8th Finale: Wednesday's Standouts

July 6, 2023 by Max Feldman

8th Finale has officially tipped, as the next wave of elite prospects meet in Augusta. Here, I'll dial in on Wednesday's standouts.

- Very strong introduction for UPLAY's Amari Upshaw. At 6-5 with plus length and fluid movement while still being in the early stages physically, he strung together a number of impressive sequences filling the lane and attacking closeouts. New names leaping onto the radar is a yearly tradition at Finale, and the Nova Scotia native leads the early list of candidates.

 - Masterclass to start Finale for Team Tyus’ Gavin Walter. Pass, dribble, shoot wing with mature feel at 6-4. Been doing the little things to impact winning all spring long, now beginning to do the big things consistently.

 - Very loud opening day for Team Takoever wing Troy Tomlin. Dynamic out in transition and hunting seams as a cutter in the half-court. Comfortable and heady playing off the ball, he's added to his game while maintaining his fearlessness and work rate. Big-time 2027 athlete with an edge.

 - 2027 wing De’Shawn Dillon got off to a big nice start here in Augusta. High-flying swingman with impressive instincts. The Mississippi product is getting better fast — skill level has turned up a notch since early spring. Consistently impressed by his level of engagement and impact without being a high usage guy offensively.

 - Flashes are coming in bunches now for 2027 Nightrydas F Henry Robinson Jr. Rare level of twitch and switchability for a 6-7 14-year-old. Florida product oozing with upside, best basketball is well ahead of him.

 - Impressive introduction to Mac Irvin wing Camron Riggs, who has generated some buzz over the last few months in the Midwest. Fluid, lively athlete with playmaking instincts on both ends. Another piece of a big-time 2027 class in Illinois.

- Another new one to arise, Tre Mann Elite's Jomar Bernard popped on day one. 6-6+ with fluidity, a mature decision-making process and defensive versatility, he brings a ton to the table as a swingman and has plenty of upside for more. 

- Nice to see UPLAY's Stefan Ilic take the next steps in his game. Pushing 6-8 or so, Ilic has soft hands and impressive footwork around the cup. While he's not one to bully guys for positioning around the rim, he has a strong feel for rebounding out of his area and creating extra opportunities with poke outs. He's grown more impactful in terms of sustained impact, and still have plenty of upside as he continues to grow into his frame.