Grassroots Showcase: 16U Top Performers, Part I
Louisville, KY - The Grassroots Showcase held at The Kentucky Expo Center was filled with independent teams and shoe-sponsored programs throughout the weekend. The annual event we partner with Ohio Basketball was another success. The teams came to play and we took it all in. Here is a look at part one of Top Performers from the 16-and-under division.
Ayden Glenn, Tennessee Tigers - The 6-foot-one guard for the Tennessee Tigers 16 and under group was one of the more talented guards that I saw in that division. Glen is a guy that can really take control of a game with his scoring ability. The smooth, sharp shooting lefty has a great feel for the game and understanding of what he can do. He has a strong unassuming upper body, controls the ball really well with his dribble, is a very good rebounder for his position and has one of the quickest first steps for his age that I have seen this travel season. As I said in my Saturday night notebook, I like guys that play with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, and Glenn does this to perfection. He recently transferred to Christ Presbyterian Academy from Franklin High School and I think that he looks like he would be a division one recruit on down the road. He probably averaged around 14 or 15 points a game throughout the weekend, but I feel like it was the little things that he does that can really affect the game. He’s a guy that’s going to come up with the deflections, he’s a very good defender when he locks in, and he wants the ball in his hands. - Justin Byerly
Rakale Johnson, 502 Elite - With games of 27, 19 and 17 points in the games we watched over the weekend, Johnson was one of the top scorers in the Grassroots Showcase. The dude just knows how to score and he can score it really well. Standing 6-foot-2, Johnson isn't the biggest guy out there but he plays so much bigger than he is. He has a solid built frame and he uses it well by being able to overpower smaller guards and he is a strong rebounder for his position.
He helped his Louisville-based squad finish 4-1 on the weekend with their only loss coming from eventual champions, Tennessee Impact 3SSB on a buzzer-beater. Oh, did we mention that Rakale was playing up a class this tournament?
Justin Frye, Wildcats Elite - Size and skillset at his position allowed this to be a coming out party of sorts for the 6-foot-5 rising junior. This was our first time seeing Frye and he was impressive. In the games we watched, Frye showed he can be a scorer and defend. He can knock down the mid-range jump-shots and can use his athleticism to block shots. He scored 16 points, had double-digit rebounds and was a key contributor to Wildcats Elite getting in the win column at The Grassroots Showcase.
Tate Powers, UpNext - Another prospect that was playing up in his classification, Powers didn't disappoint. He was one of the best shooters we saw throughout the weekend. The lefty can let it fly and he makes a lot of them. He was named 2nd team All-Owensboro County this season after his strong finish at Apollo (KY) High School.
He was huge in UpNext's win over Stars Basketball UA Rise squad. He finished with 15 points in the OT win over one of the premier teams at the event and help UpNext get to 2-2 on the weekend. - Justin Byerly
Dazon Reid, Team F.I.N.A.O - The Huntington (WV) Prep standout is ranked by many as a top ten player in the 2027 class in the state, some in the top three. It was easy to see why this weekend at The Grassroots Showcase.
Playing up a division, Reid was scoring from all over the floor and playing much older than his age. The 6-foot-4 guard can impact the game in so many ways. He can score from all over the court, he has big enough size to battle for rebounds and get them down low. He has great court-vision and is a true playmaking guard.
