NextGen Preview Camp Team 1 Breakdown
SUWANEE, Ga—Now that we have taken a look at some of the top overall performers from the NextGen Preview camp this past Sunday, it’s time to take a look at each individual team. Today, we’re starting things off with team one.
McGrath is going to be a solid player down the line. His coaches were impressed by how well he moved without the ball. McGrath showed a knack for scoring out of halfcourt sets. He’s a solid finisher and has a nice midrange game to build on. McGrath has good wing size for his age as a 6-footer, and it looks like there’s more growing left in the tank for him. He was part of a group from Mount Vernon that will be names to follow in the future. That staff has shown the ability to develop players well, and McGrath has a good foundation to work with.
Lakari Crouch was tabbed as one of the camp’s top overall performers. You can read more about him here.
Porter was one of the younger players in the building and showed plenty of promise. The future Grayson Ram impressed with his shooting touch. That’s one of the most sought-after attributes a player can have in the eyes of college coaches. As he continues to get older and grow, his game should expand as well.
Dickens was a smaller guy, but he was tough. Despite size differences, he battled for rebounds and boxed out bigger guys. He had no problems mixing it up around the basket. Dickens is a fearless player. Another thing he did well was let the game come to him. He never forced anything or tried to do too much which is commendable in camp settings. Dickens recognized when defenses gave to him and capitalized when he could. That’s smart basketball.
At the beginning of camp, one thing that the coaches preached to the players was bringing energy. Ovalles took note and kept his motor revved throughout camp. His coach applauded how hard he played and the hustle he brought whenever he stepped on the floor. That kind of intensity goes a long way in the eyes of coaches and evaluators.
Bailey was one of the players that immediately caught attention upon walking into the gym. At 6-foot-2, the 2028 forward was one of the taller players at camp. For his age, he has a great frame and good size. While he looked to be adjusting to his growth, he was still mobile and ran the floor well. Bailey was a dominant rebounder. If a shot came off the rim, he was more than likely the one to pull it down. Around the basket, Bailey makes a great target for his guards. He catches every pass in his vicinity, even the bad ones, and he has great touch at the rim.
Hale’s a bigger lead guard with a frame that can handle physicality at the rim and on defense. He plays with great pace and advances the ball well in transition. Hale is a strong finisher and scorer and also moves the ball well. One of the best parts about his game is his willingness to sit down and defend. Because of his size, he can switch and guard multiple spots at this level. It was a tremendous outing for Hale. He certainly became a name to remember.
The 2027 guard out of Athens showed a ton of promise on Sunday. For his age group, he has good positional size as a point guard. Where his game shined most was via his shooting. In fact, his coach noted that he wished that Williams shot the ball even more. When a player gets his coach to ask him to shoot more, he’s certainly doing something right. Let it fly, Robert, let it fly!
Cameron was on the smaller, younger end, but he doesn’t lack confidence by any means. He has a good-looking shot and knows when to pull thhe trigger on it. When he adds some size and strength down the line, some of the shots he missed will turn into makes. He also brought the energy the coaches were talking about during the camp introduction. Every year at this camp, we see guys like Cameron level up and turn into can’t-miss players. By this time next year, I wouldn’t be surprised to look back on this camp and remark about his progression.
