell (Obion Central)
2022, SG
Coach’s Analysis: Co-Vid.
Caleb. Wilson (McEwen) Wears #21
2021, SF, 6-foot-3
Coach’s Analysis: He was one of my new guys. I think the only reason nobody has heard of him is he is at McEwen. He is left-handed and right-handed. He can shoot with either hand. He rebounds. He talks on defense real good. He understands the helpside. I didn’t know who he was. He can jump out of the gym. At tryouts he did a windmill with one step running. He is too little to be in the post after high school. His post game is sick. He has three or four post moves that he can finish with either hand. He has a motor.
Makell Melton (South Gibson)
2022, SF, 6-foot-3
Coach’s Analysis: He really just got on the team. I know his parents. He is one of my new guys and the fast pace of it was overwhelming for him due to his high school team (South Gibson) playing at a slow pace. He can shoot the 3 at a high percentage. With the graduation of John Turner and Remington Cross he will find himself in a starting role.
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