LOUISVILLE, KY — Day two of the Grassroots Showcase tipped off on Saturday, and, as usual, the action did not disappoint. With sixty courts under one roof, there was plenty of action to take in throughout the day.

With that being said, here are Garrett Tucker’s biggest takeaways, featuring a little Midwest flair… 

HIGH-LEVEL GUARD MATCHUP DOESN'T DISAPPOINT

One of my favorite games of the day came from a Midwest matchup featuring Denard Brothers Basketball Club and George Hill All-Indy. Both teams have multiple Division I players, but this matchup was really all about the point guards. 

Dekwon Brown, a feisty 6-foot-2 point guard, was extremely impressive for DB Pro in the win. Blessed with a natural knack for scoring the basketball, he virtually got wherever he wanted on the floor and acted as a playmaker. The junior excelled in ball screen opportunities, where he was able to create space from defenders and make decisions with the ball in his hands. With his explosiveness and quick-twitch abilities, Brown was one of the best rhythm scorers I saw during the day of action.

The Peoria (IL) product ultimately finished the game with 25 points, including making six three-pointers. He made three big trey balls down the stretch that ultimately led DB Pro to the victory. 

Brown currently holds scholarship offers from Radford, High Point, Eastern Illinois, and Western Illinois, but I wouldn’t be surprised if more aren’t on the way soon after his play this weekend.

On the other side, George Hill All-Indy had a roster full of sophomores playing up an age division that was headlined by 2025 point guard Azavier Robinson. Despite being an underclassmen, Robinson looked perfectly fine against the older competition.

Robinson, a strong 6-foot-1 floor general, played stronger than he is because of his ability to play off two feet, especially in the lane. He did a nice job getting through creases and constantly living in the lane, where he was able to make plays at the rim. He played strong around the rim and made some tough finishes through defenders that resulted in trips to the free-throw line.

While Robinson produced plenty of moments on offense, his defense and motor may have been the most impressive. He had no problem getting down and guarding opposing guards the length of the floor and causing havoc in the process.  

Robinson is already on college coaches’ radars. TCU recently extended an offer to join the likes of St. John’s, IUPUI, Indiana State, ECU, and UT-Arlington. Oklahoma State also extended a scholarship on Saturday evening.

HELLO, MY NAME IS... 

How about a current 8th grader playing up in the 16U division? That’s exactly what 2027 point guard Malachi Terrell is doing with Team Truth 16U — and he’s been a standout to this point.

A long, lanky floor general, Terrell has a smooth game and he doesn’t get rushed or out of control. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has ball skills, too. The 6-foot guard showcased his scoring arsenal with some finishes at the rim and some made shots from behind the three-point line. Overall, it was pretty impressive for a young pup playing up on the Grassroots Showcase stage.

There’s still a lot to shake out over the course of his career, but Terrell is one to watch as he begins his high school career. He’s headed to Gonzaga Prep in Washington, DC. 

ALABAMA GENERALS HAVE RECRUITABLE PIECES

I caught some of the Alabama Generals 17U group a few weeks ago at the Bama Jam. I followed up today by watching them again, and the more I watch, the more I like the Alabama-based program.

Available senior Jordyn Turner-Durley continues to show he’s one of the better available prospects in the South. His mixture of size, skill, and IQ was impressive during their morning game.

I haven’t mentioned Namon Hobson a lot this spring, but that’s an injustice on my part. The 6-foot-2 guard has a knack for putting the ball in the basket, and that’s exactly what the lefty did on Saturday. He has a jerky game that is difficult to defend.

2024 guard Jordan Johnson continued his quality spring with another good showing. The lefty has a tremendous basketball IQ and feel for the game to go along with his shooting ability.

I’ll be honest — I was a little hesitant about 2024 wing Ke’Shawn Watkins earlier in the spring. I’m still not sure what position he will be at the next level, but I can’t deny his ability to get things done. At 6-foot-3, he’ll do just about anything on the floor. Watkins has a lot of intangibles that will make him a valuable piece somewhere in the future.

SOME OTHER WORTHY NOTES...

I caught Pro One Select Tennessee Brewster early in the day and came away impressed with 2024 guard Grady Robertson. The skilled 6-foot-3 guard is a simple dribble, pass, shoot guy. He filled up the stat sheet from start to finish, impressing with his vision and passing ability. He will be a prospect that warrants Division 2 looks as the travel season goes on.

South Georgia Elite was already an impressive team, but now they have added a pair of 6-foot-8 forwards from Calvary Christian in Savannah, Georgia, that make them even more formidable. I thought Kuol Deng was good on Saturday, as he set the tone for his team with his defensive enforcement and motor. He was one of the most productive players I saw from the day.

2025 Tuscaloosa (AL) Northridge and Alabama Celtics 16U guard Anderson Wilkin is one of the best shooters in the entire event. He shot the ball well in two games I saw today.

MidPro Academy has dropped a couple of tough losses this weekend, but they have plenty of recruitable players. One of my favorite players thus far has been their point guard, Tyler Mason. The 6-foot-2 floor general has a lot of winning qualities and he’s ran the show well for the Midwest bunch. Mason never seems to get rattled by the situation, nor the opportunity to make a play. If I’m a low-major coach that needs a high school point guard, I’m putting him on my list.