Tate’s take on John Lucas All-Star weekend
By Darnell “Tate” Johnson
Houston, TX – It was fun being able to catch a John Lucas Enterprise’s event after a year plus hiatus. This event is always loaded with talented players and teams from across the country. With this being the first event in along time, I was highly impressed by the talent pool in attendance.
Below is just a few of the talented players I had the chance to evaluate.
2025 Nigel Walls JL3 Battle 6’8 F (Albuquerque Academy) Rio Rancho, NM He’s long and raw. He was impactful with spurts during the weekend, but you can’t teach that length and upside.
2025 Shelton Henderson JL3 Battle 3G (St Thomas More) Houston, TX He was real aggressive combo guard that did it all for JL3 Elite all weekend. He attacked the rim and knocked down clutch shots. He seemed to always be guarding one of the opponents best offensive players.
2025 Adrian Mathis JL3 Battle G (Brentwood Christian School) Pflugerville, TX He’s a real solid lead guard that knows how to play and hit big shots all weekend. He was deadly when left open.
2025 O’Marion Harvey JL3 Battle WF (Leaman Junior High) Katy, TX He long and skilled and very versatile. He was a major impact on both ends. He was a greyhound form end to end and I really liked how he finished at the rim.
2025 Calvin Murphy III JL3 SP PG (Fort Bend Christian) Rosenberg, TX He was just so solid. He played under control and seemed to make good decisions. He was very smooth on the offensive end and solid on the defensive end.
2025 Kai Rogers Wisconsin Playground Club 6’10 C (Home School) Brookfield, WI I mean when you look at the kid he’s almost scary. He has the height 6’9 and the weight 250 plus, but he still needs to learn to be more aggressive and get quicker on his feet. He has a heck of and upside. It’s all up to him.
2025 Saterial Stuttley WI Playground Club G (Onalaska Middle School) Onalaska, WI He just knows how to play. He runs the team like a high school senior. He plays with a good pace and I really liked his court vision. He knocked down some big 3 balls all weekend.
2025 Juan Guerrero Hernandez Jr G WI Playground (Brown Deer Middle School) Brown Deer, WI He was the Playground’s glue guy. He was their most versatile defender and most aggressive offensive player. He stayed attacking the glass offensively.
2025 Francis Chukwudebelu Pro Skills C (North Dallas Adventist Academy) McKinney, TX This kids a monster in the middle. He was totally unguardable in the post when he got touches. He’s an incredible athlete for his size 6’9 and his grade. I can’t wait to see his progress in the next few years.
2025 Parker Jefferson Pro Skills C (Howard Junior High) Waxahachie, TX I really like how polished and skilled this big man is. He has tremendous footwork and patience for his age. He will continue to be a problem.
2025 Carlsheon Young Pro Skills G (Hefner Middle school) Oklahoma City, OK He was one of the strongest and most aggressive perimeter players all weekend. He’s a lefty and does predominantly most his damage from the left but that doesn’t matter. He’s a punisher.
2025 Jeremiah Green Pro Skills G (Time 4 Learning) ARGYLE, TX One of the best looking PG all weekend. He has good size, quickness and vision. He’s outstanding attacking the basket and finishing.
2025 Adonis Moise Florida Aces G (Bradenton Christian) Ellenton, FL He came into The Weeknd to make a statement and he definitely did. He was one of weekends most impressive players. He’s smoothed, skilled and tough. He scored at all 3 levels and guarded from baseline to baseline.
2025 Khyre Ellis Florida Aces G (Homeschool) North Port, FL He was a pit bull on both ends. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me he was one of the best young football players in the state. He was a borderline bully on the court. His aggressiveness and physicality was impressive.
2025 Davion Hannah Wisconsin Spartans G 6’5 (Highland Community School) Milwaukee, WI He’s long, athletic and skilled. At 6’5 he can do it all. He played 1-5 and did it with ease. He can knock down the 3, but was the most dangerous getting in the lane.
2025 Agape Keys Jr. Wisconsin Spartans G (Milwaukee Academy of Science) Wisconsin, WI He was mid-west tough. He played physical and aggressive all weekend. He stayed on attack mode. He accepted all challenges and that was regardless of size. He also knocked down some clutch jumpers.
2026 Joshua Burkes Jr. Wisconsin Spartans G (Milwaukee Academy of Science) Milwaukee, WI The young fella plays way beyond his years. He’s a true 7th grader that plays like a high schooler. He has a sweet stroke from deep and has a canning way of getting to the rim and finishing. He sees the whole court and was dropping dimes to his teammates.
2025 Yariel Cruz Mendez PR Elite G (Colegio San Felipe de Arecibo PR) ARECIBO, PR He as one of my favorites to watch all weekend. He played with a flair all weekend. He moves look effortless. He had the deep stroke and mid-range game.
2025 Saivaughn Coleman A1 hoops G (Crownover Middle School) Corinth, TX Active attacks good defender scored at the rimHe was one of the most active and aggressive players all weekend. He didn’t back down from no one and seemed to accepts all challenges.
2026 John Mattingly AZ Monstarz F (Chandler Preparatory Academy) Phoenix, AZ He’s a versatile wing that can play inside out. He can knock down the occasional 3 ball. I like how efficient he is.
2026 Felipe Quinones PR Elite PG (Bridgewater Middle School) Winter Garden, FL He’s a real poised PG, with good size and a very good skill set. He dangerous when playing coast to coast. When attacking the cup he can be unstoppable. He needs to work on his long ball.
2026 Talon Todd SA Future PG (St George episcopal) San Antonio, FL He’s a high IQ PG that knows how to run a team. He plays well in traffic and loves to ge in the lane and finish.
2026 Phoenix Woodson OK PWP F (Deer Creek Intermediate) Edmond, OK He’s a big man with good footwork. He pays well with both hands around the basket. He’s very aggressive on the boards. He knocked down the mid-range with consistency.
2027 Amare from JL3 The big fella moves good with and without the ball. Has good footwork around the basket. I love his energy. He finished with contact.
2027 Dwight Gaines BCA G (Pioneer Middle School) Cooper City, FL He shifty and quick. He has excellent handles and was knocking down some key buckets. He was very good at getting to the rack and hitting his teammates.
2027 Gabriel Nesmith BCA F (Florida Virtual School) WEST PALM BCH, FL Long defender active postHe’s a very active rebounder on both ends. He’s a little raw offensively but he more then makes up for it on the defensive end.
2027 Isaiah Santos Nene Elite F (Seven Lakes Jr. High School) Katy, TX He long, versatile and very skilled. He was one of the most polished kids I watched. He can score in a variety of ways. I liked his understanding of the game.
2027 Dylan Bynum Nene Elite G (Cinco Ranch Jr. High) Houston, TX One quick scoring game He’s jet quick and does most his damage attacking the rim and getting in the paint and scoring. I like to see him get his teammates involved more but at this point he’s all about buckets.
2027 Wallace Wright III Lightening Elite G (Steve Folsom Elementary) Prosper, TX He was a very exciting and electric PG. He’s jet quick and gets end to end in flash. I like how he guarded end to end.
2027 Vance Ozenne Texas Elite 2nd to None G (Navo Middle school) Aubrey, TX Quick athletic and bouncy can be special He’s very quick and athletic and has nice bounce to his game. He can get a little erratic at times but hey he’s in the 6th grade what you expect.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.