Jamir Watkins
Basketball Spotlight took a trip to Moody Park in Ewing NJ to check out their summer league. This league features the top middle school players in the Mercer, Burlington and Bucks Counties areas. Here are the top performers we saw at Moody Park.
Moody Park Summer League Top Performers
Jamir Watkins Forward (Gym Work Training)- Watkins is perceived as the cream crop of the crop for the Mercer County Class of 2020. The 6’4 wing forward can handle the rock and showed some range on his shot. His size and athleticism helps him hit the glass and finish above the rim in transitions. If he remains focused, works on his game and speeds up his motor he could be the next big star coming from the Mercer County area. Word has him attending Trenton Catholic in the fall.
Jaylen Champion Guard (Gym Work Training)- An explosive guard, Champion bullied his way through the defense and finished through contact. He has a strong frame and attacks the basket like a freight train. His lack of attempts didn’t give me a chance to gauge his outside shot. But the PDS product plays above the rim with ease and has an outstanding motor. He should be able to dominate the Prep B division very soon.
Dahvae Edwards-Chew Forward (Gym Work Training)- Edwards-Chew did the dirty along the baseline by rebounding and playing good defense. I like how he can hit the mid-range shot and wasn’t afraid to use it. He’s becoming more comfortable on the floor and only should be better once he has the confidence to put the rock on the deck.
Brandon Raba Guard (Gym Work Training)- Raba can stretched the defense with his stroke. While Watkins and Champion commanded attention of the defense Raba drifted to the corner and drained the trey ball. He has a real good skill set.
Julian McGowan Guard (Oscars Barbershop)- McGowan is another top prospect in this class. He plays the game with smoothness and can score in bunches. I like his size, stroke and explosiveness when finishing. He has an aura of confidence that helps him get things done on the floor. Once he gets going he’s extremely hard to stop.
Kareem Hemsley Guard (Oscars Barbershop)- Hemsley is another smooth guard from this squad. I like hid mid-range game and his crafty ball-handling. He teamed with McGowan to help Oscars Barbershop put points on the board.
Leon Jones Guard (Oscars Barbershop)- Jones was a pleasant surprise running the point. He dribbled with his head up, got into the lane and usually made the right play. I like his burst of speed, court vision and feel for the game.
Freddie Young Jr. Guard (YSU Elite)- Young has size and can really stroke the ball. His range is way beyond the three point line. I also like his size and the way he breaks down the defense off the dribble. His court vision is underrated because so much emphasis is put on how well he shoots the ball. He’s a kid to keep an eye on.
Zion Cruz Guard (YSU Elite)- The rising 7th Grader played with poise in this atmosphere despite his lack of strength. Cruz found gaps in the defense and attacked. He loves using the spin move and floater to finish over shot blockers. He also showed deep range from behind the three point line.
EJ Evans Guard (Team Omega)- Evans made his debut and after getting comfortable he dominated competition. He loves going hard right and scoring the ball from all three levels. I like the smoothness of his game and athleticism when he’s finishing. He also is slated to attend TCA.
Shaun Balkcom Forward (Team Omega)- Balkcom is a workhorse on the glass and inside. He hits the boards relentlessly and can score close to the basket. He uses the pump fake to keep shot blockers at bay. This kid goes hard.
