2024 John Lucas Be Elite Invitational
September 14-15 2024 – Houston, Texas
This year’s Be Elite Invitational may have been the best one I’ve attended to date. Each year there are players that attend this camp and are not on anybody radar and wind up top 10 in the country. This year NBA scouts were allowed to attend, which heightened the level of intensity. Below is a few of my standouts in the camp.
2027 Martay Barnes 6’2 CG (The Academy of Central Florida) Orlando, FL
He is one of the most explosive guards in the class. He’s most dominant off the dribble, but when in rhythm, he hurts you from deep. His best attribute is his willingness to compete at the highest level. I really like his leadership. Whether it’s camp or a team setting, he’s always talking to and encouraging his teammates.
2027 Josh Leonard 6’6 WF (Wilson High) Florence, SC
This young player is a man-child. He’s so physical and athletic that he’s a very tough guard. When in the paint, he almost always commands a double team. Since the last time I saw him play, you can tell he’s worked on his ball-handling and his shooting. If they continue to develop, he will become a major, major problem.
2028 Marcus Spears 6’7 WF (Dynamic Prep) Frisco, TX
First and foremost, I loved his energy on both ends. It definitely looked like he loved playing the game. The lefty played aggressively all weekend and was successful when he got to the basket. I really like how, with his length and athleticism, he was able to guard four positions this past weekend. Some kids you can watch play and you can tell they don’t know how good they can be; he’s one of those kids.
2027 Asa Montgomery 6’6 WF (Hillgrove HS) Marietta, GA
He continues to get better every time I watch him play. He seems to be in control and playing within himself. He steadily played downhill and attacked the basket all camp. I really liked how he finished at the rim. When he did shoot the three-ball, it looked good, and he was consistent. I’d like to see him a little more aggressive on the defensive end.
2027 Jalen White 6’7 WF (Bella Vista) Las Vegas, NV
He was the surprise player of camp for me. For the past three years, the Be Elite Camp has had someone rise on the national circuit, and this year I believe it could be White. He’s very athletic, quick, and bouncy. He handles the ball very well for a wing. He continually stayed active and made plays even when his shot wasn’t falling. He was able to guard multiple positions, which is a big-time commodity in today’s game.
2027 Clarence “CJ” Rosser Jr. 6’9 F. Northern Nash High School) Rocky Mountain, NC
Cj is a very intriguing prospect. He just shot up most of the ranking boards and most have him in at least the top 10. You could tell the first day that this style camp with a target on his back was new to him, and he struggled a little bit. To his credit, on day two, he was all I expected and more. He plays with such a great rhythm on the offensive end. He seems to score with so much ease. He can hit you at all three levels. He handles the ball well with his length. He is good at reading the court and making the right play. On the defensive end on Sunday, he was also way more aggressive. I can’t wait to see him reach his full potential.
2027 Tyrone Jamison Jr. 6′ (Calvary Baptist Academy) Shreveport, LA
This guard has been on the national scene since 6th grade and he continues to raise his stock. He knows he has a target on his back and never seems to shy away from competition. The battle Martay Barnes and he had was special to watch. The way they both competed is what you want from two of the best guards in their class, hands down. He’s quick and explosive, and his ball-handling skills are outstanding. He was one of the hardest players to stay in front of all weekend and seemed to get anywhere he wanted on the court at will.
2027 King Gibbson 6’5 SG (The Burlington School) Greenboro, NC
For the past few years, he’s been one of my favorite players to watch. He always brings the energy and the flair. He can take control of a game on his own and rattle off buckets. His ball handling and his jump shot are both improving, and that will make him a more fearsome player. When he locks in on defense, he can also change the game. He knows he’s good, and it shows in his play with his confidence.
2027 Dooney Johnson 6’5 SG (Juneau) Milwaukee, WI
He can truly play the one, two, and the three. His patience on the offensive end is fun to watch. He seems to play at his own pace and is very hard to press. If you need him to score, he can do it with ease. If you need him to run the offense and get everybody involved, he can do that. On the defensive end, if you need a player locked up, Dooney’s your guy.
2026 Deron Rippey Jr. 6’2 PG (Blair Academy) Brooklyn, NY
He’s a NYC-style guard who can shoot the ball. He really likes getting downhill and making plays, whether it’s scoring at the rim or dropping it off to a teammate. He can make you pay from deep if you play off of him, and he’s great at absorbing contact and finishing at the rim. On the defensive end, he likes getting up in your space and making you uncomfortable.
2026 Shane Pendergrass 6’9 F (Hargrave Military Academy) Upper Marlboro, MD
I really liked his energy and attitude all weekend. You could see he was a kid on a mission and it showed. He really is the prototypical stretch four man. He can knock down the three-ball open or contested. He also has the ability to get to the basket and finish. With his attitude, I can definitely see his game continuing to flourish.
2028 Ephriam Moore 6’8 C (Beaumont United) Beaumont, TX
I really enjoyed how aggressive he was in the paint. His footwork was outstanding, and he was punishing in the paint. The skill he shows in the paint goes far beyond his years. On the defensive end, he’s very good at protecting the rim. Even though he didn’t block many shots, he did alter a high number of them.
2026 Carlos Medlock, Jr. 6′ PG (Wayne Memorial) Westland, MI
He didn’t come in with the same type of fanfare as most of the other lead guards, but he left really impressing me. He was quick and physical and played downhill. He brought the same physicality and quickness on the defensive end.
2027 Nassir Anderson 6’3 CG (Norcross High) Atlanta, GA
I was informed his position was point guard, and that does him an injustice. He is most effective and productive when he has the ball and is attacking and playing downhill. He can buy you time at the point guard position, but his knack for scoring cannot be taught.
2026 Austin Brown 6’8 F (Lufkin High) Lufkin, TX
He may have been the best shooter in camp, and his range is outstanding. You can’t give him any space, or he will make you pay. He really impressed me when he was crowded on the three-point line. He had the ability to put it on the floor and make a play. He’s not afraid to mix it up in the paint. He may be limited athletically, but he makes up for it with IQ.
2026 Jalen Wingfield 6’8 F (Tri-Cities High School) College Park, GA
He has just touched the tip of his potential. He’s already a problem on both ends of the court. He has good size and length, and he’s starting to use them more and more to his advantage. His footwork and touch both look better this weekend. I really loved his energy on both ends of the court. His jump shot is looking better. The sky’s the limit for Jalen.
2026 Elijah Williams 6’7 WF (Texas Military Institute) San Antonio, TX
Trying to limit his position to one position may be a disservice to him because his skill set is so versatile. He can do so many things on the offensive end that make his game so valuable. Being a coach’s son has really benefited his game. He plays with great patience. He has sneaky athleticism and very good footwork. He has no problem banging on the glass with bigger players.
2027 Malachi Booker 6’6 WF (St. John’s School) Cypress, TX
Let’s start off with the fact that this young man came straight to the camp from playing under the Friday night lights the night before. It surprised me how much energy and athleticism he brought to the camp. It takes a special athlete to do what he did. He did most of his damage in the paint and on the glass. You can tell his potential has barely been tapped.
2027 Reese Alston 6’1 PG (Second Baptist School) Missouri City, TX
He was definitely fun to watch. He has excellent ball-handling skills and is very quick. He plays well in traffic and his court vision is outstanding. His flair for the game was passed down honestly. I really like his energy and you can tell he really enjoys playing the game.
2027 RJ Moore 6’5 WF (Corvian Community HS) Charlotte, NC
He was by far one of the purest deep shooters in camp. Most of his shots when they left his hands looked like they were going in. He’s not just limited to sitting behind the three-point line; he can also put it on the floor and pull up for mid-range or get all the way to the basket. He also has very good court vision and can spend time running the team.
2026 Bo Ogden 6’6 WF (St. Michaels Academy) Austin, TX
I have always liked his toughness and how he competes. That’s what separates him from many of his opponents. He has all the skills you want in a wing. He can shoot from deep, slash to the basket, and he also has a high IQ and good court vision. On the defensive end, he’s a physical defender who knows how to play the passing lanes.
2027 Alim Olajuwon 6’4 SG (Episcopal) Houston, TX
Taking his last name away, I was still very impressed with his game. He was tough and aggressive. He knocked down some tough shots and showed he could get to the basket and finish through contact. The great thing about this young man is the leaps and bounds his game has made. If he continues on the path he’s set, then you better watch out.
2027 Derek Daniels 6’8 F (PVI) Washington, DC
He was physical and aggressive all weekend. His impact on the games was felt immediately. His work on and around the glass was outstanding. He was active and ran the floor like a wing. He finished around the rim with authority. He carved out space with ease. On the offensive and defensive glass, he was dominant. I absolutely loved his energy.
Other notable performers:
2028 Adan Diggs 6’4 SG (William Fields HS) Peoria, AZ
2028 Trey Edward 6’4 SG (Melissa High) Melissa, TX
2027 De’Shawn Dillon 6’3 SG (Northwest Rankin High) Brandon, MS
2026 Randy Livingston 6’2 PG (Isidore Newman) New Orleans, LA
2026 Nathan Kirk 6’1 PG (DME Academy Daytona) Daytona Beach, FL
2027 Madden Hill 5’10 PG (Creekside Intermediate) League City, TX
2027 James Rivera 6’11 C (The Academy of Central Florida) Orlando, FL
2028 Dylan Betts 6’11 C (Cherry Creek High) Centennial, CO
2028 Jordan Mitchell 6’3 CG (Male High) Louisville, KY
2027 Keaundre Morris 6’3 CG (Curtis High) Tacoma, WA
2026 Billy White III 6’8 (Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial) Corpus Christi, TX
2027 Joshua Smith Jr. 6’5 G/F (Norcross High) Atlanta, GA
2027 Malachi Hill 6′ PG (Totino Grace High) Minneapolis, MN
2027 Kade Snyder 6’8 F (Sunnyslope High) Phoenix, AZ
2026 Cedric Haynes 6’4 CG (Georgia Connections Academy) Woodstock, GA
2026 Patrice Mpouli 6’2 CG (Williams Field High) Chandler, AZ
2027 Dawson Battie 6’9 F (St. Marks) Dallas, TX