Mayhem in the Plex: Offensive Weapons (Part 2)
In this article:
The Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Mayhem in the Plex event in Fort Worth, Texas. Dozens of teams showed up to compete in the tournament, and I was able to see a bunch of them…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit rolled on this past weekend at the Mayhem in the Plex event in Fort Worth, Texas. Dozens of teams showed up to compete in the tournament, and I was able to see a bunch of them in action at the Game On Sports Complex. I will be highlighting standout prospects throughout the week.
While there is certainly room for specialists within the game of basketball, players who can do multiple things at a high level will always be more valuable to the success of a team. With that in mind, here are some of the best offensive weapons from the 16U and 17U divisions:
Alijah Adem Alijah Adem 6'2" | PG Spring Valley | 2024 State #174 Nation NV | 2024 | 6’2’’ Point Guard | Chosen Few 2023 | Spring Valley HS – Adem was definitely one of the better transition scorers in attendance. He went coast to coast on numerous occasions and had a lot of success near the basket. The Spring Valley guard did a good job of finding his teammates after penetrating the defense, delivering accurate drive-and-kick passes as well as some nice drop-off dimes to his bigs. Additionally, he hit a gorgeous baseline turnaround jumper, showing his diversity on offense.
Tristen Kailey | 2023 | 6’1’’ Point Guard | EAD Dallas 2023 | Frisco Liberty HS – Kailey was the best overall playmaker I saw this weekend. He was responsible for countless assists courtesy of a variety of different passes. He is deadly accurate, possesses great vision, and was outstanding at using his eyes to manipulate defenders. Beyond that, the Frisco Liberty floor general finished strong with both hands and displayed a good package of floaters. I truly believe that he is one of the most underrated prospects in Texas.
Eli Pritz | 2022 | 6’5’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Nike ProSkills Antonio 2022 | San Antonio Christian School – Pritz is a skilled combo forward with tremendous scoring versatility. He is a smooth and consistent shooter from behind the arc, thriving from the catch. The 2022 prospect was also responsible for some crafty finishes when attacking off the dribble. Furthermore, he was solid on the block, understanding how to gain favorable positioning down low. He was a reliable scoring option for his team throughout the tournament.
Luke Carter Luke Carter 5'10" | CG Wylie East | 2023 State TX | 2023 | 5’11’’ Point Guard | BYG Elite 2023 | Wylie East HS – Carter played with great pace while producing at a high level as both a scorer and facilitator. The Wylie East guard is a confident three-point shooter with NBA range. He is a knock-down shooter from mid-range too. Furthermore, he was a tough finisher off the drive, willing to take some bumps on his way to the cup. As a passer, Carter delivered brilliant feeds, constantly finding teammates for high-percentage looks. This is another under-the-radar guy who could fly up the rankings in the near future.
Raven Ortiz Raven Ortiz 6'0" | PG San Angelo Central | 2022 State TX | 2022 | 6’0’’ Combo Guard | Nike ProSkills Antonio 2022 | San Angelo Central HS – Ortiz demonstrated good vertical ability with some eye-catching transition dunks. He plays fast, but never looks out of control. The 2022 guard finished well when getting to the basket on baseline drives, using his speed and athleticism to blow past defenders. I saw him drill a couple of triples as well, forcing defenses to play him straight up, making him a threat from the inside and outside.