Marquee Hoops Summer Jumpoff: 16U Standouts
July 18, 2023 by Tony McNiff
Manalapan, New Jersey: Made the trip down to New Jersey for the final live period of the summer. Read more for a breakdown on some of the 16U prospects who caught my eye.
Taj Walters
2025 | Wing | Wiz Kids 3SSB
Walters impressed in my first live viewing of him in quite some time. Appears to be developing physically as he possesses a well-built frame & notable power as a rim finisher. Improved pull-up scorer who flashed some shot-creation skills as a face up shooter. Forceful slasher at the point of attack who was a potential mismatch given his ability to bully smaller defenders. Tough & productive positional rebounder who also contributed on the glass. Radford offered this month and he could be on the rise in the near future.
Rowan Introzzi
2026 | Wing | Wiz Kids 3SSB
Introzzi was another prospect who popped for Wiz Kids, primarily during Sunday’s action. The 15 year-old is a skilled wing who was a consistent floorspacer & fluid spot-up scorer. Demonstrated his extensive range & touch, plus he was capable of finishing around the rim as well. Flashed some mismatch ability when posting up smaller opponents, however it was the shotmaking at his size that popped most for a prospect his age. Another one to keep tabs on in the Northeast at Iona Prep (NY).
Danny Carbuccia
2025 | Guard | PSA Cardinals EYBL
Top-115 2025 guard Danny Carbuccia played well during Sunday’s slate of games in New Jersey. He’s a shifty handler at the point of attack with plenty of burst, acceleration & flair. Potent pull-up scorer who created advantages with ease by leveraging quick counter moves + his speed. Flashed strong pick & roll instincts as a ball handler whether it was attacking gaps, stepping into pull-up jumpers or locating open teammates. The handle & shotmaking made up for a lasting impression at the Summer Jumpoff.
Darius Adams
2025 | Guard | PSA Cardinals EYBL
Top-25 2025 guard Darius Adams strung together some impressive showings over the weekend as well. The blend of his mature approach, shotmaking ability & creative scoring caught my eye. Smooth pull-up scorer with a high & fluid release point off the bounce. Reliable spot-up scorer with extensive range, plus he has the feel & handle to attack closeouts. Plays at a composed pace with the ball in his hands & rarely gets sped up. The New Jersey native recently announced that he’ll be attending La Lumiere (IN) for his junior season.
Kamari Whyte
2026 | Wing | New Heights Lightning EYBL
Whyte asserted himself onto my radar this weekend after he was a prominent two-way producer for New Heights Lightning. He’s a well-built and explosive athlete who thrived as a defensive playmaker. Demonstrated his strong instincts & lateral quickness by forcing turnovers at a high rate. Physical slasher at the point of attack who had a knack for leveraging his frame to create open angles to the rim. Dangerous grab & go threat who has the versatility to push the ball himself in the open floor. Another prospect who could potentially be on the rise in the coming months.
Deron Rippey Jr
2026 | Guard | New Heights Lightning EYBL
Top-35 2026 guard Deron Rippey Jr was impressive in my latest live viewing over the weekend. The quick-twitch athlete provided paint touches at a high volume while being his typical self on the defensive end. Ultra-quick driver who utilizes burst, changes of pace & acceleration to blow by defenders closing out. Demonstrated a crafty finishing package while flashing composed body control & growing touch at the rim. Scrappy, tenacious & highly instinctual defender who thrives at disrupting the rhythm of opposing ball handlers. Washington, TCU, Oklahoma State & more have already offered the Blair Academy (NJ) product.
Harry Barnes
2025 | Guard | Jersey Drive
Barnes had some impressive showings over the weekend for a Jersey Drive group that could really score the ball. He’s an explosive and quick-twitch athlete who thrives at igniting fast breaks after forcing turnovers. A true defensive playmaker that knows how to leverage his length & when to jump passing lanes or apply pressure. Wreaked havoc in Jersey Drive’s press with his instincts & anticipation. A prominent weak-side slasher who needed minimal dribbles to get to the rim.
Brandon Burnet
2025 | Guard | Hoops & Sports 4All
Burnet was another sleeper who popped out with his athleticism & slashing. Explosive creator off the bounce who utilizes a quick first step to gain ground. A bouncy & athletic finisher at the rim who didn’t shy away from contact or size. Scrappy on-ball defender who was laterally quick & guarded in space well. Still sharpening his handle & polishing his skillset, although the athleticism & two-way production were impressive at the Summer Jumpoff.
Daniel Bumpass
2025 | Guard | DC Premier Black
Bumpass went for 20+ points in a win over Jersey Force at the Summer Jumpoff. He’s a skilled guard with strong positional size who proved to be a multilevel scoring threat. Plays at a composed pace & demonstrated a strong understanding of attacking angles on the offensive end. Heady ball handler who leverages shifty changes of pace to beat defenders off the bounce. Fluid pull-up scorer who showed some glimpses of his ability to do damage in the mid-range area. Also made some strong reads with the ball in his hands by locating cutters, trailers & rollers on the offensive end.
Tristan Rogers
2024 | Guard | New Heights MHC
Rogers was another sleeper who had a big outing against Team Unity on Sunday morning. He’s an ultra-quick lead guard who was able to put constant pressure on the rim by utilizing his speed & counter moves. Explosive handler at the point of attack who was able to blow by defenders routinely. Capable pull-up scorer who converted some jumpers when given the space, although his toughness as a rim finisher also popped out. Strung together some playmaking chops, primarily as a dribble-drive creator and out of the pick & roll.
Jackson Childers
2025 | Forward | Team Unity
Despite a loss on Sunday, Childers was impressive for Team Unity against a deep New Heights group. His blend of positional size and shotmaking caught my eye, specifically out of the pick & pop. He’s a fluid floorspacer with a smooth release off the catch on the perimeter. Capable post-scorer with functional touch & a soft jump hook, however there’s room for him to play more physical & aggressive. Poised dribble hand-off operator who gave his guards plenty of space & angles to work with. Utilizes his positional size & soft hands to reel in rebounds when they’re within reach.
Boakai Veikai
2024 | Wing | Will Rios Select
Veikai was another athlete who played well over the weekend and caught my eye against Team Impact. He’s a hyper-athletic wing who was filled with power & explosiveness at the point of attack. A bouncy finisher who had strong body control and the ability to take bumps in the lane. Still developing as a shooter & spot-up scorer, although he was a prominent slasher for this group in Jersey. Rangy defender who covers ground quickly & possesses the physical tools/archetype to match up against guards or wings.