2022 Best of the South 16U Standouts
ATLANTA—The 16U division always promises an incredible opportunity to see great games and to evaluate the prospects that will have the recruiting spotlight on them next spring and summer. Last year we went to bat for prospects like Gehrig Normand, Brandon Rechsteiner and Owen Freeman when they were in the 16U division, and now they’ve either committed to high major programs or have received numerous offers from some of the sport’s best.
This year, we got eyes on the next crop of guys that could see plenty of offers come their way over the next year or so. Here are some of the best from this year’s Best of the South 16U division.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Kuol Atak was not just an average big playing around the post; he did most of his playmaking off the wing. He’s an incredible shooter and didn’t mind expanding his range beyond the line. I was very impressed by Atak's ability to put the ball on the floor, and having solid handles at that size makes him unpredictable. I believe his ceiling is extremely high, and he’s a player coaches should take an interest in. - D’Courtland Christian
Wright will go down as one of the weekend’s best finds for me. I hadn’t seen the lights-out shooter from down near the Florida border before this weekend, but he certainly left an impression that I won’t soon forget. When I sat down to take in a South Georgia Elite game, Wright had a quiet first half, but he exploded for six 3-pointers in the second half and looked like a guy that belongs in the discussion as one of the Peach State’s best shooters. It was a performance that he replicated throughout the weekend. I was impressed by him when I first thought he was in the class of 2024, but after finding out that he’s a 2025, my eyes lit up even more. - Josh Tec
When it came to taking over a game in the backcourt, I think I would trust Etienne with the goods about as much as any player I saw in the 16 and under division of the Best of the South. He’s competitive beyond belief and wanted to be the to-go guy when the game is on the line. For lead guards, I equate their value with how many games they win in the clutch. For Etienne, he’s next-level good in that category. A two-sport competitor, I get the feeling the South Florida guard will put himself in a position of success at either sport at the next level. - Justin Young
Watching Lucero go this weekend reminds me of watching Bobby McWard last year. He’s another steady point guard that can shoot the cover off the ball. I’m starting to think they have a secret stash of these guys down there in Texas. Lucero was one of the 16U division’s best shooters, and he consistently made good decisions with the ball in his hands. Look, I’ve complained about McWard being under recruited, so I’m going to put this out there very bluntly: Niko Lucero should be on college watchlists. He very much fits the mold of a guy who will go completely nuts from the 3-point line and lead a team to a conference tournament championship. - Josh Tec
Fulton passes the look test. He has the length, the size and the explosiveness to start to garner some college interest. The 2024 prospect was huge in leading Team Wall to the 16-and-under championship game. In the semi-finals, Fulton scored 17 points, came up with a number of rebounds and caused havoc on the defensive side of the ball. For the semi-finals, Fulton averaged a productive 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists per game. - Justin Byerly
