CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- This past Saturday, we had our 2nd annual freshman elite camp and it was loaded once again. The class of 2021 came and represented, while many prospects put their names on our radar for the first time. 

As follows are some of the top performers from camp:

Trey James - 2021 6’10 C - Sheldon Clark (KY)
Trey is nicknamed “Monster in the Middle” for good reason. The big fella has taken big steps forward in his game in recent months. He has good touch on his mid range jumper and his improved athleticism allows him to be more aggressive on the glass. Trey was absolutely dominate at our camp, and showed he is a relentless worker. After being able to participate in 3 national level camps (John Lucas International, Crossroads Elite, and CP3) this summer, he has seen his level of competition if he wants to be a big time D1 recruit. Right now he has interest from IU, Marshall, Morehead St, NKU, and Purdue. Sheldon Clark hoops fans will have a good time watching this young man’s development over the next four years.

Q'Daryius McHenry - 2021 5’10 PG - Ohio Co. (KY)
The strong guard is built like a college running back. McHenry has a high level first step and great strength which he uses to get into the paint anytime he wants. The PG is a good athlete showing that he can comfortably flush it with two hands. He is a lockdown defender on one end and playmaker on the other. A very capable 3-point shooter, but once he can become more consistent in that area, he will be incredibly hard to guard. This kid will be one to keep an eye on in Kentucky.

Jaz Johnson - 2021 6’1 G - Wolfe Co. (KY)
Johnson consistently made the right plays and showed a high IQ for the game. A guard that knows how to get to the rim and can finish in traffic. The Wolfe County guard plays hard and isn't afraid of contact on either end. Solid all-around player.

DeAjuan Stepp - 2021 6’2 G - West Jessamine (KY)
A nice prospect with a lot of potential and upside.  Stepp has good length and size for the guard position. His length helps him on the defensive end where getting steals and deflections come often when watching him play.  His ability to be a lock up defender on multiple positions is very intriguing. Right now, he is at his best offensively when he’s slashing to the rim to score or get an assist.  Once he gets a perimeter jump shot that he is confident in, he will be a serious problem in the state of Kentucky.

Ben Johnson - 2021 6’2 G - Lexington Catholic (KY)
There was a buzz around Johnson before camp, and his work Saturday solidified his position as one of the top players in the class of 2021.  The younger brother of 2 current D-1 players, Ben showed an advanced basketball IQ for his age.  The guard displayed the ability to get to the rim and score or create for teammates, as well as hit the mid-range shot off the dribble.  From the moment the ball tipped in game 1 he showed that he can fill it up from deep.  Whether it was a spot up shot or a pull up off the dribble, when he shot the ball, everyone thought it was going in. We look for big things from Johnson at the varsity level this season.

Deshawn Jackson - 2021 6’1 G - Frederick Douglass (KY)
DeShawn is a guard with a strong frame that attacks the rim and can finish with both hands and nice touch.  His ability to get to the rim makes him a constant threat to draw contact and finish or get to free throw line.  F.D. has got a good one in Deshawn Jackson. He will make some noise in the city of Lexington this upcoming season. 

Mason Moore - 2021 6’3 G - Paintsville Independent (KY)
Mason has really good size for the shooting guard position. He finished at the rim using his size inside and has a nice shooting stroke. Shoots the ball with confidence and needs little to no room to get his shot off. Moore showed good hustle on both sides of the ball. Overall he has a nice game and knows how to play.

Trace Flannery - 2021 6'4 F - Bowling Green (KY)
Trace has size, strength, and plays with a lot of toughness. The forward showed his versatility offensively, scoring inside and out in the games at camp. At times, he showed some ability to put it on the floor and get a bucket. He does nice job rebounding the ball and getting the ball to a guard in transition.

Derrick Quarles Jr - 2021 5'6 G - University Heights Academy (KY)
The young PG has quickness and his ball pressure can cause problems on defense. Throughout the camp, he showed a nice looking 3pt stroke and made multiple 3’s in the games. Quarles Jr. is willing to defer and set up others which shows his unselfishness.

Tyler Slone - 2021 6'3 G - Oldham County (KY)
The length and potential of Tyler Slone really stood out as the day progressed. His length and athleticism are two big assets to his game. He competed defensively, and showed a knack for aggressively rebounding in and out of his area.  Gives a lot of effort and energy.  Slone showed a nice touch around the basket, and we expect to hear more from him as he adds strength and fills out his frame.

Trey Stone - 2021 5'11 G - Louisville Male (KY)
Trey does good job attacking the rim and has nice stroke from the outside. He displayed good form and balance on his perimeter shots. Stone is a capable and willing defender which makes him useful and effective contributor on both ends of the floor.

Zach Stahlman - 2021 6'0 G - Louisville Trinity (KY)
The Trinity guard knocked down the open jump shot time after time. Not only did he shoot it well, but showed that he can drive the ball to the basket and finish with both hands. Defensively he reads passing lanes well and has active hands. Played well and was consistent with his effort.

Je Vonte’ Turner - 2021 6’2 G - Knox Central (KY)
Turner is a strong, athletic guard that can bully his way to the basket and score at will.  He has great touch and feel offensively.  Scores from all 3 levels and rebounds well for his position.  Turner will be a kid we will keep close watch on because his potential and upside is definitely there.

Cameron Johnson - 2021 6’3 G – Daviess County (KY)
Cameron is a long wiry 6’3 guard that is a good athlete.  He can dunk with ease in transition and plays at the rim when attacking.  Showed the ability to knock down perimeter jump shots with a defender on him.  His handles need improvement, but that will come with time.  Defensively he can guard multiple positions and he is active and consistent on the glass. Still raw, but has upside.

Ryan Russell - 2021 5’11 G - Henry Clay HS (KY)
Russell came in as an under the radar player, but his toughness and ability to shoot the ball left an impression on us while we watched him. He showed nice form on his jumper and made the 3 ball from all over with consistency. His handles and vision solid. We expect him to develop into a knockdown shooter and a harassing perimeter defender for Coach Daniel Brown at Henry Clay.

Braxton Tharpe - 2021 5’11 G - Paintsville HS (KY)
Braxton did not immediately catch our eye, but showed great effort, unselfishness, and a will to win throughout camp that could not be overlooked. Braxton showed his IQ and unselfishness by rebounding and using his length to apply pressure on defense.  He ran the court well and showed the ability to score tough finishes in transition.  Braxton is part of a highly-regarded class at Paintsville and Johnson Central, and we expect him to leave his mark.

Darius Washington - 2021 6’6 F - Fern Creek HS (KY)
A lengthy Forward with huge upside. Washington showcased a skill set Saturday that makes you see why he is considered a top player in the Kentucky 2021 class. Washington’s perimeter skills have improved each time we’ve watched him and he was knocking down the outside shot consistently at camp on Saturday. We would like to see him play with more energy on defense and use his length to attempt to block/alter more shots out of his area. Washington will be a major varsity contributor for a Fern Creek team that looks to get back to Rupp Arena after last season’s Final 4 finish.

KJ Crump - 2021 5’7 PG - University Heights Academy (KY)
If we were asked to name the MVP of the NUR Freshman Elite camp then Crump would have been a near unanimous choice. We have not seen a Freshman PG control the tempo of the game and constantly keep the defense on their heels the way Crump does. An excellent shooter from mid-range, Crump also has a consistent floater and is able to finish at the rim with either hand despite lack of size. An excellent ball handler with a quick 1st step, Crump is nearly impossible to stay in front of. If his 3-point shot continues to improve we could be looking at a serious 2021 Mr. Basketball candidate.

Myles Morones - 2021 5’10 PG - Bryan Station HS (KY)
A high IQ pass first PG, Morones is the definition of a floor leader and takes care of the basketball as if it’s his 1st born child. An excellent defender Morones used his length and quick hands to get deflections and steals all day long. We would like to see more aggression offensively and a willingness to take more 3-point shots but Morones has a chance to be a top 3 PG in a loaded 2021 class.

Camden Pfeister - 2021 6’2 SG - Southern HS (KY)
Pfeister showed up to camp sporting multiple stitches above and under his eye from an open gym collision a couple days before. He proved his toughness by not only participating at camp but also driving the ball to the basket aggressively without any fear of contact. Known as an outside shooter, Pfeister was streaky on Saturday but got hot hitting four 3’s in a row during the day’s 2nd game. If he continues to get stronger and improve his ball handling, Pfeister could end up one of the best scorers in this class

Jaden Rogers - 2021 5’11 PG - Fern Creek HS (KY)
A playmaking PG who loves to penetrate the defense and create for others. Rogers excels in transition and is constantly looking to pass the ball ahead. We would like to see him shoot the ball more and with his shiftiness and hesitation moves look to get to the rim and finish or get to the FT line. At this time, Rogers is considered the top 2021 PG in the city of Louisville and has a distinct advantage over his peers having played varsity basketball for Jeffersontown HS(KY) as an 8th grader.

Paul Lee - 2021 5’6 PG - Atherton HS (KY)
A flashy PG with a bag full of tricks, Lee impressed us at camp despite his lack of size and not having been on our staff’s radar. Lee does his best work when he is leading the break and does a good job of getting teammates in the best position to score. If his outside shot improves and he continues to grow he may be a major surprise in the 2021 class.

Makhi White - 2021 6’2 SG - Louisville Eastern HS (KY)
A skilled lefty scorer whose 3-point shot has improved a ton in the last year. White is a player who can take over a game with his scoring ability. While not an elite athlete, White shows good body control and an ability to finish with contact at the rim. It will be interesting to see how much of a varsity contributor White can be on a rebuilding Louisville Eastern team.

Isaiah Jefferson - 2021 6’2 SG - South Dearborn HS (IL)
Nobody played harder at NUR Freshman Elite camp than this Illinois prospect who competed all day like he was playing for a state championship. While his perimeter skills need to improve, Jefferson got a ton of put backs and finished consistently in transition and off slashes to the rim. A potential lockdown defender, Jefferson used his length and energy to make opposing guards turn the ball over and settle for bad shots. We will be keeping an eye on this out of state prospects progress.

TJ Toney  - 2021 5’11 CG - North Bullitt HS (KY)
A strong built combo guard, Toney did not have his best day at Saturday’s camp, but in our eyes, continues to be one of the top 2021 prospects in the state of Kentucky. An elite scorer who can score the ball at all 3 levels, Toney must do a better job getting others involved and cut down on careless turnovers. He has a chance to be an immediate double digit scorer at North Bullitt (KY) and if he can show more of an ability to create shots for teammates, he could transition into a complete point guard.

MiKaleb Coffey - 2021 6’2 CG - Tates Creek HS (KY)
A scoring combo guard with length. Coffey dominated the one on one portion of camp, scoring 9 baskets in a row at one point. A crafty scorer who can finish with either hand and uses the glass effectively. If he can become a more consistent outside shooter, Coffey will be a difficult matchup for anyone in the state. A good defender that loves physical play, Coffey has a chance to be an immediate varsity contributor at Tate’s Creek under new head coach Jarrod Gay.

Noah Gordon - 2021 6’4 F - Shelby County (KY)
Gordon is an absolute force in the paint. He is a big physical presence that can control the middle, but has a good enough handle that he can take his defender off the bounce from the wing. One of this young man’s best assets is his footwork. He’s nimble for his size, but a hidden jewel is his ability to pass the ball. When this Shelby County native decides he wants to dominate from the elbow to the rim on a consistent basis, his game is going to elevate a great deal.

Sam Conley - 2021 6’2 SG - Spencer County (KY)
Sam came to camp ready to build on a strong spring/summer, and looked different this time around. He was a lot more comfortable in the camp setting and was aggressive in seeking shots. This young guard has a good all around game, can create his own shot, and finish in the paint. We would like to see him become more confident in his abilities, as he can potentially be a major impact player down the road.

 

Kelly Niece - 2021 6’1 G - Simon Kenton (KY)
Kelly mixed it up throughout camp, as he put the ball on the floor, got in the lane, and hit jumpers from the perimeters. He was not quite as strong as some of the other campers, but that did not stop him. He earned the respect of his peers and they will not forget his name anytime soon. We look forward to seeing his progression over the next 4 years as he should make an immediate impact at Simon Kenton.

Cory Vanhoose - 2021 5’11 G - Johnson Central (KY)
Cory was one of our favorite players to watch, mostly because he has “old man game.” He’s not the same height as his peers, but continually finds ways to put the ball in the hole. Vanhoose is very strong for his age, and when he wants to bully the opposition, he does. Regardless of his size, he scored in the 20+ range game after game. He is someone to know going forward.

Jaylen Fairman - 2021 5’11 PG - Jeffersonville (IN)
Jaylen made the short trip across the river to come play with the KY boys, and was a bright spot as always. He has a smooth handle and loves to get his teammates the ball in a position to score. If you need a bucket he will get you one, if you need him to run the break he will, and if you need him to set up teammates he will. The best thing about him is his manners off the court. The Jeffersonville native plays hard on both sides of the ball, and should help win a lot of games during his career.

Isaiah May - 2021 6’3 G - Johnson Central (KY)
Isaiah is a big guard that uses his body to bang through defenders to get to the rim, but he can shoot the ball with range as well. The one thing he can add to help improve his game even more is rebounding. With his 6’3 length he will be a tremendous help to himself and his team pulling down boards and starting breaks. He should be a nice touch on the wing for Johnson Central this season. We look forward to watching him progress in the future.

Isaiah Mason - 2021 6’3 G/F - Bowling Green (KY)
Isaiah is a long, athletic wing that’s tough to handle off the bounce. When he makes up his mind, he is going to get a bucket or defenders are going to draw fouls. Keeping him out of the lane was tough task for whoever was defending, and he has a nice stroke to boot. Getting stronger will be a key to his game going forward, as is becoming more aggressive. He is already a very nice prospect.

Brady Dingess - 2022 5’11 PG - Sheldon Clark (KY)
Another young guy that wanted to bring his skills to play with the older players. Brady has a nice handle, and knows how to use his skills to get in tight spots for pull-ups and passes. The PG is a good shooter with range so you better not go underneath a ball screen when defending him. He was a standout player at our middle school camp, and was noticed again at our freshmen camp this past weekend.. Dingess is already a playmaker, and this will only improve his ability to create for his teammates. He and Trey James are going to be a big time duo in the years to come at Sheldon Clark.

Corey Mucker - 2021 5’5 PG - Butler Traditional (KY)
Corey plays with a tremendous heart. Despite his size, there’s not much he didn’t show us he could do. He has a floater, can shoot the mid-range, and can extend past the 3 point line. The little guard has a savvy handle and broke down his defender multiple times to score or set up teammates. Occasionally he can over dribble but he’s got good decision making.

Alijah Watts - 2021 6’1 G - Hopkinsville (KY)
This kid is a walking bucket and understands how to just score the ball. Alijah is fearless attacking the defense and a crafty finisher to boot. Watts shoots the 3 ball, mid range, and finishes around the rim with both hands. Coach Haworth has a nice young player on his hands, and should continue the Hoptown pipeline of good players.

Conner Cooper - 2021 6’0 PG - Bowling Green (KY)
Conner is a tough guard that can handle the ball while looking to penetrate the defense and get into scoring lanes. He has a nice mid-range game, and can shoot the long ball but this is an area where he can also develop a little more consistency. A few games into camp we got to see him come out of his shell, and be the player we knew he was capable of being. It was good to watch him when he was feeling comfortable. He has good skill and ability to become a really nice lead guard.

Rydge Beverly - 2024 5’8 PG – TBD
The youngest prospect in the event by far and played with no fear versus the older kids. High level skill for his age. Beverly has a very nice handle, good court vision, and his feel for the game is beyond his years. He showed that he can make plays in the half court and in transition consistently. We were very impressed with his overall skillset and looking forward to seeing how he progresses.