Saturday Morning Grassroots Showcase Notebook from Justin Byerly
Louisville, KY - The Grassroots Showcase is off and running here in The Bluegrass State. HoopSeen and Ohio Basketball have brought together some of the best teams in the Southeast again this year at the annual event. Let's take a dive into some action from last night and this morning from The Kentucky Expo Center.
Hi, My Name Is
JoJo McCurry, a skilled 2025 big man for Hoop Atlanta brings back some memories for me at this stage in his game. Before he was a household name helping NC State make a Final Four run, DJ Burns and McCurry showed a lot of similarities in their game this morning against the Tennessee Tigers. Footwork, passing ability, and a soft-touch around the rim. McCurry dropped 25 points in his morning game but Hoop Atlanta fell short to a very good Tennessee Tiger program. McCurry looks like he can play at the next level.
Talkin' Tennessee
Chip Smith's program has been a staple at our HoopSeen events throughout my time here. Every year they bring in recruitable prospects that can play at multiple levels. This year is no different. In their win this morning over Hoop Atlanta, Kamden Days had a strong 15-point game. The guard was able to get to his spots with ease, attack the paint and make finishes.
I really like the long and athletic forward that DJ Roberson is. He finished the game with 14 points and some highlight dunks. He is long, runs the floor well, blocks shots, rebounds and finishes. Did I mention he is playing up in the 17-and-under division as a 2026 prospect? A lot to like with this one.
The Champ
DB Elite has been a program over the past few years that have spent a lot of time on our stage. In their opening win last night, Champ Lando was the guy for DB Elite. He made five three-pointers on the night and finished with 17 points in the win. He has good size at the guard spot and don't leave him open or you will pay. He is a threat to knock down multiple three-pointers every game. Head Coach Camden Scott was known for his shooting and he has given Lando the green light much like Word of God Christian Academy used to do with Scott. This team looks like they have a lot of pieces with a strong point guard, shooting from the outside, some wings that love to get to the rim and size. Will be fun to watch as the weekend progresses.
We Built This City
Louisville's own Basketball City program is in the event this season and two guys really stood out to me in the 15-and-under division. Larron Westmoreland and Kayden Bruce. The guard/wing tandem were exceptional in their win over Tennessee Tigers 2027 last night. Both are explosive and athletic prospects that can score in a variety of ways. They can make plays at the rim and can hurt you by knocking down shots from the outside. Both are two-sport standouts at their respective high schools in the Louisville metro area.
