Adidas 3SSB Opening Night standouts Part 2
My first stop during the final evaluation period in Southern California was at the transformed AIM Sports Complex in Seal Beach for Opening Day at the Adidas 3SSB event. The gym was full of high-level talent, as a number of…
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Continue ReadingMy first stop during the final evaluation period in Southern California was at the transformed AIM Sports Complex in Seal Beach for Opening Day at the Adidas 3SSB event.
The gym was full of high-level talent, as a number of the brand’s top squads – and several of their best Gold Division teams – tangled in competitive games.
Here were some additional players who stood out.
Peyton Marshall, 7-0 2024 C, Game Elite 16u 3SSB
In terms of sheer size, Marshall dwarfs 16u competition with his massive frame and big body. While his conditioning doesn’t allow him to play for long stretches, in the time he is on the court he has a seismic impact on both ends. He finishes with touch and with force around the basket and is almost impossible to uproot from the block when he establishes position (and moves well enough to hold position too). He high points rebounds and finishes offensive boards with force as well. Has a chance to be a special prospect cut from the mold of BeeJay Anya of NC State lore.
Jaden Goodall, 6-6 2024 W, Dream Vision 16u
The wiry lefty wing had his shot working from deep in the game against Game Elite. He’s got a thin build, but has broad shoulders, solid length and emerging ball skills (underrated passer). But his combination of size, athleticism and an accurate jump shot with deep range will make him a coveted prospect at the mid major level and possibly higher.
Richard Banks, 6-2 2024 G, Team Lillard 16u
Banks has elite length and a wiry frame, and has great speed in the open court. In the half court, he has good burst out of triple threat and likes to get down hill and create for himself and others in the paint. His on-ball defense helped turn a 8-point deficit into a big win down the stretch vs Team Rose. He’s gotta get bigger (weighs like 150), but his ball skills, defense and upside are definitely there.
Jaxon Soto, 6-1 2025 PG, UBC Elite 15u
Soto has an unassuming frame and is unorthodox with the ball, but once he got going in the second half vs Gamepoint, he helped propel his team to a first-round victory. Soto has a rangy, wiry frame with underrated length, and while he’s pretty right hand dominant at this point, he proved to be a crafty slasher and finisher around contact, with the ability to stretch the defense off the catch. He’s an intriguing prospect to monitor out of Utah.
Josh Thompson, 6-2 2025 G, Gamepoint 15u Elite
A dual sport athlete who has a chance to be a high-level prospect in both (football/hoops), Thompson did an excellent job using his strength and burst to get into the paint and finish around the rack. A very right-hand dominant slasher, he does a good job absorbing contact on drives and either scores or gets to the line. He’s a very streaky, if not, inconsistent shooter from the perimeter, but showed he could hit shots from off the wing. He’s evolving into one of the class’ best guard prospects in San Diego.
Alek Sanchez, 6-3 2025 G, South Bay Show
A long, slender left handed guard with great court vision and feel, Sanchez was a mismatch for OSAG’s smaller guards, using his size and craftiness to probe the paint and create or get to the foul line on drives. He might get to the foul line more than any guard I saw all weekend, because he uses change of speed, pace and shot fakes to get defenders in the air. The lefty is a solid shooter off the catch as well. And while he plays at a methodical pace on offense, he possesses enough lateral quickness and length to force a lot of turnovers on the defensive side.