The first annual Middle School Madness Tournament presented By Hoopfarm Mixtapez and 252Mixtapes brought together some of the top middle school teams in the 252 area under one roof.
5’8 Zarion Hobbs 7th Nation Warriors
In terms of guys who had a good shooting weekend, not many shot better than Zarion Hobbs. For his 7th Nation squad, he is probably more of a combo who can take stints at either the 1 or 2 without much drop in production. Hobbs showed off his nice shot-making ability and range with a tournament-leading 8 3-pointers. Averaged 12pts 2ast 1stl per game.
6’4 Cayden Hill Warriors Life Elite-Chase
Arguably the tallest prospect in the 2027 division Cayden Hill played solidly throughout the tournament. Listed at 6’4 Hill has the nice ability to step out and knock down shots out to the 3-point line, while also being an above-average shot blocker. Averaged 9pts 6rebs 2blks over the tournament.
5’11 Nylah Rush Team Tough
There wasn’t a moment throughout the weekend that Nylah Rush didn’t look like one of the top players on the floor. Running the point for his squad he did a little of everything to contribute to his team’s success. Long-armed with a nice handle and some athleticism he got to spots and had some tough finishes. Averaged 11pts 3rebs 3ast in the tournament.
5’8 Dwight Hooker 7th Nation Warriors
If I had to give out a point guard/playmaker award, look no further than Dwight Hooker. The tournament leader in assists did a nice job of setting up his teammates and controlling the overall tempo of the game. A tight handle and nice frame help Hooker get to his spots relatively easily and he also has a knack for getting steals while applying ball pressure. Averaged 8.6pts 3rebs 4asts.
6’3 Jordan Matthewson Warriors Life Elite-Chase
Jordan Matthewson had the biggest game of any player in the WLE 2027 organization in the tournament. The 6’3 forward had an impressive 16 point 7 rebound performance in a must win game against the 7th Nation squad. Big in stature for his age, with soft hands and an impressive ability to finish around the basket. Averaged 9pts 7rebs.
5’11 Javion Jordan Warriors Life Elite-Chase
Every team wishes they had a player that played the role that Jordan plays for his WLE team. Plays are rarely run for the stocky guard but he finds a way to always come up with the ball, rather it be a rebound, steal, or a hustle bucket. Not to mention that he takes initiative to guard one of the better players on the floor every game. Averaged 9pts 3rebs 3asts 2stls on the weekend.
6’2 Jeremiah Glaspie 7th Nation Warriors
Not many 8th graders on the east side of the state jump as high as Jeremiah Glaspie. The leader in rebounds on the weekend did all the little things right, including having two back to back double digit rebounding games. Glaspie also showed off a unique ability to grab and go with defensive boards that led to a few quick assists. Averaged 7pts 9rebs 3asts 2stls and 2blks.