Pre-Season Warm-Up-Team Thrill vs Gibbs Elite
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Yesterday at Patterson High School Team Thrill and Gibbs Elite faced off for a pre-season warm-up event as the first AAU live period is right around the corner. The 15’s, 16’s ad 17’s all participated in the slate of scrimmages.…
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Continue ReadingYesterday at Patterson High School Team Thrill and Gibbs Elite faced off for a pre-season warm-up event as the first AAU live period is right around the corner. The 15’s, 16’s ad 17’s all participated in the slate of scrimmages. Below I’ll have some takeaways from each contest.
15s
The Team Thrill 15 UAA squad is loaded with top-tier young talent and should be a force on the UAA Circuit. 2025 point guard Tyler Jackson Tyler Jackson 6'2" | CG St. Frances | 2025 #40 Nation MD led the way with 20 points on an impressive 9-of-11 from the field. Jackson has an explosive first step both off the catch and off the bounce that helped him get into the lane where he displayed his improved athleticism to finish among contesting defenders. He had good balance on his three’s and threw a transition dunk down with ease, which is a part of his game he didn’t show during the winter with St. Frances.
2025 guard Omarr Smith Omarr Smith 6'3" | SG City | 2025 State #319 Nation MD found his target early from deep and stayed locked in throughout. The 6-foot-3 lefty is one that intrigues me as a long-term prospect given his ability to knock down the three at an alarming rate and in a variety of ways. 2025 forward Brandon Holmes Brandon Holmes 6'9" | C Mount St. Joseph | 2025 State MD is still a raw prospect, but this spring will be crucial for his development as he’s only been playing since the 7th grade. He’s nearing 6-foot-8 and his footwork in the paint seems to be steadily improving. He was actively contesting shots around the rim, pursued rebounds with determination and made solid outlet passes to spark fast breaks. 2025 wing Jeff Exinor Jeff Exinor 6'4" | SF McDonogh | 2025 State #272 Nation MD is built like a junior and uses that size to his advantage in the physicality portion of the game, but he isn’t a bull in a China shop. He also has soft touch, good form and confidence with his jumper.
2025 point guard Mason Thear was the one who stood out most for me from Gibbs Elite. He’s a smaller floor general that brings savvy and some craft as a playmaker. He processed reads at a high rate off the bounce and always seemed to locate the open teammate for clean looks at the basket. Thrill has a slew of aggressive guards on the defensive end, so it made Thear’s plays that much more impressive.
16s
2024 forward Luke Bamgboye Luke Bamgboye 6'10" | C AZ Compass Prep | 2024 State #110 Nation AZ picked up where he left off from the high school season as the BCL Defensive Player of the Year deterred over a dozen shots inside. What makes Bamgboye even more valuable is his ability to keep those blocks within his own reach so he can quickly gather the ball and find streaking guards for lay-up opportunities. He controlled the glass and was a consistent above-the-rim finisher as he awaited dump-off passes from driving guards.
I like what I saw from 2024 guard Tyrin Bizzelle as well. The 6-foot lefty plays with solid poise as a point guard and has his shot locked and loaded whenever he had a sliver of space from the perimeter. He possesses good form on his release and balance ad he keeps his body square even when pulling up off the bounce. Bizzelle also showcased good vision and IQ by making reads in a variety of scenarios.
2024 Connor Fleet was the floor-spacer for Gibbs Elite as the 5-foot-10 guard hit multiple three’s well beyond the three-point arc throughout the scrimmage. He was quick on the trigger, but also used uncontrolled closeouts to his advantage by putting the ball on the floor for 1-to-2 dribbles and free up a teammate for a better look. 2024 Marquis Kubish was the straw that stirred the drink for this squad. At 6-foot-2, he has good ball skills and a confidence about him when he’s attacking the basket. He’s able to finish with either hand and in creative ways to make it harder on opposing shot blockers. 2024 wing Jimmy Flowers was another eye-catcher. He’s a 6’3-6’4 wing with explosive athleticism, which he showed off in space with a couple of rim-rocking finishes. He showed some potential as a shooter, but still needs his fair share of time and space to cash in.
17s
Gibbs Elite 17U squad is going to give teams issues if they stay as currently constructed. 2023 Saleem Payne Jr. may have been the best player in the gym thanks to his blazing quickness with the basketball. The 5-foot-10 lead guard was almost impossible to stay in front of in space or when operating in tight confines in half-court play. He consistently beat his man off the dribble for paint touches and was extremely crafty as a finisher with either hand. 2023 Dean Coleman-Newsome Dean Coleman-Newsome 6'2" | PG Archbishop Carroll | 2023 State PA brought a presence as a scorer next to Payne, but in a different fashion. The 6-foot-3 guard hit a number of jumpers from both mid-range and three off the dribble where he’d get into his shot with side-steps, hesitations or following a crossover to create space. He’s a confident player who can fill it up and make you pay whenever you fall asleep for a second on the defensive end.
Thrill was short-handed and missing some of their key contributors, but 2023 guard Mike Williams Mike Williams 6'3" | CG Bishop Walsh | 2023 State #141 Nation MD provided scoring from the guard position. The 6-foot-3 Bishop Walsh standout did his work from the mid-range or driving and finishing around the basket.