Top Players UA Jr. Southeastern Nationals
SMYRNA–
Saturday night included several tense 15u and 14u matchups in middle Tennessee. A blowout win by Team Tae/Flightboyz 15u preceded a disappointing late night loss to Bama Cavs. Two cohesive units met in the nightcap as West Tenn Flames 14u advanced in to bracket play with a sudden death victory over Wilco Select 14u.
Below you will find some of the top performers from the evening session.
Fisher Anderson | 6’3” PF | Franklin HS 2022
Wilco Select 14u did not have a deep bench, but they did bring plenty of talented young players. Fisher Anderson instantly made an impact against frontlines. Fisher’s size and power are bizarre for a 14u basketball player. He comfortably controls the paint. Better yet, Anderson understands where and how he is going to get his opportunities. In order for a big to truly thrive they have to be a target for guards. Fisher shows for the ball very well and rebounds strongly in his area. The next development in his game needs to be rebounding outside his area and continuing to add post maneuvers.
Brevin Klym | 5’11” PG | Franklin HS 2022
Crafty and creative. Brevin possesses a fantastic understanding of floor balance. When he darts into tight spaces, Klym always makes excellent and quick decisions. Outside shooting is also a strength for the lead guard. If he grows a little bit he could mature into an exceptional off-ball scorer though it would be painful to remove decision-making from his quiver.
Riley McClain | 6’2” WG | West Tenn Flames 2022
Riley delivered a game-winning assist in the aforementioned sudden death overtime. McClain claimed a looseball by tearing it free from an opposing guard. With a nifty spin dribble he found a slight opening at the basket. Instead of taking a low percentage shot at the conclusion of his spin Riley gave teammate Bolton a short pass. Bolton made a short shot to end the contentious affair.
Marlon Yarbro | 6’1” WG | West Tenn Flames 2022
Freshman-to-be Marlon Yarbro gave West Tenn a mobile wing. McClain is more successful on the catch. Marlon gave his team some speed, some handle, and a little shooting. His mid-range game is coming along and the ability to finish in the lane makes him a dangerous mark too.
Dalton Colbert | 6’0” PG | West Tenn Flames 2022
While Mason McKnatt delivers the most consistent form in middle Tennessee, Dalton Colbert could challenge for most consistent result in West Tennessee (outside Memphis). The sharpshooter found numerous opportunities to shoot late Saturday night against Wilco Select 14u. In order to complete the designed plays he had to make tough shots. He did.
Kendall Martin | 5’8” PG | DemBoyz 2021
A sophomore-to-be for Oakland High, Kendall Martin is very disruptive defensively. Saturday, Martin chased down very quick dribblers from behind. When he sets his mind on a ball-handler, Martin locks in like a starved bulldog. Martin’s current weakness is shot selection and leadership. There were tough moments for TeamTae/DemBoyz 15u Saturday night that lacked on-court leadership. Being the starting point guard Martin has to both recognize and resolve through those rudderless moments.
Sabino Otira | 6’4” WG | DemBoyz 2021
Tallish wing Sabino Otira moved to Team Tae/Flightboyz 15u from EAB 15u earlier this spring. Otira is a lean, long-legged athlete. While he excels at basketball at a young age it is easy to imagine Otira thriving at multiple sports. The body control and speed are impressive. Otira needs to develop his shooting touch to round out his game. The open court handle makes him a dynamic and versatile weapon. Rebounding tends to be a strength for Sabino.