Notebook: Adidas Select Session VI: Underclassmen Stories
With the second live period not having a huge “Go-To” event, Adidas took advantage by having a series of events surrounding their big time programs across the country. They had one in Richmond, featuring the Team Loaded family and a number of programs from across the state. Here’s a notebook breaking down what we saw from the underclassmen in this event.
Loaded 757 16U Continue Hot Summer with Another Championship
The Team Loaded 757 16U group has shown all summer that they can compete with anyone, anywhere. While they may not have the big names that some of the other Loaded teams have, they have tons of talent, and play with a ton of heart, which they showed by beating their big brother programs Team Loaded VA and Team Loaded NC on the way to winning the championship.
In the semifinals against Team Loaded VA, the 757 group saw themselves trailing by 15 points early in the second half, when the dog came out of them. Led by Deep Creek rising junior Caleb Butts, who finished the game with 18 points, 757 erased the deficit by playing tough defense and team basketball throughout the half. Their never say die attitude, along with their team mentality where they don’t care who has the big game as long as they win, is the biggest reason they have seen so much success this season.
They finished up with a convincing double digit win over Team Loaded NC, another game that saw a team effort. While they have had many contribute, Butts has been the constant producer for them, and the style he plays completely sums their team up. At 6’4”, he’s a tough four man that can play inside-out, has an incredible motor and just refuses to quit. He also gets better when things get tougher, which is another thing this group does. After beating Team Loaded VA for the second time this year, Butts received his first scholarship offer from Division 2 West Virginia Wesleyan.
This group has shown they can compete with anyone, and are riding a wave of momentum as they head out to Las Vegas for the final live period. Keep reading to see more of the standouts from this group below.
Loaded VA 15U Get Momentum Heading Into Vegas
Team Loaded VA 15U has been one of the most consistent groups in the Loaded family, however this year has been a little different. While they have experienced a lot of success, they haven’t had that huge stud come in that takes them to the next level. With that being said, after a so-so performance in Spartansburg and Myrtle Beach, they played perhaps their best basketball in Richmond this past weekend.
The guy who stepped up big time, especially in the championship game, was 6’5” wing Henry Coleman. Coleman, who picked up offers from Oklahoma State and ODU to add to his already impressive list as a freshman, plays so hard on both ends that he ends up impacting the game in so many different ways. He finished with 21 points in the championship game, and as he continues to improve his jump shot and handle, which have shown improvement already, he’s going to be targeted by a ton of high major programs.
See below for other Team Loaded 15U guys that impressed throughout the event.
Take 5: 2019 Stockboosters
- Tim Montgomery | 6’0” PG | Team Loaded 757
While Butts stuffs the stat sheet for Loaded 757, Montgomery is the straw who stirs the drink no matter how many points he ends up with. A dog on both ends of the floor, he controls the tempo, handles pressure and breaks down the defense with the confidence and poise of a veteran. He creates shots for others with ease, but is also capable of getting his own shot when needed, and he’s an athletic shot maker with great feel and a high IQ. His performance throughout the weekend was impressive enough for him to pick up his first two offers from Norfolk State and Middle Tennessee State.
- Caleb Dawkins | 6’2” WG | Team Loaded 757
The brother of former Duke standout Andre Dawkins, Caleb is starting to come into his own and he stepped up in a big way in the championship win over Team Loaded NC. He finished with 21 points, showing the ability to knock down deep shots the way his brother did, but he’s also a guy who can put it on the deck and is money from the midrange. If he continues to fill out and has a late growth spurt, we could be talking about a big time late bloomer in the grand scheme of things. He picked up his first offer from Norfolk State after their championship win.
- Jaden Frazier | 6’8” PF | Team Loaded VA
Frazier came to Blue Ridge from Pulaski County outside of Blacksburg, and after a couple of seasons the project big man is starting to come into his own. At 6’8” and upwards of 220 lbs., Frazier can shoot the midrange, score in both face up situations and with his back to the basket and he’s a capable and willing passer out of the post. He’s also becoming more confident and tougher, and coaches are starting to notice as he received his first offer from Mount St. Mary’s this weekend.
- Jalen Jordan | 6’5” PF | Dreamchasers
Yes, the first thing you notice is that he’s short for a power forward, but he’s one of those undersized bigs that simply outwork and out hustle everyone to be so productive. He has a soft touch around the basket with both hands, hits the glass on both ends and he can step out and shoot the midrange or attack bigs off the bounce. What’s best about him is that he just has a natural feel for the game and nose for the ball. He’s always moving without the ball, fighting to keep plays alive and just seems to be in the right place at the right time throughout the game.
- Jaylin Stewart | 6’0” PG | Sports Empowerment
A stocky, strong lead guard, Stewart should start seeing college interest very shortly after a good sophomore season at Walsingham. He’s so tough to stop in downhill attacking scenarios, where he’s able to use his upper body strength and craftiness to finish through touch fouls. He reads the pick and roll well, changes speeds and sees the floor like a true point guard as well, and he has a tough competitiveness about him that can’t be taught.
Take 5: 2020 Stockboosters
- JT Thor | 6’6” F | Team Loaded 757
Thor just transferred to Jamestown from Alaska with his cousin Mareng Gatkuoth, and he thrusts himself into the conversation for the best young big man in the 757 along with Mark Williams. Thor is long, skilled and just scratching the surface with how good he can be. He did a number of things that impressed, including shooting the deep ball, attacking the glass for put backs and showing the ability to put it on the floor in transition. He’s already received offers from UMES and Hampton, and it isn’t hard to see him possibly transitioning to the wing which would make his recruitment take off even more moving forward.
- Darrick Jones | 6’5” WG | Team Loaded VA
One of my personal favorite players in the 2020 class so far to watch develop is Jones, who had a big freshman year at Millwood and still has tons of room to grow moving forward. He has great size and athleticism, as he threw down some highlight reel worthy dunks in transition over the past couple of weekends. While that’s what most people see in Jones, what they don’t see is that he’s a high IQ player on both ends that is already a good shooter from deep and continues to improve. He already holds offers from Virginia Tech,
- Mark Williams | 6’11” C | Team Loaded VA
Add UVA to the big fellas list, as they offered shortly after the event and were seen front and center at each of his games this weekend. He’s freakishly long, and when I say freakishly long I mean you’re looking at a 7’5” wingspan that he uses to shoot and finish over smaller guys and contest shots without leaving his feet. His biggest improvements throughout the summer have been in his footwork and toughness in the post, and if he can do that, along with fill out as he grows into his body, he’ll have a chance to be a nationally ranked kid by next season.
- Jalen Cone | 5’10” PG | Team Loaded NC
It was my first time getting the chance to see this kid live and in person, and it’s safe to say that he did not disappoint with all the hype surrounding him. When I say he’s a blur, there’s no exaggerating that. He has one of the quickest first steps I’ve seen all summer, has blazing end-to-end speed and he’s a dynamic leaper that isn’t afraid to try to put you on a poster. He’s also a true point guard with good vision that competes and will do whatever it takes to win a game.
- Nick Reese | 6’1” WG | Team Loaded 434 16U
Reese has steadily improved over the summer and if he continues this rate he could be a breakout player at STAB when the high school season starts. He’s a great athlete, is capable of playing and guarding multiple positions and is able to accept whatever role is thrown his way. He’s recently shown improvement in his midrange jump shot, and with his work ethic it’s likely going to improve more before the season ends, which will make him very hard for defenders to guard with his burst and athleticism.
Take 5: Names to Remember
- Carter Whitt | 6’2” WG | 2021 | Team Loaded NC 16U
There aren’t many middle schoolers playing up three levels, and Whitt’s not only doing that but he’s also getting it done in a big way. He doesn’t look like a middle schooler, as he has a solid upper body and good height for a high school wing already, and he plays with poise of a player much older than him. His biggest asset? Simple, he fills it up from all three levels, especially from deep where he can catch and shoot from 25 feet with ease. He picked up his first offer from High Point this weekend, all of this happening before he’s played a single high school game.
- Miles Jones | 6’5” F | 2019 | Team Winston 16U
The son of Radford University Head Coach Mike Jones, Miles already has two state championships at Radford High School and the improvements from his freshman year to this season are remarkable. At 6’5”, he’s a positionless player that can guard in the post, switch and stay in front of point guards on pick-and-rolls and can lead the team in rebounds or three-pointers made depending on the game. From watching him the past couple of seasons, it wouldn’t surprise me if he took a similar ascent that his brother Nate Jones took, who saw very little division one interest before his junior year and now plays at Bucknell University in the Patriot League.
- Jahdon Robinson | 6’4” WF | 2019 | Team Loaded 757 16U
Robinson, who will be reclassifying at Millwood this season, has always been an intriguing prospect, but he’s starting to put it together on the offensive end and that’s all that we’ve been waiting for. He’s versatile defensively, as he can guard all five positions on the floor, and he’s a strong and athletic finisher in transition. He’s improved in his midrange game, and he’s looking to score the ball more and more now, and that type of killer attitude is what has been missing. He picked up his first offer from Hampton this weekend.
- Zac Ervin | 6’5” WG | 2019 | Team Loaded VA 16U
He isn’t a new name to remember, but just wanted to remind everyone not to forget about this kid as he’s a midmajor plus talent that has an unbelievable work ethic. The wing out of Gate City may not play in the biggest area, but what does 1,000 points in two high school season say about him? He can SHOOT IT! He showed that in multiple games throughout the weekend, as he averaged over three deep balls and 14 points per game without shooting his team out of games.
- Loginn Norton | 5’11” PG | 2019 | River City Reign 16U
Talk about a shot making guard, Norton can really fill it up and has done it all July so far. He’s crafty off the bounce, as he changes speeds and is really good in pick-and-roll situations, and he’s able to create space and make shots at all three levels. He’s filled out a good amount, and every time you turn around it seems like he’s hanging 20 or hitting five threes in every game.