The Main Event: 16U Top Performers, Part I
The Main Event is officially in the books. The three-day event at Suwanee Sports Academy was an event filled with some of the best independent teams around and also some top shoe teams for showcase games.
We’re kicking off our event coverage by looking at the top performers from the 16U division, headlined by some of the best overall players in the event.
Without further adieu, here’s our first installation of the top performers from the 16U division…
Dylan Jones, Team Thad - Every now and then you see a guy and you just know, he can play. I have been doing this for almost 16 seasons and when you see a guy like Jones, you know.
Raw athleticism, toughness, diving on the floor, just that knack for knowing where the ball is and how to get it and then how to turn that into a bucket is what Jones has.
We all want what the Jones’s have and college coaches will soon want what this Jones has. In two games today for Team Thad, Jones scored 26 points and 13 points in two wins. The latter being a blowout. - Justin Byerly
Armond Smith, Georgia Stars - I love smaller point guards that just understand what they need to do. Listens to the coach and makes the right play consistently.
Whether it was pushing the ball off a rebound or in a lot of cases, the coach telling him to slow it down, this PG listened. When his time came to take the open shot and make it from well beyond the three-point line, he did. Guys like this make it at the next level. Sure there is room for him to grow and fill out but he gets it. That is what I want to know. Does a dude get it or not? This PG does. - Justin Byerly
Daniel Gadsden, Hoop Atlanta Harpring - This program has started out the 2025 travel season 8-0. Gadsden is a big reason why. The 6- foot five wing from Lovett High School in Georgia, was a beast on the boards, was able to get a lot of baskets around the rim, and ended up for the weekend going 18 for 29, a little better than 60% from the floor.
Hoop Atlanta-Harpring had a big win over the Atlanta Xpress 16 under squad to start out the weekend and never looked back with wins over Team Wall, Team Person and Norcross Heat.
He is a two-way guy that causes a lot of problems on defense with his shop blocking ability and on the offensive side he attacks the rim at Will. - Justin Byerly
Lincoln Vinson, Team Thad - to the people that didn’t know Vincent, this was a coming out party of sorts. We have had the chance to watch Vincent for two years now and he is one of the premier guards in the 2027 class for North Carolina.
Playing alongside Isaiah Denis at Davidson Day this past season Vincent played against some of the top teams in the state and the region. With Team Thad this weekend, Vincent was a major contributor on both ends of the floor and showed anyone that didn’t know he was a bona fide division one recruit. His skill set matches with his basketball IQ and his athleticism are what sets him apart from other players in his class.
When Team Thad needed a big shot from outside, or the right past to find the interior, or coming up with a big defensive play it was usually Vincent who was handling the work. - Justin Byerly
Xavier Hall, Team Mentality Elite
One of the most impressive frontcourt performances of the weekend came from 2028 big man Xavier Hall, who is playing up with Team Mentality Elite’s 16U group—and dominating while doing it. In a 69-43 win, Hall put together a monster stat line with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks, showing he’s more than ready for the elevated competition.
Hall is a classic interior anchor with a modern motor. He’s strong, physical, and thrives in the trenches, using his frame to carve out space and control the paint on both ends. He finished through contact, cleaned the glass, and erased shots at the rim with ease.
What makes Hall stand out even more is his presence and poise for his age. Despite being a 2028 prospect, he plays with the maturity and toughness of someone much older. His ceiling is high, and this weekend made it clear—Xavier Hall is going to be a name to know in the coming years. - Mekhi Mckinney
