YOY 2021 PrepHoopsTN Participants
With June 2022 now here, it is a perfect time to judge how a handful of 2021 PrepHoopsTN participants have developed in the past year. Basketball growth is anything but linear.
These players were able to trampoline off of their Combine All-Star appearances into a wonderful 2021-2022 year of development and productivity.
Cross Chadwick Cross Chadwick 6'7" | PF Tri-Cities Christian Academy | 2024 State TN (Providence Academy)
Initial Evaluation:
Updated Evaluation: Cross is not really bigger, as he was tall in June 2021. He is certainly more toned though and even lighter on his feet. The shooting touch was a plus before and remains so, but his comfort with contact is a little more pronounced and his quickness is better. With his current athleticism, Chadwick is making a wonderful case that he will eventually be a “college 2.”
Drake Ingram Drake Ingram 6'2" | PG Knoxville Webb | 2024 State TN (Knox Webb)
Initial Evaluation:
Updated Evaluation: Drake was skilled last June. He was quite small, and lacked a little explosion. He is not just a little taller, but now Ingram is more hefty and powerful in the shoulders and chest. He can now get in front of slashers, while putting his chest in their path. This changes everything. He improves from a quick-only guy to a quick-and-strong guy. The benefit is tremendous. Ingram will always be better than average as a shooter and dribbler. His defense probably represents the biggest leap in the last year, as evidenced by his strong AAU season so far.
Cade Capps Cade Capps 6'5" | SG Stone Memorial | 2025 State #210 Nation TN (Stone Memorial)
Initial Evaluation: Capps is a very solid shooter, an exceptional shooter at his age. The height is exciting. Capps projects as a college “2”. Unlike most young players that focus on either shooting or dribbling, Capps is adept at both. While his handle will not decimate a large Tennessee high school defense just yet, it will work on HS players his height.
Updated Evaluation: Cade is much springier with his steps now. The intervening year allowed him to naturally physically mature, as all young men do, but on top of that Capps spent time in the weight room training and the results show, especially in his lower body. Capp is now quicker laterally. This benefits him both on the offensive end and the defensive end. Before, Capps was fully capable of shooting from any point on the floor, but he was not very effective against good defenders at evading pressure. Most often, when challenged, Cade would get his shot off only because he was/is taller than the defender. Now, with the added bounce and quickness, Capps can get around defenders more consistently. He has incorporated a nice hesitation dribble, especially with the left-hand. It stands to reason that Capps will earn more free throw attempts, which will certainly be welcomed by the expert shooter.
Nehemiah Bloodsaw Nehemiah Bloodsaw 6'2" | SG Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN (Tyner Academy)
Initial Evaluation: Bloodsaw was and is quicker than expected, considering his muscular frame. Consider the event housed guards thirty pounds lighter.
Ambitious and hungry.
Shooting outside 12′ needs to improve a ton. This will take much work.
Strong foundation.
Updated Evaluation: What a year for Nehemiah!? Tyner Academy experienced a very strong postseason run, thanks in large part to Nehemiah. Bloodsaw, in January-February, displayed improved handle and speed. His outside shot is still not there, but Tyner Academy certainly leaned on his first-step burst to create offense. Bloodsaw also accepted an enlarged role as a leader. He took command of the offense, almost as a lead guard, often. There is still development in his future, but it was a lovely year of basketball growth.