2025 Best of the South: 15U Top Performers, Part I
Yet another Best of the South is officially behind us and the 2025 stanza didn’t disappoint. Our staff patrolled the Georgia International Convention Center throughout the weekend, looking for the next group of players to start – or continue – their respective stories.
Meet some of our 16-and-under top performers from the July NCAA live period event…
RELATED: 16U Top Performers, Part I
Carter Cox, 2028 SG, Team Nike Select: Team Nike Select’s guard Carter Cox made a strong first impression. The 6’5” guard from the class of 2028 has a great feel for the game, shoots the leather off the ball, and is active on the defensive end. He also possesses the athleticism to compete with the best of them. It’s still early, but Cox is clearly primed for a bright future. - Mekhi Mckinney
Kaiden Smith, 2028 C, Team Work: Kaiden Smith of Team Work 2028 looks like a future big-time big man out of Florida. Smith has all the tools to be a high-major prospect. His soft touch around the rim, relentless effort on the glass, and ability to create second-chance opportunities have stood out. He plays with a solid motor and runs the floor well for his size. As he continues to develop, Smith will be a fun player to track over the next few years. - Mekhi Mckinney
Kegan Johnson, 2028 WF, Team Keon Johnson: This was my first time seeing Johnson and after getting a tip from Garrett Tucker I knew I had to go watch. The younger brother of Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson has some game. He’s a solidly built prospect that has some stuff to his game. He dribbles with purpose, blocks shots with intensity and you can tell he wants to win. I think he has all of the necessary tools to be a college prospect and it’s easy to see why at a young age. - Justin Byerly
Abram Phillips, 2028 CG, D13 Elite: It was another successful weekend at the office for Phillips, who has lit up the scoresheets this travel season for D13 Elite. Whether he’s playing on or off the ball, the rising sophomore can put the ball in the basket. He’s a viable threat from three-point range with his shooting ability, but don’t be fooled — the 6-foot-1 guard is tough and can make things happen in the lane, too. There’s plenty of skill here and I’m excited to see him capitalize on a strong start to his high school career. - Garrett Tucker
Calvan Hill, 2028 WF, We Play: We Play’s 15U group came into BOTS missing a couple of their usual faces, but that just opened the door for Hill to shine throughout the action. The 6-foot-4 wing picked up the scoring load for his team, as he led the HSA group in scoring over the course of the weekend. Playing primarily with the ball in his hands, Hill took advantage of ball screens and slashed through defenses to convert scores at the rim. He also made his shooting ability known, knocking down several three-point attempts during the event. Hill is poised to make a sophomore jump this season. - Garrett Tucker
