HG Southern Jam Fest Day One: Elijah McCadden becomes a name
The Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest kicked off on Friday evening as some of the best teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic hit the floor at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. While there were a few blowouts in tow, it gave us a chance to see some of the better upside prospects around and also catch up with them in speaking on their current recruitment.
ELIJAH MCCADDEN SHOWS BREAK OUT MATERIAL
Bam. It hit me like a brick wall. A 6-foot-6 wing who definitely looks the part, sports a bouncier body type, and is active within the miscellaneous, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how good Elijah McCadden can be.
A relative unknown up until this point, and quite frankly, still is, but expect for things to change in the coming months. Running with the Boo Williams 16-under bunch, McCadden was quite impressive in his team’s ginormous victory, a win that showed 101 points on the scoreboard.
A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, McCadden displays excellent length and size for the small forward spot on the floor. The 6-foot-6 3-man has somewhat thin but showcases innate strength where he absorbs contact super well on the slice to the basket and can create for others on the accurate penetrate and kick pass.
Toss in the sophomore’s fluid scoring prowess at the basket, developing perimeter game, and versatile defensive skills, and what you have is someone that should see his lone offer from Charlotte become a distant memory in the coming months. McCadden has all of the physical tangibles and super high basketball ceiling to be as good as he might want to be.
Midlothian, VA
PETRIE SHOWS PROGRESS
Unsure of what Alex Petrie has been eating lately, but get me on this guy’s diet! Having sprouted an inch or two since last year and adding over 15 pounds of pure muscle, the River City Reign guard displayed an excellent frame in handling contact on the drive to the basket, showing excellent promise moving ahead.
Recently reclassing into the 2018 class, Petrie isn’t a burner with his speeds, nor is he an elite athlete, but what the Richmond native does goes beyond what the final stat sheet reads. Sure, the sophomore guard scored a team high 17 points off of a trio of converted perimeter jumpers, yet it is his feel for the game, floor setting abilities, and value that he places on the basketball that stands out the most.
Displaying a pristine pull-up game that he can get off against any type of defense, crowding Petrie doesn’t hinder his scoring prowess from downtown as he is lethal from off of the pull-up jumper. His handles are top notch and see is his intellect and willingness to do whatever it takes for his squad to achieve success.
A tough-dude with the basketball in his hands, schools are beginning to get involved with the Virginia native. “Mount St. Mary’s has offered me. I am also hearing from Wofford, Towson, Providence, Lafayette, and Elon,” Petrie told HoopSeen. Visits could take place in the coming months to all of those involved but when it comes time to select a school, the 6-foot-1 sophomore has an idea for what he is looking for. “Wherever I can come in and succeed from the jump, style of play, and fit. Good academics, too.”
ANTWAN WALKER OPTS FOR 2017
One of the better available prospects late in the 2016 recruiting class is no more. Antwan Walker did not commit to a college program but instead decided to go the prep route this fall, becoming a member of the 2017 class. Passing the looks test with a breeze and a super fluid and efficient scorer at the basket, Walker had it going once again on Friday evening in Hampton.
Far from a finished product on the playing floor, Walker’s upside is pretty intriguing. He is a tough-nosed combo forward type standing at 6-foot-7 and has rapidly put on muscle that allows for him to produce in the more physically heightened affairs. His jumper isn’t consistent just yet but where the Team Loaded star flourishes is out on the break and off of the hard righty drive to the basket.
Following his team’s victory on Friday, Walker noted that he is undecided on where he will attend school in the fall, but more than likely, it will either be at Hargrave Military Academy or Massanutten Military Academy.
Whatever the case, expect for the giant spring stock boosting forward to enhance his resume much more as he produces with consistency and toughness each time that he hits the hardwood.
