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The Underclassman All-American Games showcased top talent from the 2028, 2029, and 2030 classes, with each game offering plenty of names to track moving forward. The 2028 game also featured several underrated prospects who made a strong impression.
2028 Classic Game: East 93 – West 87
2028 East
CJ Moore 6’7, 180 SF
Moore’s a big-time athlete and loved finishing above the rim. On one play, he had a missed dunk attempt after getting fouled that would have been the play of the game. He led the way with 17 points and played with good energy throughout the game, looking to score in transition often. He scored on some tough layups as well, hitting a nice reverse off a Euro-step on one play. As a 6’5 wing, I would like to see more shooting and perimeter game as he didn’t make a 3PTer and went 1-4 from the free throw line.
LJ Williams 6’7, 210 PF
Williams helped the East stay on top with his 15 points. He did a good job showing some variety as a scorer and was effective when the pace picked up and in the half-court. He shot well with form off the catch while contested, even showing some pick and pop action on one play. He’s athletic as well with a few dunks in the game. When he didn’t finish above the rim, he scored on a few strong moves in the paint.
Alex Jenkins 6’6, 205 SG
Jenkins scored on a lot of layups, sometimes uncontested and a few that were challenging, showing some comfort finishing with his off hand. He scored with contact at times and hit a midrange pull-up after taking a bump from the defender on one play. He had a dunk in transition and although he didn’t show much explosion in the game, he’s a capable athlete. Jenkins didn’t make any perimeter shots and shot 3-5 from the foul line to finish with 15 points.
Enmanuel Valera Melo 6’7, 180 SG
Valera Melo played well on and off the ball, creating at times and scoring on a few cuts. He can handle the ball well, selling his crossover and shows good read and react with his dribble. He’s a strong framed wing with defensive potential and solid athleticism. He only made 1 3PT shot in the game but showed some strong shooting in practice, freezing the defense with his dribble and hitting contested shots. He has some creativity in his game, showing on some drives and passing at times. Valera Melo scored 10 points in the game.
Bryson Jatta 6’2, 175 PG
Jatta only scored 7 points but played with some flair. He hit a 3 in the defender’s face on a play and showed quickness with the ball. He’s pretty strong and gets off the ground well, showing on a fastbreak dunk. He had a strong baseline drive in the half-court to round out his scoring and showed some nice passing in the game.
2028 West
Myles Hayes 6’5, 185 SG
Hayes (pictured) was big for the West squad with 13 points. He’s athletic, showing out on a big dunk down the middle of the floor, but he isn’t reliant on it. Whether it’s shooting over defenders or making tough layups at the rim, he does a great job using his length to his advantage. He played within the flow and under control. Hayes didn’t hit any 3s but had no problem showcasing his overall ability.
Shamar Madden 6’4, 175 SG
Madden also contributed 13 points. He’s a good athlete, showing a few times in transition and catching an alley-oop. He hit a 3 off the catch and split the defense to make a tough left-handed layup to show what he’s capable of. He’s a strong ballhandler, showing some creativity and speed.
Baer Bailey 6’8, 210 PF
Bailey impressed as a shooter, knocking down 2 3PTers with good mechanics, confidence, and a quick release. He’s athletic and scored some in the paint, with his most impressive play using a hesitation for a strong baseline drive. He did a good job rebounding on both ends of the floor and finished with 13 points.
Korajo Dickens 6’6, 220 SF
Dickens came alive in the second half to ultimately finish with 12 points. While he’s athletic, he did most of his damage on layups and tough shots within the arc, including a one-foot runner off the glass and another tightly contested layup where he impressed with his body control to finish. Dickens showed some shooting as well, hitting a pull-up 3 in transition and a turnaround in the midrange after hitting his defender with a crossover. Dickens displayed natural touch from all over the floor and had an impressive showing.
Jeremiah Evans 6’10, 190 PF
Evans only scored 8 points but showed potential. He gets up quickly off the ground on both ends, blocking a jump shot on a play. He was also on the finishing end of an alley-oop and had a strong baseline dunk in the half-court. He had a nice drop-step to score with his left hand in the post to flash his offensive ability. He didn’t show too much in the game but did enough to intrigue.
2029 Select Game: West 93 – East 91
2029 West
Majok Ater 6’10, 190 C
Ater led the West team with 13 points. All of his points came around the basket. He will need to get stronger but he’s long, athletic, and runs the floor well. He scored on some uncontested dunks and a few tipping in misses, doing a good job on the offensive boards. He didn’t show any perimeter shooting and his free throw results were inconsistent, going 3-5 from the line.
Cadien Hudson 6’6, 180 SG
Hudson scored all 12 of his points in the second half. He showed his athleticism for a few dunks, getting off the floor very well with natural ability. He also shot well from 3, knocking down two attempts in the game, seeming to be a natural scorer. Hudson also made both of his free throws and showed some intriguing talent.
Harlem Nunez 6’8, 205 SF
Nunez is a good athlete, popping off the ground with ease on both ends of the floor to finish with a few dunks, block some shots, and grab rebounds. He has a strong frame and isn’t afraid of contact. There’s room to expand his game down low when he doesn’t dunk and despite his shot lacking some arc, he hit two 3PTers in the game to show an outside presence. Nunez finished with 12 points and spent time defending the paint and the perimeter with some intensity at times throughout the game.
Alvin Pettway 6’8, 205 C
Pettway kept it simple with his 12 points. He didn’t show much explosion around the rim but has some touch underneath the basket. He hit a floater and caught a dump off for a layup, but the rest of his scoring came from offensive rebounds for second chance points. Pettway rebounded well, has a frame that will develop well, and had a solid showing overall.
Duke Howell 6’4, SG
Howell scored 11 points, all in the first half. He shoots very well off the catch with a staggard and wide stance, but his arc is very good, with his makes finding the bottom of the net. He made both of his free throws and 3 3PTers in the game, with one from half-court to beat the half-time buzzer. I would have liked to have seen more but he got hurt early in the second half but impressed in limited action.
BJ Lafell 5’11, 155 PG
Lafell is small but very quick and showed he can hit some difficult shots at the rim, with great body control, ability to absorb contact, and finish with either hand at different angles was high-level. He demonstrated his burst with the ball and quick crossover to create opportunities in the half-court. I would have liked to see more outside shooting, but Lafell impacted with 12 points.
David Whitaker 6’2, 160 SG
Whitaker only scored 8 points, but the eye-test is worth noting. He can really handle the ball and made some good lead passes, although sometimes getting too loose and turning it over. He’s very athletic, showing on 3 dunks in the game and is good in transition as a leader and finisher. He didn’t make any 3PT shots but hit a midrange pull-up to round out his scoring.
2029 East
Jeremiah Anderson 6’5, 175 PG
Anderson led the game in scoring, and all of his points came in the second half. He’s potent shooting off the catch and has very good range, scoring 12 of his 14 points from beyond the arc. His only 2PT basket came from an uncontested layup. He didn’t get to show his athleticism in this one but displayed his scoring ability and showed some ball-handling.
JaCody Terry 6’5, SF
Terry scored 14 points for the East. He was effective in catch and shoot situations to knock down 2 3PTers in the game. He was also good on the finishing end in transition and showed some body control on a baseline layup in the half-court. Terry played hard, isn’t afraid of contact, and rebounded well for his size.
Bronx Ganaway 6’8, 190 SF
Ganaway has good size for a wing and showed variety as a scorer. He has a smooth stroke from the perimeter, knocking down 2 3PTers in the game while showing comfort off the catch and off the dribble from distance. He also scored a few in transition while showing his athleticism. He looked comfortable finishing with his left hand after a spin on one play and showed intriguing talent overall. Ganaway finished with 12 points.
2030 Rising Stars Game: East 101 – West 81
2030 East
Joshua Sanders 6’9, 200 PF
Sanders led the East with 20 points. He has good size and an impressive physical profile. The left-handed forward showed good versatility, scoring inside and out. He knocked down 3 3PTers in the game, one after going between the legs with his dribble to shoot in his defender’s face. There were times he overdribbled, but he showed a good handle and flashed passing ability. He’s a good athlete, finishing above the rim with ease, on one play blocking a defender’s 3PT attempt then running the floor to finish. Sanders showed a little bit of everything in the victory.
Deuce Grayson 6’2, PG
Grayson impressed with his speed, scoring, and passing. He plays well off the dribble, changing speed and direction well. He had some strong takes to the basket and hit some tough shots at the rim. He knocked down a contested corner 3 to show perimeter shooting to finish with 12 points.
Elijah Ross 5’11, 150 PG
Ross scored 10 points for the East. He’s quick in the open floor and can dribble-drive well in the half-court. He created offense for others as well, showing ability to read and react as a playmaker. He scored from a few spots; catch and shoot from 3PT, midrange pull-up, and a strong and-one layup on another play. Ross also defended well on the perimeter.
2030 West
Cannon Washington 6’8, PF
Washington was the top scorer for the West with 16 points. He’s smooth with the ball, very good at working the high and low post; using spins and footwork to maneuver between and around defenders. He showed good touch when scoring inside and dunked a few when he had free space to gather. In addition to his scoring, Washington showed some passing out of the post and mid-drive on occasions and rebounded very well on both ends.
DJ Parker 6’7, SF
Parker is a strong and aggressive wing. He initiated a lot of contact with the ball and drew a few fouls. He finished with a few dunks and multiple alley-oops, some in half-court settings. He’s a good athlete with long arms and shows good potential but he didn’t show any 3PT shooting and only shot 3-6 on free throws, so there’s room for growth. Parker looked the part of a two-way prospect.
Heir Jackson 6’2, PG
Jackson had a lot of good looks but just missed a few, ultimately finishing with 9 points. He has a strong frame and is quick with the ball, showing an effective crossover. He got loose handling and passing at times, but he showed plenty of capability to create, see the floor, and set-up his teammates. His shot looks good, knocking down a 3 in the game and he hit some tough layups, scoring well with either hand.
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