Team 9 brought a lot of talent to the court with scoring ability and athleticism. Photo cred – Larry Rhinehart
Cleveland, Tennessee – It is imperative for players to find opportunities to train and get better in the off-season. Finding weekends where players can travel and get out of their comfort zone can pay dividends in the future. The last weekend in February gave middle school players a chance to compete and gain valuable exposure before the travel basketball season kicks off in March. Here is at the players from Team 9.
FOLLOW @CoachHemi
Malachi Dooley
Jay Bonner
Braden Zapp
Team 9 had a number of play-makers, which started with Malachi Dooley. He put the ball on the floor and was able to dish to teammates or finish at the basket. Class of 2023 guard Jay Bonner was a beneficiary of some of those passes. He is an accurate shooter from distance and showed potential in learning the game. Class of 2021 guard Braden Zapp was able to blend many skills together to be one of the standouts from the camp. He dished out pinpoint passes and even rebounded the ball well as a guard.
Dillon Stakely
Jake Brock
Neyland Jean
Class of 2022 guard Dillon Stakely has great size to play on the perimeter. But it is his court sense that allowed him to make plays. He flashed to open areas and finished in the paint. Class of 2022 guard Jake Brock is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. He is a solid role player who can hit the pull up jumper well. Neyland Jean is poised to have a big summer on the travel scene. He is a strong finisher that has agile footwork for his size.
Reed Kemp
Gray Gustafson
Zach Boyd
Reed Kemp is a special talent. He has a great first step and can score off the move effectively. Gray Gustafson proved he is just as talented with his ability to score creatively around the basket. He has remarkable springs in his legs. Zach Boyd is a player that fights for his spot on the court. He is active on the glass and alters shots defensively. His length and ball skill point to a bright future for him. He pushed it ahead with his left hand to finish at one point, which is an encouraging sign for his skill set.
Highlights from the 2017 Coach Hemi Middle School Showcase courtesy of Larry Rhinehart and Jordan Davis
Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. Hemingway serves on the Board of Selectors for the Naismith Trophy. also He is also the publisher of CoachHemi.com. He has been involved in the community since 1996 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at JonathanHemingway@PeachStateBasketball.com and follow him on twitter @JLHemingwayPSB
