This past weekend I attended the 2021 Team Thad Elite Combine in Memphis, arguably one of the finest events I have ever attended. Top players from all over the Southeast made the trek to the home of the blues for some intense hardwood action. I have chosen 12 players from this event for evaluation and away we go.

Class of 2024

Alijah Curry
6'7 SG/WF 2024
East (Memphis, TN)
Young player was only in action on the Saturday schedule but made an impression on everyone in attendance none the less. Long athlete with burgeoning skills, Curry plays with determination and has a motor that is seldom found in this younger generation. His ball handling skills need some tightening but he is a tough and creative finisher. He is fearless when driving to the cup and has enough confidence in his shot to make it a weapon. He has a sleek build and again his best asset at this stage of his development is his motor and his fearless nature. He is the top player in his class in my state and will be a national name sooner than later.

Christian Gilliland (pictured above)
6'4 PG 2024
North point Academy (Southaven, MS)
This youngster catches your eye with his explosive burst and ability to turn the corner and play downhill. A lefty with severe quickness and style, he has a point guard mentality which will only help him in the long run. He registered a 40+ vertical leap during the combine and uses this gift to make plays on both ends of the floor. He has a competitive nature and defends like crazy, his lateral quickness allows him to get to the spot before his opponent and leads to steals and deflections at an alarmingly high rate. His outside shot is still a work in progress and will be an area he will need to improve. He has a solid mid-range game and a bevy of floaters and creative finishers in the lane. He is surely one to watch in one of the best classes my state has brought forth in years.

Billy Richmond
6'6 SG 2024
East (Memphis, TN)
Young man with excellent size and a determination that exuded from his efforts on the court. He challenged everyone he faced, he drove past folks, he posted up others and he hit shots from all over the gym. A lefty with emerging range, Richmond is without a doubt one of the most improved players in this class or any class in my state for that matter. He runs the floor and is especially dangerous in transition, he seeks out scoring opportunities and isn't afraid to get others involved as well. Massive upside for this youngster, mark my words on this one.

Xavier Shegog
6'7 WF 2024
Goodpasture (Madison, TN)
X marks the spot and the improvement in this young man is obvious from the moment he enters the gym. His body has grown to match his skills and he is showing a more calculated motor and a more consistent effort from possession to possession. His skills level has made a remarkable jump as well, he can put the ball on the floor and finish in traffic, he can hit the open shot from the mid-range as well. His deep shooting touch will come as his mechanics change when the shot moves back, something he will work on as he is seemingly a gym rat. He has great size and simply loves to play. Another member of this vaunted 2024 class in the state of Tennessee.

Aiden Sherrell
6'8 WF 2024
Norcross (Norcross, GA)
This youngster catches your eye when you walk into the gym. His size, his demeanor and his skill level stand out as you watch his game grow just in the short two-day session. His length is next level and he has a very nice touch from anywhere in the gym. He has burgeoning guard skills and shows he can locate open teammates for easy buckets. He has excellent handles but does tend to dribble to excess at times. He will obviously need to work on his strength and showing he can score some in the lane and improve his effort on the glass. His upside is about as massive as anyone we have seen in all the years covering this sport.

Class of 2025

Damion Cox
6'1 PG 2025
St. Benedict (Cordova, TN)

The youngest player in the gym showed absolutely no fear and proved he could already compete at a very high level with players who are more physically mature than himself. Cox was dynamic with the ball, he is a great lay-up maker and isn't afraid to slide up into someone to defend. His outside shot needs some consistency but is something that will become a weapon for him down the road. This kid has yet to play a high school basketball game and he was competing with some of the top players in the Southeast and holding his own. I think that is special.