Lighthouse Classic Superlatives
The Thanksgiving holiday is officially behind us, and, now that the dust has settled, we’re rolling through content from all the hoops action. We saw plenty of notable action from Corinth, Mississippi at the Lighthouse Classic.
With that being said, here are our superlatives from the event…
RELATED: Friday Notebook | Saturday Notebook | Tucker Topics
MVP - Labaron Philon, 2024 CG, Baker (AL)
I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here — Philon was impressive on Friday, as he broke the Lighthouse Classic’s individual scoring record with 47 points. The scary thing is, his scoring may not be the best part of his game. I broke down Philon’s potential push to be a McDonald’s All-American candidate in the Tucker Topics.
ALPHA DOG - Damarien Yates, 2023 PF, Fayette Ware (TN)
There isn’t a better phrase to describe Yates here. The 6-foot-8 forward from Fayette-Ware (TN) isn’t afraid to do the dirty work like rebounding and defending. If I’m going into a dog fight, I want a tough, blue-collar guy like Yates on my team. He’s a leader and alpha-male on the floor.
BASKETBALL IQ - Evan Sterck, 2025 PG, The Rock (FL)
On a team loaded with talent, Sterck made things go for The Rock. In fact, he may be the most important piece of the puzzle for the Florida-based program. The sophomore did a masterful job of creating opportunities for everyone on the floor while also directing traffic.
ELECTRIC - C.J. Hyland, 2024 PG, Grayson (GA)
Within the span of a few minutes, Grayson was able to extend their lead from a few points to double-digits and a lot of that was because of Hyland. The junior guard is electric with the ball in his hands and can fill things up in a hurry. He’s a valuable piece that can change a game in a hurry.
JUNKYARD DOG - Mike Jones, 2024 PF, Chicago (IL) Prep
Coming into the Lighthouse Classic, Jones was leading the Grind Session in rebounding. He continued that pace in Mississippi, grinding it out and going head-to-head against bigger opponents. He’s fearless in the paint and a fine example of a junkyard dog.
SCORER - Josh Hubbard, 2023 PG, Madison (MS) Ridgeland Academy
Hubb did what Hubb does best and that’s put the ball in the hoop. The Ole Miss signee was one of the most exciting players from the weekend, as he scored the ball at all three levels on his way to a 38-point outing in a loss for Madison (MS) ridgeland Academy.
SHOOTER - Ishan Sharma, 2024 SG, Fort Erie International Academy (CAN)
Sharma converted seven three-pointers against The Rock (FL) on Friday and made an early claim as the best shooter in the event. The 6-foot-5 Canadian guard is an elite specialist from the perimeter and gets his shot off as quick as anyone in high school basketball.
SLEEPER - Christian Alston, 2024 WF, Bartlett (TN)
I’ll be the first to admit that I had no idea who Alston was coming into Saturday. However, after a 27-point performance that included tough finishes at the rim and some nice makes from the perimeter, it’s safe to say he popped onto my radar pretty quickly. He can play a little defense, too.
STOCKRISER - Jordan Marsh, 2023 PG, Moravian Prep (GA)
Marsh piloted Moravian Prep (GA) to the Lighthouse Classic Prep Challenge Championship and his energy and competitiveness was apparent. He moved the needle for his team and proved he’s worthy of running someone’s team at the next level.
SWISS ARMY KNIFE - Makhi Myles, 2023 F, Starkville (MS)
Myles, a Wichita State signee, did a little bit of everything on Friday in Starkville’s win over Grissom (AL). The 6-foot-6 forward stuffed the stat sheet, including 20 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
UPSIDE - Amir Taylor, 2025 PF, Grayson (GA)
Sign me up for stock in Taylor, a 6-foot-8 big man that showed he’s comfortable with his back to the basket and operating in traffic. If that isn’t enough, he also proved to be a reliable floor spacer with two three-pointers. I think Taylor’s a safe bet to really take off in the next calendar year.
