Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic 8th Grade Top Performers Part 1

Ahmad Nowell

The Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic 8th Grade Division is loaded with talent and here’s our first look at the Top Performers. 

Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic 8th Grade Top Performers Part 1 


Ahmad Nowell Guard (Team Final) – Nowell is a strong combo guard that can do it all. He is very hard to guard because he can score from all three levels and he is always in attack mode. Ahmad is at his best attacking the rim and either scoring or getting to the charity stripe. He has a high school ready body and we liked how hard he played taking over games for long stretches at a time. He dropped 20 point in the semifinal and 14 points in the championship win.


Dylan Seay Forward (Team Final) – Seay is a wing forward standing at 6’5 that can post up smaller defenders or step out and knock down the 3 ball. He has a sturdy built body with good athleticism playing above the rim. We like his stroke from behind the 3-point line as we saw him knock down many three pointers over the weekend. He averaged 12 points a game over the three games we saw and was a vital piece helping Team Final bring home the championship.
Mike Jones Jr. Guard (Team Final) – Deuce is point guard with a nice handle that allows him to navigate the defense and get him into his scoring spots. He knows when to score or get his teammates involved. When interviewing Mike before the championship he felt very confident going into the game against NY Lightning with his team’s game plan. As the PG he was able to execute and get the win which is the most important thing. He averaged double figures over the three games we saw.
Jakai Sanders Guard (NY Lightning) – Sanders looked good all weekend playing fast and putting pressure on the defense. He can score in bunches, but he also can transform into a playmaker finding his teammates for assists. He is a strong combo guard that has a bright future. Jakai has a nice 3 point shot as he knocked down four of them in the championship. He finished with 23 points against Team Final.
Badara Diakite Forward (NY Lightning) – We always seem to find a few nice bigs that we have never seen before at the Tip Off Classic. Diakite was one of them. Standing at about 6’8 or better he is a very fluid athlete. He has good hands where he can catch lobs or drop off passes in traffic and convert them into dunk finishes. He disrupts on the defensive end blocking or altering shots.
Elliott Cadeau Guard (NY Lightning) – Cadeau must be considered one of the best natural point guards in the country. He has good size and athleticism with a great feel for the game and a basketball IQ that is off the charts. He does what ever it takes for his team to win. He is good getting to the basket and we liked the look of his improved 3-point shot.
Tarik Watson Forward (NY Lightning) – Watson has improved offensively from the last time we saw him. He has a strong frame allowing him to finish through contact. His athleticism has kicked in as we saw him catch a put back dunk. We like his motor and how hard he was playing along with how he was able to get to the foul line at a high clip. Tarik finished with 11 points against Team Final.

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