Marsalis Johnson Controlled Post At The 12U NationalsOne of the most loaded positions at the 12U Nationals had to be the Power Forward spot. Since most of these youngsters haven’t maxed out in growth we feel it’s not necessary to label them as Centers yet. Therefore any player that did damage on the blocks could be in this category. Here’s a breakdown of the Top 10 Big Forwards were saw at the 12U Nationals.
12U Nationals Top 10 Big Men
1. Marsalis Johnson (ARC Gorillas)- Johnson got our nod for the #1 Spot because of the way he dominated the game on both ends. On the offensive end he was virtually a guaranteed deuce on the blocks. He has a nice turn around shot with either hand and has good elevation on his moves. His attacks the glass and uses a soft touch to score buckets. On the defensive end he’s a wall in the lane while blocking or altering any shot in his area. He was one of the top prospects in the building.
2. Kejuan Johnson (J-Smoove All Stars)- Johnson is a dominant force from the Peach State that has a powerful and intimidating game. He can either post up or power to the basket from the wing. His leaping ability allows him to control the boards and toss shots away. His potential will depend on whether he continues to grow.
3. Tony Upchurch (Houston Select)- Tony is a monster on this level. He jumps out the building and to my surprise was a clever passer of the rock. As you know he plays above the rim on occasion while possessing some unique post moves on the blocks. I like his physical presence on the floor.
4. Wa’mere Murphy (Delaware Hawks)- Murphy put on a scoring in most of his games in Hampton. His quickness and leaping ability made things quite easy for him on the blocks. On this level it’s very difficult for defenders to slow him down because of his athleticism. But, looking at his frame he really needs to develop his perimeter skills including ball handling and shooting because he will be pushed to the wing very soon.
5. Joe Burton (Houston Select)- Burton has a thin frame but also has one of the best upsides of anyone on this list. The long wiry forward has soft hands and played the high-low game very well. He has some quickness for this position and will be a name to know from Texas in the coming years.
6. Thomas Holley (LI Trotters)- Defenses knew the ball was going to Holley and there was nothing they could do about it. The husky post player sealed defenders and used his soft touch to score in abundance. He put his team on his back and carried them into the Championship Bracket.
7. Dakari Johnson (Gauchos)- Johnson was the lone inside presence for the Gauchos and held the fort down. His shot blocking skills are contributed to his long arms and wing span. On the offensive end has developed a drop step and is gaining more confidence each game out.
8. Jahil Okafor Benson (Arkansas Mustangs)- The post player for the National Champs isn’t has athletic as others on this list but does possess the knack of scoring and rebounding on the blocks. He has a wide frame and uses to gather position to get things done.
9. Mike Collier (Ct. Kentucky Warriors)- The like Collier’s face up game and his fundamentally sound moves on the blocks. He has a thin but long frame and knows how to maneuver for shots. Mike does have a chance to move to the perimeter in the next couple of years.
10. Leroy Butts (Future Players)- The southpaw is a little raw on the offensive end but I think he will turn into a good prospect. His athleticism screams out and he does show some mid range touch. I hope to see him rock again soon.
