2023 Carolina Jam Top Overall Performers Part III
The 2023 HoopSeen Carolina Jam was full of studs and the talent filled the spacious Raleigh Convention Center. We will be rolling out the top performers all week long.
Paul McNeil, Garner Road - The NC state signee is a gamer. On Saturday McNeill was in Chicago, Illinois around 8AM, he took a flight to Charlotte, landed in Charlotte and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Raleigh for Carolina jam. He put up 17 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Most guys would not have made the trip or will not have been able to perform at the level that McNeil did. Kevin Keatts is a proven winner and a guy that wants to play and loves to play. - Justin Byerly
Tyler Whitehurst, Life Warriors Elite - Eastern North Carolina guards are just built differently than anywhere else in the state. Whitehurst was impressive all weekend long for Warriors Life Elite. He made a living and getting into the paint and either scoring or making a dish to a teammate for an easy basket. He showed he could knock down shots from the outside consistently and was a strong defender whenever his team was down or the game was getting close; you can count on Whitehurst to make a shot. He looks the part of a college level prospect. - Justin Byerly
Isaac Ellis, Team Loaded NC - The ninth grader showed out on one of the biggest stages so far this year. Against Team United, Ellis scored 18 points and along with his brother, Eli, scored 45 points for Team Loaded NC in their throttling of Team United at The Carolina Jam. Isaac, a 5-foot-10 point guard is a true floor general out on the floor and makes the right reads. He can score from all over the floor and can knock down shots when he has to from beyond the three-point line. For a ninth grader going against guys 2-3 years older than him, Ellis showed that he belonged.
Trevor Barrett, Team Loaded 828- Averaged 25 points per game for three games this weekend for Team Loaded 828 as an unsigned senior. Barrett always does a couple of things that are undeniable as a prospect. He can make shots and he has a high-level understanding of the game. Whether it is a mid-range pull-up jumper or a long distance three-point shot, Barrett will take it and for the most part he will make those shots. He is one of those guys that fell into the cracks with the COVID mess and the transfer portal. He should be playing at a college by this time next year and as resilient as Barrett is, he will make the most of it when he makes that decision. - Justin Byerly
Dominic Payne, NC Rim Runners -
Dominic Payne was the catalyst for NC Rim Runners this weekend as they won the 17-and-under Carolina Jam trophy. Payne is a big guard that can get his baskets by overpowering smaller defenders and his past as a football prospect shows in the way he plays the game. He doesn't back down from anyone and he plays with confidence. He was great all weekend long.
