The content has been flowing here on Prep Hoops Maryland following Southern Jam Fest and rightfully so. There’s no way to put into words the talent that was on display featuring both shoe and non-shoe circuit programs who took complete…
The content has been flowing here on Prep Hoops Maryland following Southern Jam Fest and rightfully so. There’s no way to put into words the talent that was on display featuring both shoe and non-shoe circuit programs who took complete advantage of the stage at hand. We’ll use this event as our roundtable discussion for this week.
1. Who do you believe is the most underrated prospect you saw this weekend?
Giacubeno: I can’t rave enough about 2023 WeR1 guard Kenny JacksonKennyJackson
6'3" | PG #23NationPA
. Standing 6-foot-3 with a good build, explosive athleticism and versatility at both ends, Jackson has established himself as the cowbell for this 17U squad. This weekend he went head-to-head against other top prospects of both the 2022 and 2023 class and proved himself worthy of being considered at least a top 60 prospect nationally. One particular matchup that was a joy to watch was when Jackson took on the No. 1 ranked prospect in the 2023 class, Dajuan Wagner Jr. I think following this event, Jackson’s name will circulate throughout power five conferences and it remains only a matter of time until offers come pouring in.
Ayalew: I believe the most underrated prospect I saw this weekend was Xavier BrownXavierBrown
6'2" | PG Oak Hill Academy | 2023VA, a class of 2022 point guard who attends Oak Hill and played with Big Shots Elite VA. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury on the very first play on Friday against New World. Brown drove to the rim and drew a foul, but not before rolling his ankle. He stayed in the game despite not being able to put pressure on his foot, shot the free throws, and briefly checked out to get his ankle looked at before checking back in and finishing the game. Brown was clearly not 100 percent for the remainder of this contest, but that didn’t prevent him from playing hard and making a difference by elevating those around him.
Wilson: I believe that if 2022 Peter Carey played for a shoe sponsored team, he would have at least five mid major offers with quite possibly one high major offer. The 6’10 forward plays with tremendous energy and is really active around the rim. Carey was showing off his athleticism this past weekend trying to dunk everything while going up strong against defenders. Carey has long arms that he uses well to his advantage also and was rebounding balls left and right consistently. Albany and Umass have offered since this past weekend
2. Which non-circuit shoe team impressed you the most this weekend?
Giacubeno: Team Choo is always a joy to watch because they have a lot of under the radar prospects who can certainly be scholarship players at the next level. It was my first time seeing them live this spring and they didn’t disappoint. Although they came up short in their opening matchup against Team Melo, they came out of the gates strong and showed fight. Team Choo finished the weekend 2-1 2022 guard Jordan PennickJordanPennick
6'1" | CG Archbishop Spalding | 2022StateMD
put together a productive weekend averaging 17 points per game and caught the eyes of many scouts with his 19-point outing versus Melo. Pennick holds one Division II offer from Chestnut Hill, but after this weekend his name will spread around the region and with continued progression, he could see an uptick in his recruitment sooner rather than later.
Wilson: Probably an obvious pick for me since I already wrote about them but what VA Playmakers
did against the number one team in the country, Team Final, on Friday night was mighty impressive. 2022s Jack Vander Woude, Adrian Myers and Shane FedenShaneFeden
6'4" | PF Woodbridge | 2021StateVA
all held their own against a team full of high major prospects. Vander Woude’s ability to make shots at a high level was one of the top stories from the opening night of the Southern Jam Fest.
3. Who was the weekend’s biggest stock riser?
Giacubeno: I have to go with DC Premier
2022 guard/wing Justyn Fernandez. The dunks that this kid was pulling off were video game like. But it wasn’t just his finishes above the rim that high major programs were impressed with. It was his overall versatility, ability to impact the game in multiple ways and his effort level that resulted in Virginia Tech, VCU, Radford and Norfolk State extending offers Sunday evening following the event. More high major offers are on the way for Fernandez and he could very well emerge as the DMV’s biggest stock riser when all is said and done.
Ayalew: Michigan native Robert Davis Jr., a class of 2023 wing prospect playing with Team Melo, is my pick for top stock riser of the weekend. Davis initially caught my eye up at Zero Gravity earlier this month, and he carried that momentum with him to Southern. A deadeye shooter from behind the arc, he is a rangy athlete who can mix it up off the bounce as well. Davis ended up hitting over 20 threes in five contests this weekend while shooting with reasonably high efficiency. He is more than just a shooter tough. Davis brings unconditionally high intensity, energy, and high-quality intangibles to his team
Wilson: There are so many possible answers to this question but 2025 Darryn Peterson has officially put his name on the map for grassroots basketball. Peterson is regarded as one of the top, if not the top prospects in the 2025 class and Peterson showed that by playing two age divisions up for Wildcat Select at the Southern Jam Fest. Known as a scorer, his confidence and feel for the game at the 16u level was exceptional. There were numerous people in the gym this past weekend that were shocked when they found out Peterson was in the 2025 because he blended in so well in the 16u age group. LSU offered Peterson on Saturday.