HOOVER, AL – We kicked off yet another year of the prestigious Bama Jam on Friday night at the Finley Center, and, as usual, the action did not disappoint. With three sets of games to open the event, there was plenty to talk about.

Here are Garrett Tucker’s opening thoughts from Bama Jam, highlighted by some familiar faces and some new names that have jumped on the radar… 

3D ELITE ROLLS INTO THE 2024 SEASON

3D Elite had a quality season on the HoopSeen stage last year, and they started things off on the right foot this season with a convincing victory on Friday night at Bama Jam.

2025 forward Justin Holloway continues to look like a promising prospect going forward. The 6-foot-6 forward was one of the top performers from our Fall Preview camp back in September, and he picked up right where he left off in the fall.  The junior impressed with his skill-set and ball skills throughout the game on Friday night, oftentimes acting as the primary ball handler for his team. 

While he brings production to the table right now, Holloway’s future is what excites me the most. With his length, size and fluidity, the junior is one of the most intriguing prospects in Alabama‘s deep 2025 class. I can see him getting a variety of looks from a mixture of Division I and Division II programs this travel season.

Another prospect that college programs will want to see is 2025 Auburn (AL) guard Tabari Allen. A strong, physical specimen, Allen brings a jumbo-type guard feel to the game. He plays and guards multiple positions for 3D Elite, making him the ultimate Swiss Army knife for his team. He led 3D Elite with 22 points in their victory. Expect to hear more of his name this weekend.

KADEN RICKARD HAS THE GOODS

I’ve beat the drum for Kaden Rickard for a while now, and he didn’t disappoint on Friday night at the Finley Center. 

Pro One’s 17U bunch cruised to a win to open the event, and Rickard showed flashes of what makes his game so intriguing. A long, lanky, 6-foot-5 lead guard, the Bob Jones (AL) standout  impressed with his vision, passing and feel for the game. He also utilized his length to jump in passing lanes and cause problems on the defensive end of the floor.

There’s some intriguing similarities to former Belmont and current Indiana pacer guard Ben Sheppard in Rickard’s game. Sheppard made things look simple at the tail end of his high school career, and Rickard does much of the same now. 

Several college programs have already shown early interest in Rickard including Belmont, Lipscomb, and Troy. I expect him to be one of the spring’s biggest risers when the evaluation period kicks off. 

HELLO, MY NAME IS... 

Coming into the event, I had heard some buzz about Ar’Mari Towns, a sophomore from Hoover (AL). Because of the Buccaneers overall depth and talent, Towns spent most of last season playing on the JV team. 

Well, if Friday night was any indication, he’ll be helping Hoover sooner rather than later. The athletic forward made plays all evening long for SMB 16U. He caused havoc on defense with his length and versatility, and he showcased his ability to play above the rim with a couple of highlight dunks. 

Towns still has some developing to do but there’s a lot to like about his overall game. He made a couple of three-pointers in addition to his plays around the rim and in transition. I’m eager to watch him play the remainder of the weekend and going forward this travel season. He gives me a VCU-type feel with his style of play.

BEST GAME I SAW: IRON CITY HUSKIES VS. MAGIC CITY JAYHAWKS

Friday’s opening set of games brought one of the most entertaining matchups of the entire day, as the Huskies and Jayhawks went back and forth in their game. The Iron City Huskies ultimately won 66-63, but there were several players that impressed.

Huffman (AL) guard Tim Austin was the catalyst for the Huskies for much of the game, as he led the way with 13 points and a number of assists. However, his high school teammate and big man Ke’Von Walker also provided some big baskets down the stretch, including some free throws to ice the game.

I’m excited to get another look at Victor Odiari from Magic City Jayhawks as the weekend continues. The 6-foot-5 forward has a lot of versatility and could be a nice gem from the weekend. He had a nice season at Clay Chalkville and should be one to watch going forward.