The Southwest Showcase Middle School Discovery Camp took place this Saturday afternoon in Chandler, Arizona. Organized and directed by tournament organizers Ron Coleman and Chad Groth, this event included some of the state's top prospects from middle school and younger - including prospects from 5th through 8th grades. The event was filled with instruction and camp games and included lunch for the participants.
The Arizona Preps' staff was in attendance for this year's event. Here were the top performers we saw from this year's event, led by co-Tournament MVP's, 6-foot 8th grader Zeke Thompkins and 5-foot-10 8th grader Bo Williams . . .
Zeke Thompkins 5-10 PG 8th Grader - 2020 Class
Thompkins is the state's top point guard prospect in the 2020 class, and was selected as our co-Tournament MVP. Thompkins is a pure point guard prospect with a nice feel for the game and an ability to score the basketball. A left hander, Thompkins has a good ability to make plays off the dribble for himself and others, and is a very good finisher in traffic - using a variety of floaters to score over bigger defenders inside the lane. Thompkins has unlimited range on his shot - making him difficult to defend for opposing guards, as he can stretch the defense. Has command presence on the floor with the basketball in his hands. Also a very good defender that plays passing lanes. A very good ball handler and passer. Has a bright future ahead of him. Younger brother of current Boston College guard Sammy Thompkins.
Bo Williams 5-10 SG 8th Grader - 2020 Class
Williams has been around the game of basketball for much of his life, and is a very good looking basketball prospect. Was selected as our co-Tournament MVP of the event. A fundamentally sound guard prospect with a nice repetoire of skills for the guard position. Williams is an excellent shooter of the basketball with range on his shot. He also has a quick release on his shot and can get it off with consistency against defensive pressure. Also a good handler and passer with good court vision. A good rebounder for his size and pushes the ball up the floor to the open man. A good team defender that understands positioning on the floor. A very good looking 2/3 prospect for the future. Will grow a great deal over the next few years. Younger borther of current Perry HS guard Blake Williams. Bo will also attend Perry HS.
Malachi Rogers 5-7 SG 8th grader - 2020 Class
A big-time shooter with unlimited range on his shot and a quick release. Moves very well without the basketball and is a fundamentally sound guard prospect with a high motor and an excellent feel for the game. A combo-guard prospect that will only benefit with physical growth and natural maturity. A good ball handler and passer. Mature beyond his years mentally. Very good in the open floor where he likes to push the ball and make plays for himself and others. A good defender with good lateral quickness and quick hands. A nice guard prospect for the future.
Bryce Baptiste 5-3 PG 8th Grader - 2021 Class
A smaller PG prospect with a nice feel for the game and an ability to push the basketball up the floor fast. Has an excellent handle of the basketball and sees the floor. Good penetrator and finisher in the lane. Good in the open floor. Excellent defender. Younger brother of current Basha HS sophomore guard Bryan Baptiste.
Cedric Harris-Lacy 5-3 PG 8th Grader - 2020 Class
A quick and athletic point guard prospect with a knack for driving the basketball up the court and finishing plays in the open floor. A left-hander, Harris-Lacy is an excellent slasher and finisher and is difficult to defend for opposing guards. A good mid-range scorer and a capable three-point shooter. A good floor general. Uses his small stature to his advantage.
Cristian Valle 5-4 SG 8th Grader - 2020 Class
An excellent shooter with good range on his shot. Good ball handler and passer. Solid defender.
Coleman Fields 5-7 SG 7th Grader - 2021 Class
Long, athletic guard prospect that likes to play in the open floor. A very good guard that likes to slash and finish in the lane, and is a good finisher. A good scorer that has a good mid-range game for himself. Runs the floor hard and likes to play in an uptempo style. A good mid-range shooter. Good ball handler and passer.
Jacob Rice 5-3 PG 7th Grader - 2021 Class
Rice is a big-time ball handler and passer with an excellent feel for the game, and an ability to make players around him better. He sees the floor very well, and almost sees plays before they happen at times. Enjoys pasing the basketball and is very fundamentally sound. A very good shooter with range on his shot. A good finisher. Good penetrator. Pushes the ball up the floor. A nice talent for the future.
Chandler Carter 5-10 PF 7th Grader - 2021 Class
Carter is a nice talent - a big, wide-bodied post player with a nice overall skillset and a variety of offensive skills. Carter is a good scorer in the low post and also is able to make shots from mid-range or three-point distance. Runs the floor hard and is a good finisher in the open floor. An active rebounder that gets good inside position. Solid defender. Should grow a great deal over time.
Kyele Carter 5-6 PF 7th Grader - 2021 Class
Kyele is a strong post player and a very good rebounder that rebounds outside of his area. Not much of a scorer and still raw offensively. A good low post defender. Needs skillwork.
Diondre Morris 5-1 PG 6th Grader - 2022 Class
Morris is a nice-looking but young guard prospect with a very good handle of the basketball, and a nice shooting stroke with good range. Good passer w/court vision. Good defender.
Jack O'Grady 5-1 PG 5th Grader - 2023 Class
A very good ball handler and passer with excellent quickness. A good shooter for his age and size. Fundamentally sound at a young age. Has good potential to develop. Good defender. Plays with good intensity.