JLE International Middle School Showcase

JLE International Middle School Showcase

By Darnell “Tate” Johnson

Houston, TX – John Lucas’ IMSC was a great success for players representing 25 states and three
countries. This was the most talented group assembled since the pandemic. Coach Lucas Camps are always organized and intense, which makes it easy to evaluate.
Below are a few players that stood out to me:
2028 Madden Hill PG 5’9 (Creekside Intermediate) League City, TX
He’s one of the most electric point guards in the class. He plays with multiple gears. His range extends to the collegiate three-point line. He can finish with either hand at the basket while making difficult shots. When he wants to, Hill can be a 94-foot lockdown defender.

2028 Evan Willis 6’6 F (Heritage Christian – Lake Forrest) Irvine, CA
It was my first time seeing Evan play. All the things heard about him seemed well advertised. He was patient and relaxed with his game. Being able to play in the interior was not the only thing Hill could do. He can extend his game out to the three-point line. He had no problem banging in the post for a position on both ends. He showed good footwork in the post on the offensive end

2028 Michael G Williams 6’4 G/F (St. Theresa Catholic MS) Harrisburg, PA
He set the tone early with his aggressiveness and physicality. The way he filled the lane on the
break was impressive. He was one of the few players who finished multiple times above the rim all
weekend and did it with authority.

2028 Skye Ragoo 6’2 G (Christ the King) Queens, NY
He was one of the most impressive players all weekend. Ragoo has a game that will translate
immediately to high school. He plays both guard positions. His court vision and feel for the game were impressive. He showed the ability to shoot the ball from deep by knocking down a couple from NBA range. He scores well in traffic in the lane and never seemed rattled. Showed good defensive
instincts.

2028 Brayden Doolan 6’5 PF (McMillan Jr High) Wylie
He’s not a great athlete, but he more than made up for it with his effort of skill and physicality. Most
of his damage was done around the basket. He took contact very easily and had no problem
scoring through it. His best attribute is, that he plays within himself and doesn’t try to do too much.

2028 Emmanuel Nwaboku 6’7 F/C (St. Johns) Houston, TX
He seems to get better every time I see him play, which shows me he’s working on his game. He’s
gotten more physical and plays smarter around the basket. He showed the ability to knock down the
10–15-foot jumper now. He is still a rim protector on the defensive end.

2028 Jalil Herd 5’9 PG (Melva Davis of Excellence) Victorville, CA
He’s not very tall or big, but he plays the game with skill and savvy. He seems to make the right play continuously. Every game I watch him play he made the right passes for those taking open shots. When in the lane, he didn’t rush or panic. He made the right plays all camp. He’s the type of player that helps you win games.

2028 Blaze Johnson 6’0 G (Hebron Christian Academy) Grayson, GA
The lefty has an impressive game. He plays with good pace and a high IQ. Johnson lets the game
come to him. He scores at all three levels. He makes players better around him. He showed
flashes of being a very good on-ball defender. Once he locks in on that end, he can become a
major problem.

2028 Benjamin Berrouet 6’5 F (Dr. Jack Cockrill MS) McKinney, TX
Watching the steady improvement of Berrouet has been enjoyable. His length, athleticism, and effort are hard to match for most bigs in his class. He runs the floor like a greyhound and finishes with bounce and authority. He’s shown improvement in his jump shot but still is a work in progress. His potential though, is off the charts.

2028 Toussaint Malukia 6’11 C (Olympus) Wilmington, DE
Not much to say here. He’s 6’11 and raw. He wasn’t very skilled, but he did play hard and aggressive. He didn’t back away from any matchups. He’s a player I will keep tabs on these next few years.

2028 Jaymaree Bowens 6’3 G (Judson MS) Converse, TX
He was another one of those long-skilled guards who put on a show this past weekend. Offensively he has a complete game scoring at all levels. He makes plays for his teammates is a very patient scorer. His athleticism can surprise you, which included a baseline dunk with authority. He guarded multiple positions.

2028 Musunguindji Mwenentanda 6’4 F (Brandon Valley Intermediate School) Sioux Falls, ID
An active explosive wing that just knows how to play and make things happen. His pull up is
smooth and in rhythm. He likes getting to the rim and finishing. Mwenentanda plays with so much energy
this past weekend and it really impressed me.

2028 Ephriam Moore 6’8 C (Marshall Middle School) Beaumont, TX
His best attribute is being competitive. Moore’s skill hasn’t reached his body yet, but his physicality
and work ethic are there. I watched him battle and compete in the paint all weekend. Most of his scoring damage was done in the paint and around the basket. He bought aggressiveness and physical play to the defensive end.

2028 Markus Jones 6’ F (Cardigan Mountain School) Brewster
He is a player that just had a knack of scoring with ease. If left alone Jones was hurting, you from
deep. He didn’t attack the basketball often, but was successful with the mid-range or the floater.

2028 Willie Darden 6’7 F (John Martinez Magnet School) Hartford, CT
The big young players a problem. He’s big, agile, athletic and skilled. He dominated in the paint by going through and around players at will Darden surprised me how well handles the ball on the perimeter and he’s shooting ability from out there. He’s patient with the ball and when double teamed will kick it out.

2028 Owen Edwards 6’7 F (Scale Academy) West Covina, CA
I really enjoyed watching him play. His energy all weekend was outstanding. He stayed aggressive on the glass on both ends. Most of his damage was done inside and at the basket. He played within himself and didn’t try to force nothing. To top everything off, he played the game like he was having fun and enjoying himself.

Other notables:
2028 Monta Ellis Jr 6’1 G (Rogers Middle School) Prosper, TX
2028 Caysien Douglas 5’7 G (Navasota) Navosota, TX
2028 Ibrahima Cisse 6’8 C Redemption Christian) Albany, NY
2028 Raiden Burke 5’10 G (Slam Apollo) Riverview, FL
2028 Madison Robinson 5’7 G (Allegiance Steam Academy) Ontario, CA
2028 Dylan Steffe 6’ G (Trent MS) Frisco, TX
2028 Xavier Wright 5’10 G (Bohls MS) Pfluggerville, TX
2029 Kamien Robinson 6’5 F (Oliver MS) Broken Arrow, TX
2029 DeUntrey ‘DJ’ Parker (Walnut Grove MS) Midlothian, TX
2029 Dallas Stewart 5’9 G (Pickerington Ridgeview Jr High) Pickerington, OH
2029 Kaleb Jackson 5’7 G (Lyle Briggs) Chino, CA