Six games were on tap Sunday and finished off seeing most of the Team Loaded family of teams. That will pay off going into the class of 2026.
No real order to this, but Eli Ellis and Team Loaded NC 16s took on We All Can Go, which used to be a Nike squad a few years back. They made their splash by having a freshman Marvin Bagley, plus Darius Garland and Tyger Campbell in the backcourt, plus a few others.
This version of We All Can Go is not as star-studded. Ellis’ brother, eighth-grader Isaac Ellis, was out this game, so Eli had more of a bigger role than normal. He came out aggressive and had 16 points by halftime, and he might have dropped 32 points in the game. I was curious to see what the Hudson (N.C.) Moravian Prep freshman would do against his peers. I’ve now seen more games of Tyler Lewis, Carter Whitt and Braxton Beverly of nearly anyone on earth, so I know the comparisons will come.
Ellis might not be explosive or big or even really quick, but he maximizes every tool he possesses. West Virginia has offered him and his brother, and it will be curious to see who else prioritizes him. It’s also fascinating to see that he’s part of maybe some YouTube or Netflix documentary and has film people following him. It’s just a dynamic I’ve rarely seen with a freshman.
The other non-17s game I watched involved One Time Legends and Game Elite 16s. Maybe a couple of players will end up being high majors. There was power forward Joshua Hill listed for Lake Norman (N.C.) Christian who I don’t know that much about in 2024, who has a chance for Game Elite (which used to be World Wide Renegades). A 2026 could be a star one day, Caleb Holt.
Reason I mention the game is that I was filming and the One Time Legends coach had his back turned to me and he was so tall it was hard to film the action until I moved to a different place. That really tall coach with back turned was Tracy McGrady, who was coaching his 2024 son, who is probably a low major at this point or small school. Usually they give contact info to the coaches, but needless to say Tracy McGrady’s digits were not part of the booklet.
Arrived early for the 8 a.m. game with Team Loaded VA vs. Utah Prospects and my new GB card crapped out, so missed some of that game to deal with that issue. I talked to junior Dennis Parker of Richmond (Va.) John Marshall High and he said he wanted to wait until April 2023 to pick a college and get a better understanding of his options. The only high major assistance coach in attendance was UNC’s Jeff Lebo, from what I could see. Rob Dockery is a really nice wing with some versatility from Washington, D.C., on Team Loaded VA 17s. He’d fit well at NC State.
Freddie Dilione was injured and sat out his game Sunday, and that allowed Mayar Wol to go bonkers apparently. Georgia offered him on the spot and I’ve heard rumblings of another SEC college poised to offer. The Moravian Prep stretch four is opening eyes, which I figured he would.
For pure entertainment I took in Compton Magic against Elite 6, which is from Canada. Junior wing Elijah Fishers is with Elite 6 and he’s been getting hype since the eighth grade. He also gave me one of the top 10 dunks I’ve shot this year (see below).
I watched junior small forward Khali Horton, who is from Erie, Pa., but attends Believe Prep in Rock Hill, S.C. He’s a perfect example of a player that NC State could get. He has offers from Ohio, George Washington and Robert Morris, but is set to take off. He had 28 points and five three-pointers for Wildcats Select against Arkansas Hawks. One of Levi Watkins targets while recruiting for Ole Miss played well for the Hawks, post player Rashaud Marshall, but he’s unlikely to go too far from home.
Got my first look at massive center Somtochukwu Cyril of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Hamilton Heights Christian, who is ranked No. 20 in the class of 2024. He’s 6-10 and at least 230 pounds and a beast blocking shots at the rim. Big dude. His EAB team got smoked by Wiz Kids, who has superstar sophomore Ian Jackson of Bronx (N.Y.) Cardinal Hayes, but his prep teammate Elijah Moore hit nine 3-pointers and had 33 points in the blowout win.
Got to see Bobby Lutz in the gym, representing Ole Miss as they put together a new assistant coaching group. Former NC State video coordinator Nima Ovidar was repping Fordham, who is looking for a new coach.
Former NBA player Mike Miller has a son in 2024 who has a chance. Peja Stojakovic was there all weekend to watch his son Andrej play. I guess Kentucky just offered Stojakovic.
No real order to this, but Eli Ellis and Team Loaded NC 16s took on We All Can Go, which used to be a Nike squad a few years back. They made their splash by having a freshman Marvin Bagley, plus Darius Garland and Tyger Campbell in the backcourt, plus a few others.
This version of We All Can Go is not as star-studded. Ellis’ brother, eighth-grader Isaac Ellis, was out this game, so Eli had more of a bigger role than normal. He came out aggressive and had 16 points by halftime, and he might have dropped 32 points in the game. I was curious to see what the Hudson (N.C.) Moravian Prep freshman would do against his peers. I’ve now seen more games of Tyler Lewis, Carter Whitt and Braxton Beverly of nearly anyone on earth, so I know the comparisons will come.
Ellis might not be explosive or big or even really quick, but he maximizes every tool he possesses. West Virginia has offered him and his brother, and it will be curious to see who else prioritizes him. It’s also fascinating to see that he’s part of maybe some YouTube or Netflix documentary and has film people following him. It’s just a dynamic I’ve rarely seen with a freshman.
The other non-17s game I watched involved One Time Legends and Game Elite 16s. Maybe a couple of players will end up being high majors. There was power forward Joshua Hill listed for Lake Norman (N.C.) Christian who I don’t know that much about in 2024, who has a chance for Game Elite (which used to be World Wide Renegades). A 2026 could be a star one day, Caleb Holt.
Reason I mention the game is that I was filming and the One Time Legends coach had his back turned to me and he was so tall it was hard to film the action until I moved to a different place. That really tall coach with back turned was Tracy McGrady, who was coaching his 2024 son, who is probably a low major at this point or small school. Usually they give contact info to the coaches, but needless to say Tracy McGrady’s digits were not part of the booklet.
Arrived early for the 8 a.m. game with Team Loaded VA vs. Utah Prospects and my new GB card crapped out, so missed some of that game to deal with that issue. I talked to junior Dennis Parker of Richmond (Va.) John Marshall High and he said he wanted to wait until April 2023 to pick a college and get a better understanding of his options. The only high major assistance coach in attendance was UNC’s Jeff Lebo, from what I could see. Rob Dockery is a really nice wing with some versatility from Washington, D.C., on Team Loaded VA 17s. He’d fit well at NC State.
Freddie Dilione was injured and sat out his game Sunday, and that allowed Mayar Wol to go bonkers apparently. Georgia offered him on the spot and I’ve heard rumblings of another SEC college poised to offer. The Moravian Prep stretch four is opening eyes, which I figured he would.
For pure entertainment I took in Compton Magic against Elite 6, which is from Canada. Junior wing Elijah Fishers is with Elite 6 and he’s been getting hype since the eighth grade. He also gave me one of the top 10 dunks I’ve shot this year (see below).
I watched junior small forward Khali Horton, who is from Erie, Pa., but attends Believe Prep in Rock Hill, S.C. He’s a perfect example of a player that NC State could get. He has offers from Ohio, George Washington and Robert Morris, but is set to take off. He had 28 points and five three-pointers for Wildcats Select against Arkansas Hawks. One of Levi Watkins targets while recruiting for Ole Miss played well for the Hawks, post player Rashaud Marshall, but he’s unlikely to go too far from home.
Got my first look at massive center Somtochukwu Cyril of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Hamilton Heights Christian, who is ranked No. 20 in the class of 2024. He’s 6-10 and at least 230 pounds and a beast blocking shots at the rim. Big dude. His EAB team got smoked by Wiz Kids, who has superstar sophomore Ian Jackson of Bronx (N.Y.) Cardinal Hayes, but his prep teammate Elijah Moore hit nine 3-pointers and had 33 points in the blowout win.
Got to see Bobby Lutz in the gym, representing Ole Miss as they put together a new assistant coaching group. Former NC State video coordinator Nima Ovidar was repping Fordham, who is looking for a new coach.
Former NBA player Mike Miller has a son in 2024 who has a chance. Peja Stojakovic was there all weekend to watch his son Andrej play. I guess Kentucky just offered Stojakovic.
