50/50 Elite Showcase Standouts (1/3)
Scout Source Hoops and Strive for Perfection Athletics jointly ran an Elite 50/50 showcase at Pro Fit Training in Bethesda, MD for local high school and middle school talent from the DMV to showcase their skills through combine testing, training,…
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Continue ReadingScout Source Hoops and Strive for Perfection Athletics jointly ran an Elite 50/50 showcase at Pro Fit Training in Bethesda, MD for local high school and middle school talent from the DMV to showcase their skills through combine testing, training, and full court games over a weekend. Hidden gems and under the radar talent were given a platform to make up for lost ground in their recruitment due to the coronavirus pandemic. We will introduce you to several standouts in this 3-part series from the Elite 50/50, let’s get started!
’23 6’2 G KJ Gardner KJ Gardner 6'2" | SG Springdale Prep | 2023 State MD District Basketball Club/Springdale Prep
KJ was phenomenal throughout the weekend, showcasing an ability to both pass and score with a good understanding of when his team needed one or the other. He possesses great burst and uses his handle to get by his matchup to force help rotations on drives with regularity, utilizing a great package of finishing moves at the rim or finding a teammate for an easy basket. His length and athleticism allow him to have success against taller defenders from the perimeter or in the paint, and he is most definitely not afraid to play against anyone. Defensively he does a good job of staying in front and shows good spatial awareness and IQ by getting into passing lanes and poking out the ball on drives. I expect his recruitment to pick up within the next few months if he continues developing at this pace, he is an absolute magician with the ball.
‘22 6’10 Reis Jones Reis Jones 6'6" | C Oxon Hill | 2021 MD DC Premier /Flint Hill
Physical post presence was one of the biggest stockrisers of the event. Whether it was a pro hop bump and finish around the basket, or a thunderous putback dunk- Jones plays very hard and uses his frame to get to his spots on the floor. He showed a soft touch on jump hooks with either hand, can step through and finish if the defender jumps on a fake, and can shoot with good balance if left open. A hustler running from end-to-end, he took pride in defending the paint for his squad and converting dishes on the other end of the floor. As he works back from an injury and missed opportunities due to the pandemic last season, I expect several more mid majors to get involved in his recruitment.
‘23 6’3 Kalil Fofana Team NE/Cumberland High
Fofana thrives in transition, navigating through the defense and exploding at the rim to finish over opponents in the paint. He shifts gears well, taking his man off the dribble with a hesi or head fake to break down the defense. He showed an ability to knock down shots from the perimeter or find the open man if the rotation was even a moment late,
‘23 6’6 Chigozie Pkeagwu Team Loaded DC/Rock Creek
Pkeagwu plays the game with a high motor regardless of time or score, rebounding like a madman and sprinting in transition to put himself in position to finish off transition baskets at the rim. Always moving offensively to set screens to free his teammates or move himself in a position to secure rebounds- he knows his role and excels in it. Pkeagwu moves well laterally defensively and contests shots at the rim, harnessing his aggression into solid defensive play that routinely results in a stop.
Additional names that impressed:
’23 6’5 Canaan Burnett Under Pressure/Calvary Christian
Plays very hard, plus length and speed, can shoot from 3, sticks to his matchup like glue on the defensive end, very coachable, nice touch on turnaround and fadeaway jumpshots
‘23 5’9 Jaylen Marbley Crusader Nation/Chapelgate Christian
Great playmaker, always is working to draw multiple defenders to create for others, does a great job of creating contact at the rim to draw the foul and finish, always has his head up, good burst, can knock down the open shot
‘24 6’1 Kobe Pena Team NE/Times 2 Academy
Sees the floor really well and times his passes, aggressive in transition, finishes well at the rim, can face-up and attack or keep the defender on his hip while probing the defense, good touch in the paint
Cole Bowser ‘25 6’3 TTO home-schooled
Anthony Pineda ‘24 5’6 Avalon 3.4
Dantrell Ward ‘26 5’7 VA Elite