Southern Spring Invitational: 2019 Has Some International Flavor
By Clarence Williams
There weren't many big names in the 17U field this year but there were some new faces. Central Park continues to hit the international trail while a few sleepers have arisen. The class of 2019 has always been good and its starting to fill out with some depth.
Jaykwon Walton 6’6” G (Carver-Montgomery/Team Thad 2019) pushing 6’7”, Walton was impressive as usual and was clearly the best player at the event. He was finishing at and above the rim, getting out in transition, knocking down jumpers from behind the arc but really showed off his mid range. His consistency from three has made him so deadly and his range is limitless. He’s a pogo stick around the rim and he did all of this with a broken toe. Team Thad didn't have a close game all weekend and Walton was a major factor. The ceiling is so high for this young man. Alabama and Mississippi St are recruiting him the hardest right now but we wouldn’t be surprised to see his notoriety rise amongst national media this spring.
Dmitry Rivny 6’8” SF (Central Park/Team Carroll Premier) three level scorer but his pull-up jumper from mid-range and three was impressive. The Russian showcased why the international game has become so popular with his big time skill set and sneaky athleticism. He needs to add weight/strength but expect Rivny to get off the board soon as the unsigned senior is one of the best available.
Dmitry Rivny 6’8” SF (Central Park/Team Carroll Premier) three level scorer but his pull-up jumper from mid-range and three was impressive. The Russian showcased why the international game has become so popular with his big time skill set and sneaky athleticism. He needs to add weight/strength but expect Rivny to get off the board soon as the unsigned senior is one of the best available.
James Gormley 7’0” C (Central Park/Team Carroll Premier) Gormley is another foreign exchange student at Central Park. The Irishman altered shots but didn’t block enough for his height due to the lack of weight. Smart player who can score in the post who tends to get pushed off the block but can face up and make the short jumper. Gormley is still adjusting to speed of the game being in the states but he’s a prospect to keep your eyes on.
Brandon Nicholas 6’2” G (Tennessee Prep/Team Thad 2019) had an off weekend but still showed his ability to beat his defender off the dribble and get into the lane. Even though his jumper wasn’t falling after the first game where he lit it up, he still played with a lot of confidence.
Joseph Smith 6’8” PF (Huffman/Team Carroll Premier 2019) had a good weekend and has really shown improvement over the years. He battled on the glass, blocked a few shots and wasn’t afraid to defend. Finished in the paint and made the occasional 15 footer. He needs to continue to add weight/strength like he has been over the years. Looks like a sleeper in the class especially with bigs being so hard to find.
Kareem Thompson 6'5" PG (Florence/Elite Stars) one of the major sleepers in the class. He flourished in all 4 games showcasing his ability to score at all three levels as well as setup his teammates both in the half-court and transition. Long arms and a smooth jumper, his shiftiness off the dribble kept defenders honest as he was able to use a pull up or finish at the rim. Thompson was solid defensively and showed flashes of being a good shot blocking guard. Expect to see a boost in his recruitment during the live period.
Brandon Nicholas 6’2” G (Tennessee Prep/Team Thad 2019) had an off weekend but still showed his ability to beat his defender off the dribble and get into the lane. Even though his jumper wasn’t falling after the first game where he lit it up, he still played with a lot of confidence.
Joseph Smith 6’8” PF (Huffman/Team Carroll Premier 2019) had a good weekend and has really shown improvement over the years. He battled on the glass, blocked a few shots and wasn’t afraid to defend. Finished in the paint and made the occasional 15 footer. He needs to continue to add weight/strength like he has been over the years. Looks like a sleeper in the class especially with bigs being so hard to find.
Kareem Thompson 6'5" PG (Florence/Elite Stars) one of the major sleepers in the class. He flourished in all 4 games showcasing his ability to score at all three levels as well as setup his teammates both in the half-court and transition. Long arms and a smooth jumper, his shiftiness off the dribble kept defenders honest as he was able to use a pull up or finish at the rim. Thompson was solid defensively and showed flashes of being a good shot blocking guard. Expect to see a boost in his recruitment during the live period.