2024 Grassroots Showcase: Friday Night Notebook
LOUISVILLE, KY — We’re off and running with the 2024 Grassroots Showcase, one of my favorite events on the hoops calendar. The main reason I enjoy this event so much is because it pulls teams from so many geographic areas, whether it’s the South, the East coast, or the Midwest.
With that being said, I focused on a couple of familiar states to open the event. Teams and players from several different states packed a punch to get things going, but here are three state-driven notes that stuck with me on Friday night.
Let’s get to the Grassroots Showcase Friday night notebook…
SUNSHINE STATE ON MY MIND
The state of Florida had several notable showings to open the event, making their trip north worthwhile. Here are a couple of quick hitters…
Remember the name Isaiah Brown. The 6-foot-9 big man asserted his defensive authority in a convincing win for Florida Pro’s 16U bunch, blocking shots at a high pace and challenging every shot inside the lane. He showed his mobility and light feet, too. Brown is only a sophomore and just started playing basketball a little over two years ago, so his potential is through the roof. He’s a name to monitor going forward.
Another Florida Pro name to know is 2025 forward Ethan Taylor. The stout 6-foot-4 forward had a nice performance in Florida Pro Select 17U’s victory to open the weekend. He utilized his strength and size around the rim, finishing through contact and making tough plays in traffic. His youth is evident and he’ll be a late bloomer to monitor.
TNBA South DOP pulled out a narrow win over Sewer South in the 16U division on Friday night in what turned out to be my best game of the evening. Sharpshooting guard Will Ryan was clutch down the stretch for TNBA South, making five three-pointers in the second half alone — and scoring 19 points — to help push his team to a victory. He finished with 26 points overall.
2026 combo guard Khori Polarchy also impressed for TNBA South in the victory. The lengthy guard showed tremendous ball skills and made several ‘wow’ plays down the stretch but nothing was more important than his rebounds he pulled to ice the game. He’s another promising young Florida prospect to know as the travel season progresses.
IT’S TIME FOR TENNESSEE
2026 big man Cutter Sisk was phenomenal for the Tennessee Tigers 16U group a few weeks ago at the Tennessee Jam. Nothing was different on Friday, as the 6-foot-6 big man paced his team with 30 points in a victory.
Whether he is scoring with his back to the basket or getting easy buckets off of rebounds, Sisk has a habit for racking up points. He made several nice, quick post moves that led to scoring opportunities throughout the game. The sophomore’s skill and size are impressive.
Another Tennessee prospect that I really enjoyed watching was Gabe Davenport from the Tennessee Marathon. Looking for a guy that plays hard and gritty but brings some flair and entertainment to the game? Well, grab your popcorn and watch Davenport.
The Marathon came out with a loss on Friday, but that didn’t stop the junior from playing his game. Davenport connected on several deep shots from behind the arc while also showing some shifty ball-handling ability. He’s one of my favorite dudes already here in Louisville.
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME TEAMS
We can’t wrap up this day without mentioning the home-state folks. Don’t be mistaken, there were plenty of standouts from Kentucky on Friday, but two players from Central Kentucky Basketball Club stuck out to me.
The Dillingham name definitely raises some eyebrows in Kentucky, so when Chance Dillingham starred on opening night, it was no surprise to hear he is the cousin of future lottery pick Rob Dillingham.
And much like his cousin, Chance made the most of his cat-like quickness and quick-twitch tendencies, getting into the lane and excelling at scoring at the rim. The dynamic ball-handler can score in bunches and should be a headache for defenses all weekend long.
2025 forward Isaiah Cochran is an intriguing prospect to monitor this weekend. At 6-foot-7, he does a little bit of everything. Skilled? Check. Shoot it? Check. Make finishes with his back to the basket? Check.
It’s no surprise that several college programs have already extended scholarship offers. Bryant, Tennessee Tech, and Eastern Kentucky are among the schools that have offered to this point. I’d say that list will grow in the coming weeks, too.
