I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Clay Dade at his 12th annual SuperSoph Camp in Atlanta this past weekend. I had so much fun engaging and interacting with the next generation of hoopers. It's safe to say that the future of the hoop game is bright because the 2025 class is loaded with talent.
Being at SuperSoph brought back so many memories and took me back to the days when I attended camps like it. Before I even watched anyone play, I immediately began eyeing players and making predictions-- who developed early but will fizzle out? Who are the late bloomers that will steal the show in a few years? Who are the ones that have that "IT" factor? Obviously, only time will tell, but it's always fun to play around with those predictions.
It's been a minute since I actually covered an event, but the talent level was screaming for attention. So it's only right that I give hoop fans and college coaches a list of some players to keep on their radars. With over 50 players in attendance, check out the select players that stood out to me. I broke them down into groups and provided an evaluation for each. I hope you all enjoy it!
1st Team All-Camp
*Kaden Magwood | 6'3 CG | Mokan Elite 15U
MVP of the camp hands down. He was voted to the Top 20 all-star game, and he went at every top player in attendance and came out on top every time; his team was the only team to go undefeated at 6-0 for the weekend. Kaden is a dynamic guard with the ball in his hands. He is herky-jerky and plays with a lot of hesi dribbles. He's a 3-level scorer with a special ability to score in a variety of ways. He scored at will all camp against multiple types of defenders-- length, strength, or quickness-- Kaden was unfazed by it all. He did most of his damage off the dribble. He got to the basket and finished well. Sometimes with an emphatic punch, too, showing off his sneaky athleticism. He played a lot in PNRs and showed his ability to knock down the middy and pull-up 3 when defenders went under the screen. He also showed his ability to blow by primary defenders, or create space and hit tough shots in ISO situations. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and is at his opponent's neck right from the jump ball.
I challenged him after Day 1 to show more of his playmaking ability because I know that's what it will take for him to get to the next level. He responded just the way I'd hoped. On Day 2 he not only scored with more efficiency, but he also dropped some dimes that proved he has tremendous upside to be a big-time guard. One of his best qualities is he takes coaching. I believe Kaden is not just one of the best guards in Kentucky, but one of the best guards in the nation for 2025. Coaches need to tap in with him asap! The next progression for Kaden will be improving his ability to finish over length, playing at different speeds in PNR & ISO situations, and continuing to find the balance of scoring and playmaking for teammates.
Zion Collins | 6'4 SG | Boo Williams 16U
Already oozing with self-confidence, Zion could be the next big-time hooper out of NC if he stays hungry. A freak athlete with a huge upside. Some of the in-game dunks he had at the camp were jaw-dropping, to say the least. He hit multiple middy pull-ups and showed his ability to hit the spot up 3, too. He's a strong guard who bullies his way to the rim and finishes through contact. He is dangerous in transition, especially when running the wings; major lob threat. His next progression will be closing the gap between his athleticism and skill level. So improving his 3-ball, tightening his handle, and improving his playmaking for teammates. He is already a high-major athlete. Once his skills catch up to his athleticism, he will be an even scarier problem for defenders.
Jerry Easter | 6'4 CG | Super Friends 15U
He's considered to be a top guard in the nation for this class and I can see why. Jerry has good size for the guard position. He understands angles and has no issue getting by his primary defender. He's at his best playing downhill and does a good job finishing through contact at the rim. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands in transition due to his speed and ball handling ability. He has all the tools to be an elite defender; his wingspan and quickness make him deadly playing in help side and in the passing lanes. The next progression will be making his 3-ball more consistent, adding runners/floaters to his finish package, and being a better playmaker.
Malachi Moreno | 6'11 C | Indiana Elite 15U
Malachi's upside is through the roof! He has the height, length, and skillset to be special. He consistently scored over top and through defenders in post-up situations. Although he has a wire-y frame he never shied away from contact and physical play. He keeps the ball high and finishes above the rim off dump-off passes. He also showed his ability to score from face-ups in the mid-post and straight-line drives attacking closeouts from the perimeter. A play that stood out to me-- Malachi was sprinting the floor full-speed, received a pass, and did a euro step through traffic to avoid a charge. This showed extreme coordination. Moreno is also a great rim protector. If he wasn't blocking shots out of bounds, he was altering them and forcing tough finishes. The next progression for Moreno will be improving his handle and adding a 3-ball. He took some 3s at camp. I didn't see him make any but it looked smooth. So if he adds that piece to his game, he will climb the national ranks for sure.
Alexander Lloyd | 6'3 PG | Nightrydas 15U
Lloyd was easily one of the most skilled players at camp. He has a smooth game that is mature for his age. He plays at his own pace and he never allowed the defense to speed him up. I was impressed with Lloyd's poise and decision-making when playing in PNRs. He always seemed to make the right choice whether it be a pocket pass to the roll man, attack to his spot for a middy, or knocking down the 3 if his defender went under. On his drives, Lloyd showed good footwork playing off two feet, often times getting to turn fades off a reverse pivot. He is a solid playmaker too and does a good job of balancing that with his scoring. His next progression should be tightening his handle and playing more in transition. With his length and athleticism, he will be dangerous on the break.
2nd Team All-Camp
Donte Allen | 6'4 SF | Nightrydas 15U
Donte was super fun to watch at camp. He is a physically gifted guard with good size and strength. He is a high-energy player that plays with a big motor on both ends. Donte is a good athlete that makes plays above the rim-- he had a one-hand tip-dunk from the baseline that almost shut the gym down. Donte is a capable 3pt shooter in spot-up situations but is at his best when playing downhill. He is great in transition with and without the ball, he rebounds out of his area, and he is a good playmaker when attacking the rim. The next progression will be improving his handle. Also, improve his ability to make shots off the move and off the dribble.
Jerron Blackwell | 6'1 PG | CP3 15U
Jerron was one of the most complete players in camp; he does everything pretty well. In my opinion, he was snubbed from the Top 20 game. Blackwell has a solid frame and is built like a DB. I was impressed with his patience when playing in the paint. He had many instances where he kept pivoting until he found an opening. Capable 3pt shooter, but more comfortable taking midrange pull-ups, in which he shot a high percentage all camp. He was the best playmaker on his team. He made solid passes to teammates when they were open. The next progression for Jerron will be tightening up his handle, and improving his 3-ball and rim finishing. He did a good job getting to the rim but didn't convert. He also had open looks from 3 that he will need to knock down as defenders start to close short to defend against his dribble pull-up.
Caleb Wilson | 6'8 F | AE5 15U
Caleb has a ton of upside. He fits the mold of what the game is evolving to-- size and skill. He has a solid handle, and he can get by defenders to the rim and create space for pull-ups. He doesn't blow past defenders with explosiveness but he does a good job using his length to get where he wants to go. His offensive skills will continue to sharpen as he gets older. Where I think he's most special right now is on defense. Caleb understands how to use his length on defense and showed his versatility by guarding 1-5 at camp; he kept guards in front on the perimeter and forced bigs to score over him without fouling in the paint. One play that stood out and showed how special he is defensively-- Caleb was defending a guard on a drive and took away his shot forcing a pass to a big then he shifted laterally to block the shot of the big. The next progression for Caleb will be improving his ability to play both roles in PNRs and also adding a consistent 3-ball.
Frankie Manino | 6'4 SG | DC Premier 15U
Good size guard with a big motor. I enjoyed watching Frankie play. He didn't do anything flashy until the Top 20 game where he surprised me with some big dunks. Frankie consistently made the plays, and he competed hard in every game I watched. I was impressed with his ability to finish at the rim. He showed great coordination and body control on euros and up and under reverses through traffic. I didn't see him shoot many jumpers in the games, but I saw it in drills and he is definitely capable of making them. He did a good job attacking closeouts and he is a big-time threat playing in transition. Frankie's next progression will be tightening his handles to create shots for himself and adding consistent 3-ball.
Cam Ward | 6'5 SF | Team Durant 15U
Cam is a skilled forward. He did a good job all camp of getting to his kill spots for buckets. He showcased a solid handle and the ability to get by his primary defender. He was a mismatch problem for defenders all weekend; too big for guards to defend and too skilled for bigs to keep him in front. His middy pull-up is solid plus he has a high release which makes it hard to block. His next progression will be to tighten his handle and improve his 3pt shooting. Adding a consistent 3-ball at his size will make Cam a big-time prospect.
3rd Team All-Camp
Shane Cherry | 5'10 PG | BMaze Elite 15U
Shane, in my opinion, was one of the most underrated players at camp. He's a super shifty guard with cat-like quickness. His ability to finish around the rim is special. He fearlessly goes in amongst the trees despite his size and has an array of finishes-- scoops, hooks, up and unders, same leg-same hand, you name it Shane's got it. Good athlete for a small guard, too. He can finish above the rim with ease. He didn't shoot it that great from 3, but he took them with so much confidence that I know he is more than capable. He can be a pest as an on-ball defender when he chooses to be. He showed it in spurts, but once he decides to do it every possession it will become a separator for him. The next progression for Shane will be to improve his 3pt shooting and shooting off the dribble. He has no issues getting to the rim and finishing, so as defenses start to play him for the drive, he will need to be able to hit those jumpers consistently.
Amir Taylor | 6'8 PF | Game Elite 15U
Big body forward with a nice skillset. It's harder for bigs to stand out in camps like this due to guards dominating the ball, however, Amir showed his versatile skillset when he got his touches. He can shoot the 3 off the catch, in PNP situations, and out of dribble moves. Amir can also attack closeouts, lead the break in transition, and score on the block. If he develops a bigger motor and commits to the weight room he will be special; he already has all the tools. The next progression will be getting stronger to improve finishing through contact at the rim, working on sealing better on post catches, and setting better screens to open up scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Trevor Best | 6'1 CG | Boo Williams 15U
Trevor had a solid weekend. He was one of the better guards and was voted to the Top 20 game. He is more of a combo than a true point. He is at his best when slashing and playing downhill. He is a good athlete and has a quick first step. Trevor plays well in transition due to his speed with the ball; he covers a lot of ground fast. He is a streaky shooter from 3, and can really fill it up if he gets hot. In fact, in one game he did get hot and put up a 30-ball. The next progression will be to improve his 3pt shooting to be more consistent and learn how to play slower in certain situations.
Damon Howard Jr | 5'10 PG | Indy Heat 15U
Damon is a lightning-quick guard that constantly keeps defenders on their heels with his speed and shiftiness. Defenders struggled to keep him from getting paint touches. He has a tendency to be out of control on drives. So the next progression for Damon will be learning to control his speed and playing with a better pace. He has good vision and did a good job creating opportunities for his teammates all camp. He did a good job creating space off the dribble for his middy pull-ups and made some tough shots.
Ashton King | 6'1 CG | Team Thrill 15U
I only got to watch Ashton in one game, but he definitely stood out to me amongst the other players on the floor. He is a strong guard with a solid frame and he understands how to use his size. King's handle is solid and he showed the ability to create for himself off the dribble. On his rim attacks, Ashton did a good job putting his shoulder into defenders and finishing strong through contact. He hit a few 3s in the game which tells me he's capable from that range. I was impressed with his defensive ability. Ashton is a physical on-ball defender and used his strength to push guys off their line of attack. I love his motor, too, he competed on both ends all game. His next progression will be to continue to get reps up from 3 and work on his playmaking reads for teammates.
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