With the level of talent turning up in the Milwaukee area this week, the 2013 Under Armour Summer Jam #UASUMMERJAM2K13 presented by NY2LA Sports is a hot spot to be at this week for players, coaches and fans wanting to participate in or view some of the nation’s very best young prospects from the 15U, 16U and 17U levels. In the 15U pools, there are some excellent young players like Mitchell Ballock, Ako Adams, Keishon Parker, Trishton Jackson, Kaj Days, Juwan McCloud, Jabri McCall and many others with major potential will fill the courts and compete. Here, we give an overview of some of the top prospects to be watchful for and some game matchup previews below at one of the country’s biggest events of the summer...
TOP PROSPECTS TO WATCH
AKO ADAMS - 2016 - G - DC ASSAULT
6-2 - BISHOP O’CONNELL H.S. - WASHINGTON D.C.
Adams has good size at the 2 and uses it to get off his shot even with defenders bearing down on him. He is an excellent shooter from all over and is efficient. Adams also excels driving to the hoop and finishes plays consistently. His leadership and intangibles are big factors in his effect on games as well.
MITCHELL BALLOCK - 2017 - G - POWER GROUP
6-3 - EUDORA, KS
Ballock is an incredible young and very talented athlete. Left-handed with great size, Ballock can play guard and is a master on the break as he has handles, makes good passes, defends and plays above the rim with some exciting slams. Oh, and he knocks down the trey with confidence. Ballock is just scratching the surface of what he can accomplish and rarely fails to put on the show people come to see. Exciting young player!
JAEKWON CARLISLE - 2016 - SG - PHILLY PRIDE
5-10 - IMOHTEP CENTER - PHILADELPHIA, PA
Carlisle is a strong young shooting guard prospect with good range and is consistent from three-point range. He goes hard each game he competes in and has the drive to attack defenses relentlessly.
ANTHONY COWAN - 2016 - G - DC ASSAULT
5-10 - GOOD COUNSEL H.S. - BOWIE, MD
Cowan is a tough young combo guard with great vision. He makes tough passes look easy at times, makes good decisions, and goes to the basket strong. Cowan’s quickness and lateral movement make him a tough defender to get by as well.
CORIAN DAVIS - 2016 - G - DTA
6-1 - WAUKESHA WEST H.S. - WAUKESHA, WI
Davis is at time an electric young scoring guard. He has excellent basketball instincts and intelligence, but also developing skills and moves constantly to elevate his game. Davis is shifty with the ball in his hands and can knock down three’s from deep or attack the rim with his quick first step.
KAJ DAYS - 2016 - F - PLAYGROUND ELITE-SMITH
6-7 - RACINE PARK H.S. - RACINE, WI
Days is big and solid with a great frame for his age. He is developing skills away from the hoop to expand his game. Right now, Days does a good job around the hoop and finishes well at the rim, but is most effective defensively and on the boards.
DEANG DEANG - 2016 - SG - PLAYGROUND ELITE-SMITH
6-2 - MADISON EAST H.S. - MADISON, WI
Deang has excellent instincts to go with his great length at the guard spot. He is slick up and down the court with good handle and finishes well at the hoop driving in the half-court or out on the break. Deang utilizes his length to intercept lots of passes defensively.
TEJON LUCAS - 2016 - PG - MILWAUKEE SPARTANS
5-8 - SHOREWOOD H.S. - MILWAUKEE, WI
Lucas is an excellent young offensive player. He finds ways to put the basketball in the basket, be it a tear drop/floater, a runner kissed off the glass, or getting to the reverse side of the hoop for a finish. Furthermore, Lucas can pass the ball well and has really good handle.
JOSEPH HAMPTON - 2016 - F/C - DC ASSAULT
6-6 - DEMATHA CATHOLIC H.S. - UPPER MARLBORO, MD
A solid and athletic “big,” Hampton is a tough interior player with developing post skills. When he catches the ball inside, he attacks the rim ferociously, but has a good touch putting the ball in the hoop.
SHAMMOND IVORY - 2016 - PG - KINGDOM HOOPS ELITE
5-11 - PERRY H.S. - PERRY, IA
Ivory brings some good size to the guard position for his team and does a great job leading Kingdom Hoops Elite. Ivory can run the point or play the 2-guard as he is a good shooter, but also makes good decisions passing the ball.
TRISHTON JACKSON - 2016 - G - REACH LEGENDS
6-2 - WEST BLOOMFIELD H.S. - WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI
This is one tough athlete at the guard spot. Jackson has good size and has the ability to bring it up the court himself or play off the ball and do his damage after the catch. He is smooth with good handles and knows how to get to the hoop and finish over defenders.
JABRI MCCALL - 2016 - PG - PHILLY PRIDE
5-10 - MATH, CIVICS, SCIENCES SCHOOL - PHILADELPHIA, PA
McCall has a good frame and is an explosive athlete at the point guard position. The young lead guard is excellent from mid-range pulling up but can step back and drain triples as well. Also, McCall is a really good defender who uses his quickness to bug opponents tirelessly.
JUWAN MCCLOUD - 2016 - PG - WI PLAYGROUND WARRIORS
5-10 - GERMANTOWN H.S. - MENOMONEE FALLS, WI
A terrific floor general who distributes the ball well, McCloud has great handle and does not dance around too much... just makes his move and goes. McCloud can score going to the hoop on the break or pulling up for three.
ISAAC MCCULLOUGH - 2017 - SG - POWER GROUP
6-2 - OTTAWA, KS
With good size McCullough can do some things on the interior when he gets the ball there. However, a lot of McCullough’s work he does stays mostly on the perimeter where he is pretty lethal from three when he catches fire.
SKYLAR NASH - 2016 - G - ILLINOIS WOLVES
6-4 - DE LA SALLE H.S. - CHICAGO, IL
Nash has a city toughness about him on the court where he does not back down to anyone and has great instincts. He can score the ball from all over and has great size and length for a guard. A steady ball-handler with a nice shot, Nash draws the defense’s attention often, but does a good job creating space or taking contact.
REED NIKKO - 2016 - F/C - NET GAIN SPORTS
MAPLE GROVE SENIOR H.S. - MAPLE GROVE, MN
Nikko shows a lot of promise as a post prospect with his great size and passion for the game. The 6-8 forward/center is tough on the interior as he can turn both ways against a defender and finish with either hand. Nikko also runs the floor really well and has good body control catching and finishing.
KEISHON PARKER - 2016 - G - WI SHOOTER
6-2 - WISCONSIN LUTHERAN H.S. - MILWAUKEE, WI
This kid flat out knows how to score the basketball. Parker can put up points in a flash with his speed and quickness and does well creating space for himself. He can pull-up to knock down jumpers or get all the way to the hoop for fun finishes.
WALI PARKS - 2016 - G - IOWA BARNSTORMERS
6-5 - IOWA CITY WEST H.S. - IOWA CITY, IA
Parks is an extraordinary defender. With his length and speed he pressures hard defensively and often shuts down other team’s best players. Offensively he does well from the wing and slashing to the rim for baskets.
JOEVON WALKER - 2017 - PF - PLAYGROUND ELITE-DEBAKKER
6-5 - MINNEHAHA ACADEMY - ST. PAUL, MN
This young post prospect is big and strong with good movement. Walker can run in transition and goes after boards hard. He is tough to defend inside when he gets going because of his mass and athleticism. Walker has a lot of upside and room to develop skills.
JAYLAN WHITE - 2016 - PG - KINGDOM HOOPS ELITE
5-9 - I-35 SCHOOL - CHARLES, IA
White is lightning quick with excellent control of the ball. He does a great job seeing the floor and making precision passes. White also does well penetrating and finding way to score himself on a pull-up or dropping it off when the defense draws.
OTHER PROSPECTS OF INTEREST
EUGENE GERMAN - 2016 - PG - SYF PLAYERS
5-7 - ROOSEVELT H.S. - GARY, IN
German is a good, quick young guard with good ball-handling. German sees the floor really well and makes plays when he is able to penetrate and dish.
SAM GREEN - 2016 - F/C - DC ASSAULT
6-5 - BISHOP MCNAMARA H.S. - BOWIE, MD
Green has good size and strength inside and prides himself being an excellent rebounder. Green is good in transition and instinctive. He has some good upside.
MAXWELL KEEFE - 2016 - G/F - WI SWING-LITCH
6-4 - GERMANTOWN H.S. - GERMANTOWN, WI
Keefe is a good rebounder but excels offensively when he’s on his game. He can play around the hoop, hit the mid-range, but also has ability beyond the arc. Keefe had a big outing at the Next Level Invitational where he exploded for 17 points in a second half.
MELVIN LEE - 2017 - PG - PLAYGROUND ELITE-DEBAKKER
5-4 - MILWAUKEE, WI
Lee is an exciting and really tough, quick floor general who can score at will sometimes. Other times he works hard to get his teammates opportunities to score. Lee has a strong handle and is quick to the basket where he has shown he can take contact. Lee also has the ability to hit shots from the outside.
JOHN “JACK” POPP - 2016 - G - WI PLAYGROUND WARRIORS
6-3 - HOMESTEAD H.S. - MEQUON, WI
Popp is a great young athlete. He is tough defensively and can score at the rim or pulling up off the dribble when required. Popp is an ultra-competitor and works hard to help his team be successful.
SEMAJ RAY - 2016 - G - POWER GROUP
5-11 - KANSAS CITY, KS
Ray is another good athlete in this class with great, raw basketball instincts. Ray is hard to beat defensively one-on-one because of his speed and quickness and fearlessness, and he also can score offensively when he is attacking the hoop.
RASOOL SAMIR - 2016 - F/C - PHILLY PRIDE
6-6 - IMOHTEP CENTER - PHILADELPHIA, PA
Samir is long and athletic and is capable of playing out on the wing if needed. He has good skill around the hoop but is perhaps more effective blocking shots with his long reach and quickness. Really high ceiling for Samir.
NATHAN SCHMIDT - 2017 - G - WI PLAYGROUND WARRIORS 2017
6-1 - SHIOCTON H.S. - SHIOCTON, WI
Schmidt is good player with a tough attitude defensively and makes shots from different levels He can knock down the three or hit the short jumper off the dish.
RICKY SPICER JR. - PG - TP ELITE
5-9 - MILWAUKEE LUTHERAN H.S. - MILWAUKEE, WI
Spicer is a very quick and speedy guard with really good ball control and agility. He sees the floor well and makes great passes off the attack, but can also step out some and knock down jump shots from various spots on the floor.
ADAM WIOCZOREK - 2016 - F - RAY ALLEN SELECT
5-11 - WAUKESHA NORTH H.S. - WAUKESHA, WI
Wioczorek is a good hard worker up and down the court for RAS. The young forward plays bigger than his size and has a good mid-range shot, as well as the ability to score off the catch inside.
SOME KEY MATCHUPS
THURS - 1:50PM - CT 3 - PLAYGROUND ELITE-SMITH VS. HOUSTON DEFENDERS-BRADLEY
To kick off some of the elite play in the 15U division, Wisconsin’s Playground Elite-Smith will take on a solid and talented Houston Defenders-Bradley squad. Playground Elite has some skilled size in Kaj Days and Justin Wofford, and Houston will be faced with the task of trying to slow down Deang Deang from beating them in transition.
THURS - 3:00PM - CT 3 - BROWN DEER - NET GAIN SPORTS VS. PHILLY PRIDE
Nikko Reed and company for Net Gain Sports take on a really talented and energetic Philly Pride squad. Net Gain will have its hands full trying to keep Jabri McCall and Jaekwon Carlisle from exploiting them on the perimeter, and Rasool Samir’s length inside is a challenge, but Reed and some of his teammates are tough and have size of their own to compete with. Should be a good back-and-forth battle.
THURS - 4:10PM - CT 3 - BROWN DEER - DC ASSAULT VS. TEXAS SELECT
Assault is loaded with young talent that Texas Select is going to have to try to ground. Ako Adams and Anthony Cowan can fill the hoop from the perimeter while also attacking and dishing to promising post prospects Joe Hampton and Sam Green. Reggie Gardner and Alani Moore are also very capable of putting points up on the board... Texas Select is hungry as well and will try to match DC’s energy with strong defense.
THURS - 4:10PM - CT 2 - BROWN DEER - ILLINOIS WOLVES VS. TEAM THAD
Team Thad is always competitive at each level and will work hard to come to Milwaukee and take care of business from Day 1. They are faced with the task of having to keep Skylar Nash and an athletic Illinois Wolves group from controlling the glass on both ends and trying to keep them from getting hot outside.
THURS - 5:20PM - CT 2 - BROWN DEER - PLAYGROUND ELITE-DEBAKKER VS. POWER GROUP
Mitchell Ballock and his Power Group teammates take the floor Thursday evening in what should be a good matchup on different levels. Ballock is one of the most talented young basketball players in the region if not the country and can score from everywhere. Along with teammates Isaac McCullough, Semaj Ray and Michael Porter, Power Group will be a tough out despite playing up a class, but Debakker is as well here and they have some talent of their own, especially lightning fast past guard Melvin Lee and posts Joevon Walker and Javonni Bickham.
FRI - 8:00AM - CT 3 - BROWN DEER - POWER GROUP VS. WI PLAYGROUND WARRIORS 2017
Right back at it Friday morning, Power Group faces another team with 2017 players and tough young guards. Jordan McCabe, Nate Schmidt and Paysharnedale Jelks will do their best to out gun and out run Power Group, but they have a couple bigs who can also affect the game inside if need-be. Should be an interesting one to tip off Friday.
FRI - 9:10AM - CT 3 - BROWN DEER - KC RUN GMC VS. PHILLY PRIDE
KC Run GMC will certainly be chomping at the bit to get at Philly with their talented roster. Josiah Talbert leads KC into action, but Carlisle and McCall could give their guards fits with their defensive prowess up top and ability to create on the attack.
FRI - 10:20AM - CT 2 - BROWN DEER - DC ASSAULT VS. ILLINOIS WOLVES
Both teams will have had a game under their belts in the tournament to shake off any early jitters and bring their best games forward. Nash should continue to excite as he has done all spring and summer, but DC Assault is perhaps the deepest team in the pool. This could shape up to be one of the faster-paced games of the event.
FRI - 12:40PM - CT 3 - BROWN DEER - KINGDOM HOOPS ELITE VS. WI PLAYGROUND WARRIORS
Kingdom Hoops is always very competitive and they are looking for a bit of redemption from the Next Level. They have excellent guard play in guys like Jaylan White and Shammond Ivory who can get up the court and make things happen. Playground Warriors have Juwan McCloud manning the point and Jack Popp playing off him, two very skilled and competitive kids with skill, however the player who could be a bigger factor for them in this one is wing and sometimes post player Jordan Janssen with his ability to finish from multiple levels.
FRI - 1:50PM - CT 4 - BROWN DEER - WI SHOOTERS VS. MICHIGAN WARRIORS
Regardless who they go up against, Keishon Parker is a treat to watch for the WI Shooters as he rarely disappoints in racking up points on the scoreboard. Add him with Marquis Carter out top and Michigan Warriors are going to be hard-pressed to stop the combination. But Michigan is going to be hungry regardless and will do all they can to slow the Shooters’ guard play down and make others beat them.