(Florida Pro's Amen Thompson was incredible on Saturday)

 

The 2021 Grassroots Showcase in Louisville was a collaboration between HoopSeen, NY2LA Sports, and Ohio Basketball. It featured a healthy mix of Midwest teams and Southern teams. Here are the biggest standouts that Indiana Basketball Source saw on Saturday.

 

Florida Pro brought a loaded team to Indianapolis. The Thompson twins - Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson -  led the way. They were fantastic. Each is 6-6/6-7 with plus length and elite athleticism. There is no doubt that they are top-end athletes. They have incredible speed and leaping ability, and they do not need a gather to explode off the floor. They converted alley-oops and tip dunks like they were playing on an eight-foot goal. Amen showcased more skills off the dribble as a slasher and playmaker. He found Ausar, Taylor Hendricks, and other teammates for lobs all day. Ausar was often on the receiving end of the feeds, and he was incredible at the basket. The only weakness for the Thompsons appears to be their outside shooting. In every other area, they are tremendous.

 

Hendricks is committed to Central Florida, and he was great. He started the game against Meanstreets with a couple of spot-up threes. The shots were made over closeouts by Jalen Washington. Plus, Hendricks was a fantastic rim finisher but lacked strength in traffic a few times. He looked like a possible top 100 player.

 

3d Empire was a pleasant surprise. They have a pair of skinny guards - Ryan Agarwal and Anthony Black. Agarwal is committed to Stanford. He made a bunch of shots on the move all day. He came off screens and buried shots in a hurry. Agarwal also made outside shots off the dribble. He mixed it up with some rebounding and ball-handling, but it was his shooting that stood out the most. Black was more of the playmaker off the dribble. He scored well going to the rim and also set up his teammates. At 6’7”, he was able to finish above the rim with ease. Black also rebounded well and showed toughness despite being extremely thin.

 

Late in the day, 3d Empire battled All-Ohio Red, and point guard Sean Jones was excellent for AOR. He is undersized, but one of the quickest players with the ball Indiana Basketball Source has seen this spring. Jones has breakdown skills with his handles then the speed and quickness to blow by defenders. He also has a smooth outside stroke to keep defenders from playing off of him. Jones has been strong all spring.

 

To begin the day, Christian Spalding of Team Manimal hit shots off the dribble against George Hill All Indy. Spalding displayed solid athleticism with a smooth outside stroke. He found a rhythm, and GHAI did not slow him down much.

 

In two games, Jalen Washington and Kam Craft were the most consistent players for Meanstreets. Washington is best in pick and pop situations, and he knocked down a few of those on Saturday. He also shows a great touch in the lane out to the mid-range. Craft is a tall shooting guard that can create off the dribble. He was most productive when his outside shot was falling, and that happened frequently. When he found daylight, Craft made opponents pay for it.

 

JL3 Elite’s Vince Iwuchukwu was eye-catching from the moment he stepped on the court for warm-ups. He is a fluid and coordinated seven-footer. Not only did he impress in pregame, but it also translated to the game as he ran the floor for transition finishes and crashed the offensive glass hard. Iwuchukwu played with a significant motor throughout the Saturday games.

 

Phenom University’s Seth Trimble made big plays in both Saturday games. Against Team Speights, he lived at the free-throw line in the second half to lead Phenom’s comeback. Late against Team Thad, he scored the game-winning and-1 when Phenom trailed by two. Trimble is a quick, tough guard that uses his body well. He was a consistent free-throw shooter all day, but Trimble does not look for his outside shot much. It was an excellent day for Trimble.

 

Indiana GAME’s Drew Adzia broke out for 20 first-half points against Indiana Attack Basketball Club. The Crown Point guard came off the bench to knock down four threes. Adzia sprinted off screens for the last two. He started the barrage by driving to the lane and finishing in traffic. In a chippy game, Adzia stepped up to help Indiana GAME win comfortably.

 

In 15U action, Dontez Scott and Christian Humphrey-Rembert caught our eye for The Family. The 2024s produced at a high level against George Hill All Indy. Scott is a physical guard for the age group and showed feel once he got to the basket. Humphrey-Rembert is a long, athletic forward. He is already 6’7” and showed ball-handling skills against pressure. Both of those players will be on the radar of college coaches soon.

 

The Louisville Legends 17U group went 3-1 with a two-point loss to Hawks Elite as the only blemish. Tae Dozier was a significant reason for the Legends’ success. The lanky wing is an unsigned senior but still only 17 years old. He is productive on the offensive glass, in transition, and slashing to the basket. Two weeks ago, he stretched the basket consistently against the Mac Irvin Fire but did not finish. On Saturday, he showed that he could finish at a high level. He needs to fill out, but Dozier offers excellent upside.

 

Evansville Bosse guard Julian Norris turned in a strong day for C2K Elite. His shooting has been a significant strength. When he has it going as he did against Meanstreets, Norris is a massive weapon. Most of his shots came in spot-up situations, but Norris made a couple of one-dribble pull-ups as well. Inside, Amarion Dickerson has been fantastic all spring. He is a lean, athletic forward who scores well around the basket. Dickerson can score over bigger opponents in the paint too.