PSB-Nashville Added Jaylen, Collected Wins
PSB Nashville squared off against the Colorado Rough Riders Saturday July 24th afternoon, with hopes of advancing to the UA-Rise Final Four. The weekend was smooth to that point. Strong play, healthy players, balanced attack.
Despite a fantastic first three quarters, PSB-Nashville found a flat spot once again, this time in the early fourth quarter. When Jaylen Jones Jaylen Jones 6'0" | PG East Nashville | 2023 State #178 Nation TN endured his second shot blocked in a row, the game looked disturbingly close with PSB-Nashville 16u up 65-62.He tried to do it all himself, but missed a very difficult layup and then poked the offensive rebound out of bounds in a flurry. Timeout PSB-Nashville 16u.
PSB-Nashville won with grit where once they used talent and speed.
In the end PSB-Nasvhille 16u finished a tremendous Runners-Up in the UA Rise Championship! Eddie Ricks III Eddie Ricks III 6'9" | SF Clarksville Academy | 2023 State #152 Nation TN was either the best player in the entire UA Rise 16u event or damn close to it. He averaged a ridiculous 20p, 7r, 3a on 56% shooting. That includes plenty of three-pointers as the versatile, long wing is hardly just operating in the lane. His upside is stupid and there is no reason to imagine he ever exists a day outside the top 5 in 2023.
Roster (Starters*)
PSB-Nashville 16u Rise
#0
Camden Andrews
Camden
Andrews
6'1" | PG
Hamilton Heights | 2023
State
TN
* (Hamilton Heights)
#1
Drey Moss
Drey
Moss
6'2" | SG
Brentwood Academy | 2023
State
TN
#2
Eddie Ricks III
Eddie
Ricks III
6'9" | SF
Clarksville Academy | 2023
State
#152
Nation
TN
* (Clarksville Academy)
#3 Zach Gray (Alabama)
#4
Caden Herron
Caden
Herron
6'1" | SG
Hillsboro | 2023
TN
(Hillsboro)
#11
Jaylen Jones
Jaylen
Jones
6'0" | PG
East Nashville | 2023
State
#178
Nation
TN
* (East Nashville)
#12
Nehemiah Holmes
Nehemiah
Holmes
6'5" | SG
Franklin Road Academy | 2023
TN
(FRA)
#35
Xavier Robinson
Xavier
Robinson
6'4" | PF
Goodpasture | 2023
State
TN
(Goodpasture)
Watching Colorado Rough Riders 16u: Northern Colorado, UC Irvine, UCR.
Watching PSB-Nashville 16u:
Rodney Hamilton (Memphis) watched the entire PSB-Nashville game.
Assistant Coach Chad Dollar (Cincinnati) watched Eddie’s entire game.
Ronnie Hamilton (Ole Miss) watched PSB-Nashville entire game.
Jaylen Jones Jaylen Jones 6'0" | PG East Nashville | 2023 State #178 Nation TN carved up the defense, regardless of who checked him. His quickness was unmatchable. Further, Jones possessed a flashy yet effective assortment of moves and fakes. His cleverness really made it problematic for Colorado Rough Rider defenders.
Nehemiah Holmes Nehemiah Holmes 6'5" | SG Franklin Road Academy | 2023 TN played perfectly throughout the entire first half. His energy was tremendous and most importantly the tall wing was effective and productive. He took meaningful dribbles into the paint and finished after contact multiple times. Nehemiah “Nemo” Holmes earned his way to the free throw line frequently. He also made those chances count.
Holmes looked like an inside-out threat with more success in tight. His ceiling is still TBA because the outside shooting is simply not requested of him with this team. The guards along with Eddie Ricks III Eddie Ricks III 6'9" | SF Clarksville Academy | 2023 State #152 Nation TN , and Alabama-based Zach Gray are all more than capable of checking that box.
Eddie Ricks III Eddie Ricks III 6'9" | SF Clarksville Academy | 2023 State #152 Nation TN showed off elite touch around the rim. He was able to finish with the left hand and right hand despite powerful pressure during each shot. PSB-Nashville made so many quality choices when feeding him the ball. Point guard Jaylen Jones Jaylen Jones 6'0" | PG East Nashville | 2023 State #178 Nation TN guided him with the pass and understood the weapon Ricks III could and should be to their team immediately. Ricks III did his own work to hunt down offensive rebounds too. There really are not weaknesses to his game, just areas within which he can improve. He defends multiple positions, runs the floor like a dream, scores from multiple points on the floor at an elite 16u level. Size for position…check. His broad-based attack suggests at a tremendous future in this game. Cincinnati could offer Eddie as soon as tomorrow. His game was incredible and they are certainly familiar with him after his late June/early July visit.
Camden Andrews Camden Andrews 6'1" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2023 State TN spent some time on J.J. Williams. The success of the PSB-Nashville team required a rotating defensive concept apparently. Camden did not allow him to score on the few possessions he checked him. Overall. Williams was absurdly hot throughout his first half. In fact, his shooting during that half was the best of the entire weekend, regardless of team or age group. The dude scored 17 points in the first QUARTER. Camden played well on the shooter in that brief stretch of the third quarter.