CBG Fall Series 3: 2022 Standouts (Part 3)
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It was the final session of the CBG Fall Series, which has brought grassroots teams from all over the state to Richmond to compete in front of coaches in person and on live steam. The event featured teams from the…
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Continue ReadingIt was the final session of the CBG Fall Series, which has brought grassroots teams from all over the state to Richmond to compete in front of coaches in person and on live steam. The event featured teams from the 757, 804, 703, 434 and 540 area codes, and was chock full of talent for all levels. The games were competitive, well coached and gave the kids a much needed opportunity to get seen in an unprecedented time.
Here’s a look at part three of the 2022 standouts, featuring 7 guys who had big days on Saturday.
Jaden Daughtry Jaden Daughtry 6'6" | SF Benedictine College Prep | 2022 VA | 6’6” F | CBG Wildcats
Daughtry was the pulse for a Wildcats team that lost a tough one to 757 VB and gutted out a tough win against VA Havoc, and it was Daughtry’s motor and playmaking ability at his size that helped fuel his team to a win. The 6’6” forward showed he can play inside-out, he’s terrific in transition and he has great feel off the bounce when he gets downhill and makes good decisions that help his teammates get easy baskets. He’s a guy who thrives with his strength and athleticism and I’m expecting will be a walking double-double during the high school season.
Brycen Blaine Brycen Blaine 6'5" | SG LC Bird | 2022 GA | 6’4” WF | CBG Wildcats
Blaine is a guy who is on the verge of putting it all together, and the way that he’s improved over the past few years is very promising moving forward. He has grown and filled out nicely and has been more aggressive attacking the defense, getting in the lane and getting to the cup and to the line with regularity. He’s a guy who can slash in isolation, shoot it from deep and in the midrange and plays with good energy on both ends, and if he continues to improve at the rate he has he’ll be someone to watch over the next few years.
Curtis Allen Curtis Allen 6'2" | SF Prince George | 2022 State VA | 6’2” WG | VA Havoc
Allen is a guy I hadn’t seen in a while, but the Prince George wing joined Havoc for session 3 and had a few very promising moments that make me think he could be one of the more underrated guys in the area. He’s got himself in terrific shape as he’s lost his baby fat and looks much more athletic because of it, and he’s rounded his game out from being just a spot up shooter to doing that and being able to get things done off the bounce as well. He looks like he’s a guy who could be one of the breakout guys in the Richmond area this year.
Keishawn Pulley Keishawn Pulley 6'2" | CG St. Christopher's School | 2022 State VA | 6’2” G | VA Havoc
Pulley is a guy I have watched for the past two years, and it’s hard not to like him with his bullish style of play and skill set that makes him able to impact the game in a number of ways. He’s a combo guard that can handle and showed that at St. Chris the past few years, but he’s also a skilled scorer who can make shots from deep and gets downhill and uses his size to finish around the rim and in traffic as well. He’s a high motor and high IQ kid who just makes winning plays and plays hard all the time as well.
Jayden Epps Jayden Epps 6'1" | CG Combine Academy | 2022 State #41 Nation NC | 6’1” PG | Team Suffolk
Epps didn’t have his best day at least from a shooting standpoint, but it’s impossible to deny the talent that he has and it’s easy to see why he’s one of the top point guards in the country. It isn’t his size or athleticism, while he possesses a solid skill set that isn’t what puts him over the top, it’s his relentless style of play and competitive nature that makes him as good as he is. He comes at you over and over again, he competes on the defensive end and loves a tough matchup, and he can score from all three levels consistently which makes him hard to contain throughout an entire game. Let’s put it this way, I wouldn’t want to have to guard him or game plan against him because I would lose too much sleep.
Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson 6'4" | NA lbs | SG Grissom | 2022 State #NA Nation AL | 6’4” G | Chesapeake Jaguars
Johnson was the breakout guy in session 2 as he was the leading scorer and got the best of quite a few talented players, and while he didn’t quite match that in session 3 he still was able to have a big game and show his overall skill set that makes him one of the best guards in the state. At 6’4” Johnson has turned himself from a scorer to an all-around combo guard that can play on and off the basketball, he scores it from multiple levels and can make others on his team better too. He’s a guy who’s just on the verge of blowing up from a recruitment standpoint, and it’s coming soon.
Stylz Gardner | 5’11” G | Peninsula Catholic
PC took a break from session two but came back in session 3 with a good showing led by Gardner and a few other guards. Gardner is an intriguing player as he has a good skill set and the ability to get hot quickly and make shots from deep with consistency. He has good form and a quick release, he plays with a lot of confidence and he’s a guy who could score a lot of points throughout his career.