Top 16U Performers from the 2022 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, Pt. IV
SUWANNEE—As we progress throughout the week, Gibbons is almost a week in the rearview. Where did the time go? Yet, despite some separation from the event, we're still abuzz from it. The energy coming off of Gibbons is as different as the energy during it. It's just a special event.
Reflecting on the weekend, we've found ourselves still raving about the 16U division, so we wanted to bring you some more standouts that have stuck with us almost a week later.
If you want to catch up on the other names from our notes, check out the other parts of the 16U series below.
I have had the chance to watch Cokley a lot with him being a sophomore at Christ School in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a skilled guard that has great balance and body control. He has a good-looking shot with a great follow-through which helps make him a consistent shooter. He can defend multiple positions and can play on the ball or off. I really like his explosion to the rim and his size. He can score over smaller guards and he isn’t afraid to take it at the defender waiting near the basket. Already holds some Division I offers, including Wake Forest. - Justin Byerly
Elijah Kelly, Team Loaded NC - Scoring from all spots on the floor, Kelly left us impressed with his showing at The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. He helped lead Team Loaded NC to the title in their age bracket in a tough division. Kelly has size, has length and explosion. He is a native of Radford, Virginia and has all of the tools of a guy at the next level. He is closing in on 6-foot-8 and has the handle, scoring ability and rebounding prowess that are going to make him a guy that is going to be getting a lot of looks over the next few seasons. - Justin Byerly
Draven Pilson, Team Curry - 6-foot-7 with a clip. Pilson is going to knock down shots from the outside, you can bet on that. He has a really nice looking shot with the textbook form and the follow-through. Once his feet are set, that shot has a good chance of going in. With his size, he is able to get rebounds and get scores off of misses. He has some explosion in his step and with his shooting, it creates problems with the defense causing them to have to come out and guard him. He can hurt you from the perimeter and can get buckets inside near the rim. - Justin Byerly
Reshaun Hampton, Cave Gym Elite: On a 3-1 run throughout the weekend, Cave Gym Elite’s 16U squad saw plenty of success at Gibbons over the weekend. I was able to check them out on Friday night, and I was treated to a scorching-hot shooting performance from Reshaun Hampton. The Winchester, KY guard has a high-arching shot that he can get off quickly. He can hit from all over the perimeter, but if you leave him in one of the corners, go ahead and automatically add three to the scoreboard. Hampton has a strong frame and will continue to get better and could continue to make waves throughout the summer. Shooting is always in demand, and he already has that in his bag. - Josh Tec
McKenzie proved to be a potent, high-caliber scoring guard throughout the high school season. Alongside teammate CJ Brown, McKenzie helped form one of the most formidable 2024 backcourts at Walker. Now that he’s running with the Stars, he’s carried that over into the travel season. With Karris Bilal and Trajen Greco as his fellow guards, this Stars team boasts a three-headed monster that can put points on the board in a hurry when clicking. McKenzie is an exceptional shooter that can hit off the catch or off the dribble. He’s got great positional length with long arms too. As a driver, McKenzie has no issue getting to the rim where he uses his length well as a finisher. He’s a player that I can see having a big-time rise sooner than later. - Josh Tec
Big time blocks, big time finishes, big time plays that helped lead CP3 to the championship of The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. Hanson, is one of those guys that can guard multiple positions and can score in a variety of ways. He is going to affect the game in a lot of ways as well with his athleticism and feel for the game. He showed he can post up and score around the rim, he can knock down a mid-range jumper and he can battle inside the paint for rebounds. Hanson is going to be the guy next year for Chambers High School in Charlotte, and if Jaylen Curry returns to school, the state title will have to come through there. - Justin Byerly
