2021 Crossroads of the South Middle School Camp Review

This past weekend the Crossroads of the South Middle School Camp was held in Jackson at the Mississippi Basketball and Athletics complex and the camp had a solid turnout with some really talented young players showing their abilities. These are the standouts and others who caught my eye from the camp.

Top Prospects/Performers

Bralen “Spud” Parker 8th Grade Guard Northwest Jackson M.S.

Talented guard who has good size and who scored the ball at a high level on the day. Scored on the drive and from the perimeter, shot it well out past the mid-range, showed good handles and the ability to attack the rim off the dribble, competed hard.

Tyler Lyles 8th Grade Post Byram M.S.

A strongly built power player who dominated play in the paint all day Saturday, while his future is probably on the football field he handled his business on the hardwood, moves well and plays with a motor, is very physical and uses his wide frame well, gobbles up rebounds and is a strong finisher around the rim.

Jhayce Harris 8th Grade Forward/Center Nichols M.S. (Canton)

The eye catcher of the camp, very raw but long tall and active, very active on the boards, runs the floor well, length make him a big factor on the defensive end, once he gets past his youthful clumsiness and improves his fundamental he will be quite a player, and even though it didn’t count because he traveled he took off and dunked one in the game for good measure.

Braden Shettles 8th Grade Guard/Forward New Albany M.S.

Smooth operating guard/forward, good height and length, shot the ball really well with range out to the three, also scored it well slashing to the rim, showed solid ball-handling skills and really made good decisions, not a big time rebounder but went down there and competed.

Jamal Funches 8th Grade Guard Chastain M.S. (Jackson)

Long armed talented lead guard, good ball handler who can get into the paint and to the rim off the dribble, showed a solid jumper with good range, did a really good job of controlling his team and sharing the ball with his teammates, solid defender and competed hard.

Other Eye Catchers

Chase Cox 8th Grade Post St. Joseph Catholic M.S. (Madison)

Big bodied post who was very active on the day, good rebounder and solid finisher around the hoop, moved well up and down the court.

Dean Gibson 8th Grade Guard Canton Academy

Crafty guard who can really shoot the ball, solid ball-handler who makes good decisions, tough and scrappy.

D.J. Washington 8th Grade Forward Northwest Jackson M.S.

Long rangy forward prospect who really moved up and down the court well, likes to attack the rim and finishes very well at the rim, plays with a lot of energy, active defensively.

Nick Jones 8th Grade Forward Byram M.S.

Rangy broad shouldered forward, very active, solid rebounder, really likes to attack the rim off of the dribble, streaky shooter.

Zavian Martin 8th Grade Guard Petal M.S.

Crafty guard who showed solid ball-handling skills, showed the ability to get to the rim off the dribble, played with a lot of energy.

Antoine Harris 8th Grade Guard Northwest Rankin M.S.

Crafty guard who showed good ball-handling ability, a heady player who made good decisions, played hard and did most of his work attacking the rim.

Lazabian Banks 7th Grade Guard Chastain M.S.

Small but solid guard prospect, good ball-handler with a quick burst off the dribble, shot it well and made good decisions, has a good understanding of the game and played hard.

Zavion Carr 7th Grade Guard NW Rankin M.S.

Another small but crafty guard that showed a good understanding of the game and competed hard, had some really good moments of play.

Pepper Wilson 8th Grade Guard Hartfield Academy

Wing prospect with good size, shot the ball very well, was very active and played hard.