Over this past weekend, I had the chance to assist with showcasing some of the top talent from the 252 and surrounding area codes. The #252Invitational brought some of the top teams and talent from the east side of the state to Snow Hill, NC, where they battle for the illustrious first title in event history. Over the next couple of days I will be dropping selections for top performers/all tournament teams.
2025 6’4 Javon Williams, Washington HS, Team Trezz
In a era of basketball where Steph Curry is stopping on the break to shoot a three, you don’t see many guys utilizing the mid range. The MVP of the 15U A pool Javon Williams is the opposite of that standard. Williams standing at 6’4 with a smooth handle uses his extra size to get to his spots and shoot over smaller guards. Javon also did a very good job helping win the rebound battle for his Team Trezz team. He averaged 19pts 5rebs 3ast on the weekend.
2025 6’4 Jermaine “Tezzy” Cunningham, Swansboro HS, East Coast Allstars
Unlike the MVP in Pool A mentioned above, Cunningham came into the Invitational as a relatively unknown prospect by guys outside of the 910 area code. After seeing him in both Pool A and B over the weekend I think he could potentially be a top 20 type of kid in NC. At 6’4 with a natural handle and feel for the game he did a good job at finding a mixture of scoring and distributing in all 4 contest. Tezzy also led the weekend in block shots overall. He averaged 18.5pts 7rebs 4ast and 3blks in four contest.
2025 6’4 Isaiah Godley, South Central HS, Team Premier
Before a injury forced him out of the event halfway through the 2nd game Godley looked like his usual self. He is one of those kids who doesn’t need a ton of plays ran for him and with or without the ball in his hand he makes the right plays. Then on the defensive he uses his length to disrupt players while playing the passing lane and being a menace while on ball. Godley averaged 8pts 6rebs 2ast 1stl in two contest.
2026 5’9 Jamauris Howard, Speight MS, Carolina Swarm
Jamauris Howard ran the show for Carolina Swarm 2025, and he did it relatively well even tho he was playing up an age group. The lefty guard scored at ease in his opening contest, against a pesky Team Premier squad, dropping 24 points and three 3 pointers. Howard then followed that up with a quiet 8 point 6 assist performance against East Coast Allstars. At 5’9 and stepping into HS this year I expect him to eventually be a name to track in the 252. Jamauris averaged 16pts and 5 ast on the weekend.
2026 6’2 Denelly “Mez” Coppedge, Greene County MS, Warriors Life Elite
Just like Howard mentioned above, Coppage took initiative to lead his squad while being a whole year younger than his teammates. In terms of being a prospect “Mez” checks a lot of boxes, he’s long, above average athlete and has a solid looking jump shot. In the weekends action his most impressive game was in a 63-55 lost in which he finished with 19 points 7 rebounds. The kid is definitely a prospect to track in the 252 area. Coppage averaged 13.5 points 6 rebounds and 1 blocks in two contest.
2025 6’2 Trevor Highsmith, Camp Lejeune HS, East Coast Allstars
Just like his MVP counterpart mentioned above, Highsmith was somewhat of an unknown among media and evaluators in attendance. Having the luxury of playing 4 games helped Highsmith who averaged 11.5 points per contest. He scored in a multitude of ways including four 3 pointers and multiple free throw makes. Trevor had a unique ability to be at the right place at the right time all weekend which led to multiple easy scoring opportunities.
2025 6’1 CJ Jackson, White Oak HS, Truth Elite
Just like for his White Oak High School, CJ Jackson checks a lot of boxes for Truth Elite 2025. Jackson when asked upon can be his teams leading scorer, rebounder, assist man or even shot blocker any given game. CJ had a pretty quiet weekend scoring the ball but still left averaging a tough 6 rebounds, 3 assist and 2 blocks a game. The lefty guard wasn’t held completely scoreless and came away averaging 9 points a game, with a couple of 3 point makes.
2025 6’0 Quan Pittman, Nash Central HS, Team Trezz
In the last couple of weekends Quan Pittman has looked much improved as a guard prospect. At the #252Invitational Quan continued the improvements in his jump shot knocking down three 3 pointers and multiple midrange jumpers. Pittman was his normal self in terms of rebounding (4 per game) and defensively (2 stls per game), but if his guard skills and jumper catch up to his athletic ability he will be a top prospect in the 252. He averaged 10 points 4 rebounds and 2 steals on the weekend.
5’9 Kashmere Murphy, South Central, Team Premier
Team Premier 2025 went 1-1 on the weekend, and Kash Murphy was a major part of that equation. In the first contest Murphy started off relatively slow, hitting his only field goal of the first half in the opening minutes of the contest. Then he exploded for a stretch in which he had 13 points, that including a pair of off the dribble pull up threes and mid range pull ups. Kash is a quick guard that gets to his spots relatively easily, he averaged 12.5 points and 3 assist on the weekend.