3SSB Birmingham: 2022 Standouts (Part 4)
After almost two full years, we finally were able to have an AAU live period with division one college coaches in attendance, the first one happened this past weekend with a four day live period ranging from July 7-11. I…
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Continue ReadingAfter almost two full years, we finally were able to have an AAU live period with division one college coaches in attendance, the first one happened this past weekend with a four day live period ranging from July 7-11. I made the trip to Birmingham, AL where there were a number of events I attended including the Adidas 3SSB Session One and the Prep Hoops Circuit “The Platform.”
With so many talented players in one area for coaches to see, it will be tons of content coming out with standouts from both events.
Here’s a look at part one of the standouts from 3SSB, looking at players from North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
MJ Rice | 6’5” F | Team Loaded NC
Rice continues to show why he’s one of the top prospects in the country as he’s coming off a terrific spring with a great start to the summer as well. The 6’5” forward is so versatile and a walking mismatch with his blend of size, strength and athleticism that makes him able to score in the post and rebound against bigger players and allows him to punish smaller wings in the paint as well. He’s skilled on the perimeter as he can put it on the deck and get downhill, and he showed he’s a much better shooter than he’s given credit for.
LJ Thomas LJ Thomas 6'2" | CG Bull City Prep | 2022 #181 Nation NC | 6’2” PG | Team Loaded NC
Thomas was playing with a big wrap on his hand from what I’m guessing was an injury, but it didn’t slow him down as he was still one of the top scoring guards in the event. He’s so smooth off the bounce as he changes pace well and is able to get in the lane, and he can finish in the midrange and at the rim with a lot craft and creativity as well. He can score it from multiple levels off the bounce and is great late in the shot clock, and he has a good IQ and is able to make plays for others too.
Julian Phillips Julian Phillips 6'8" | SF Link Academy | 2022 #19 Nation MO | 6’7” WF | Upward Stars SE 3SSB
A very highly touted nationally ranked forward, Phillips is a very intriguing long term prospect with tons of upside moving forward. He’s a good athlete with a frame that should fill out nicely moving forward, he can guard almost every position on the floor and he plays with a good motor and showed takeover ability when his team needed him to. He has a solid base skillset and plays with a good motor meaning he’ll likely continue to improve, and he will go right at you over and over again.
Isaiah Howell | 6’7” F | Upward Stars SE 3SSB
Howell impressed me in many of the same ways that Phillips did, as he is also a high motor forward that produces in a number of ways. He’s a hybrid forward who plays hard on both ends and rebounds well in and out of his area, he attacks the rim hard and can finish at and above the rim and he showed good touch out to the elbows as well. He’s still relatively unknown as he only holds two offers from Presbyterian and Samford, but that should change as he plays in front of coaches more.
Chris Livingston | 6’7” WG | We All Can Go
When it came to who were coaches following around, Livingston was one of the most sought after recruits and is considered one of the best in the country with his blend of size, skill and athleticism that all translate to the next level. He’s a strong wing that attacks downhill and can finish through contact, he can score it from multiple levels and shoots it well from deep and he plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor. He is productive in a number of ways and has a great bag to go along with his prototypical frame, and he’ll be an immediate impact player for whoever he commits to next year.
Devin Ree | 6’6” WF | We All Can Go
Ree just announced he will be heading to Oak Hill for his senior year, and the 6’6” forward showed his ability to be play multiple positions and be a threat on both ends of the floor. The athletic wing is a guy who can play inside-out, he is athletic in transition and physical in the paint and he’s a good rebounder at his position on both ends of the floor. He’s a two way impact player that can guard multiple positions and he plays with a good motor and good energy every time he’s on the floor.