Tournament of Champions Classic: Underclassman Notebook

Tournament of Champions Classic: Underclassman Notebook

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

MARIETTA, GA – The Tournament of Champions Classic features some marquee teams with some notable players. However, not to be dismissed from all the attention or publicity are the underclassman.

Here are some underclassman who made some noise over the weekend.

Durate is the next one

Lewis Duarte has a baby face look if you’re not paying attention. However, this Dominican native steps between the lines, he transforms into an energetic cerebral floor general. The Class of 2022 product is a 6-foot-6 athletic point guard capable of scoring on all three levels of the floor. He plays with contagious passion. Against Cumberland Christian, Duarte played with poise and never looked concerned about the outcome of the game. He was built to compete just based on the way he carried himself throughout the game. Look for his stock to rise even further as the many more people get a chance to see this baby face prospect.

Payton: the smooth operator

Trevon Payton is carving his name onto the notepads of some recruiters or scouts. The junior guard plays with a calm and balance. He is capable of stretching the floor with his jumper and does not waste too much energy to be productive. This 6-foot-4 combo’s versatility makes him a problem on both ends of the floor. Look for Payton to increase the attention as the season continues to roll for Shiloh.

Other notables:

2024 Max Skidmore, The Heritage School – a bonafide scorer. He has put up some solid performances during the young season, including a 28 point, seven three-pointer performance against Grace Christian. So much growth left in his game but it is off to a good start.

2023 Jelani Hamilton, Cumberland Christian – is a wiry lanky guard with a tremendous upside. He is smooth at handling the ball through pressure finishing with 13 points Saturday afternoon. His swag and court vision are things one has a hard time finding in a young player. Watch for his recruitment to pick up once the body catches up with the skills. 

2023 Eduardo Hendricks, Meadowcreek – is built like Debo from movie fame “Friday.” The only difference he is not coming to take anyone’s chain, this forward is ready to snatch rebounds the way he hauls in footballs on the gridiron. He is built differently and will be a vital piece to the Mustang’s defense.

2023 Gora Niang, Cumberland Christian – is an active player on the floor. He is long and lanky where his length disrupts opponents on defense. He is impressive enough to stand out on either end of the floor.

2022 Randi Ovalle, Victory Christian – has some good skills for a player his age. He takes up space inside and is fundamentally sound in anchoring the interior. This Dominican native can stretch the floor with his jumper, which looks smooth for a player of his stature. He will be added to the list of players from the Caribbean Island to play at the next level.

2024 LJ Moore, Pace Academy – is an intriguing prospect. Playing with several Division 1 athletes around him, this 6-foot-5 handles his own. Moore is physical inside and has solid instincts around the basket. Being the understudy isn’t really a bad thing because the future looks bring for this one.