Spring Invitational 8th Grade Top Performers Part 3
The Basketball Spotlight Spring Invitational 8th Grade Division produced a new faces. Here’s our final look at the top performers.
Spring Invitational 8th Grade Top Performers Part 3
Kabrien Goss Guard (TTown Ballers) – Goss is a do it all point guard that knows how to put a team on his back. If he is in the game his team has a chance to win regardless of who they play. We saw him bring his team back from a large deficit against a good Hilltoppers team but still falling a little short. He is virtually unstoppable being able to score from anywhere on the court. He can also turn into a playmaker making elite level passes getting his teammates open looks. His small stature doesn’t matter because he is super quick, explosive and plays with grit and toughness.
Darmani Santiago Guard (Team Spartans) – Santiago is a two-way point guard that does whatever it takes to get the win for his team. He has a mature game picking apart the defense by setting them up using the proper angles when attacking to either score or pass. He also defends at a high level and can rebound his position allowing him to start the break quicker. We like how he always has his eyes up and makes quick lead passes up the court for easy buckets.
Nahkeem Singleton Forward (Team Spartans) – Singleton is a space eater in the paint that is very effective around the basket. He has great hands and a soft touch finishing at a high rate. He understands how to use his size to his advantage putting smaller players on his back. He is a very good rebounder on both ends of the floor and makes it difficult for opposing players when they drive the paint.
Naiim Parrish Guard (NJ Bulldogs) – Parrish is a crafty point guard that has a nice feel for the game. He plays with a great pace and has all the moves in his toolbox allowing him to carve up the defense navigating the floor scoring from anywhere. We like his hesitation dribble keep the defense off balance allowing him to blow by his defender and finish at the rim or get to the free throw line. You can’t tell by his game, but this kid is a 7th grader playing up an age group and he stood out as one of the best players on the floor. He tallied 16 points in the game we saw him play.
London Carson Guard (NJ Bulldogs) – Carson is a wing guard that spaces the floor for his squad by knocking down the 3-point shot. In today’s game teams without three-point shooters struggle but the Bulldogs have London who we saw knock down multiple long balls with his nice rotation and arc on his shot. He knocked down 4 threes and finished with 16 points in the game we watched.
Jayden Jenkins Forward (NJ Bulldogs) – Jenkins is an undersized forward that is very effective in the paint. What he gives up in size he makes up with his high energy, tough, gritty play doing anything that is needed to get the win. He is a good rebounder and can score from 15 feet and in.
Jaylen Mayo Forward (QB Elite) – Mayo has been a dominant force over the last few years since we saw him first as a 6th grader. He is still very productive scoring and rebounding around the basket but has added an ability to handle the ball more to his game. Jaylen is a downhill north and south player that is always trying to attack the defense which garners him a lot of trips to the charity stripe.
