PLAYER WRITE-UPS
The inaugural National Invite Tournament powered by Strive For Perfection served as a reminder that it's levels to basketball. There were a few teams that were just far superior than the others, hence the all-tournament teams. All in all, the National Invite Tournament did have high level talent and every player evaluated below is the proof.
Nasir Coleman | G | 2030
Coleman, the National Invite Tournament MVP is a guard that can play positions 1-3 with his size, ability to handle to ball, get to the basket & finish well with either hand in traffic or through contact. Coleman showed off his playmaking ability when defenders collapsed & was a pest on the defensive end with his long arms.
Tylief Washam | G | 2030
Washam is a diminutive guard that’s always dribbling with his head up & eyes on a swivel to make the necessary passes. Wings & bigs are lucky to play with a guard like Washam, that is so unselfish and aware of his teammates strengths. Washam has a very tight handle, a sniper off the catch & he’s a pest on the defensive end.
K-Whan Young | G | 2029
Young is a very calm guard takes very good care of the ball. In two outings, (one being the championship) against a tough D-Up squad he was able to play at a pace suitable for him. Play-making & creating for himself.
Cameron Jeter | F | 2030
Jeter is a lengthy forward that does a good job at being a honest defender & using his length to force turnovers or delay the timing of passes. He gets out well in transition & finished well in traffic or through contact.
James Swiggett | G | 2030
Swiggett is a very crafty guard that uses his handle well to get to the cup for acrobatic finishes, shooting well off the bounce & being a playmaker. Swiggett is also a three from dee
Mackell Jenkins | G | 2028
Jenkins, the tournament MVP is a guard with very good size & the versatility to guard positions 1-4. He used his size well to both rebound & finish around the basket. With good speed & athleticism, Jenkins made it tough for guards to contain him & when the help appeared too much he made the right reads to get rid of the ball.
Semaj Warden | G | 2029
The southpaw guard has an high IQ for his age. Offensively, he’s the ultimate floor general that every team needs. Warden is an excellent passer that not only puts the ball in the right spots, but he puts his teammates in great positions to be successful. Warden can score the ball when needed & defensively he’s always aware of the smallest rotations to force turnovers or slow teams up.
Elijah McCollin | G | 2029
McCollin really showed his ability to stroke it from deep. He sets his feet well, use his legs well enough to extend his range & shoots a nice jump shot with good arc. McCollin also showed his skills to shoot the ball off the bounce as well when guys went under ball screens & used simple moves to get to the basket.
Nathaniel Wilson | G | 2028
Wilson is a very energetic lefty guard that’s hard to stop when he running the break. He used good change of direction moves that helped him get to the basket where he finished well in traffic or through contact. Wilson simply knows how to get into the paint at will whether he’s scoring or dropping dimes.
Mical Saint-Jean | F | 2027
Saint-Jean is a forward that punished smaller defenders inside on both the defensive & offensive glass. He helped make a difference on the offensive end by his ability to power through defenders once he got offensive boards. His stellar play helped his team come out on top.
Julian Davis | F | 2027
Davis, the tournament MVP was a monster on the boards just by being a good rebounder & always in the right spots to get rebounds. He showed his ability to not only lead fast breaks & score the ball on his own but to make point-guard like plays as well. He showed his ability to make Kevin Love like outlet passes to teammates getting out on the break & defensively his inside presence worked wonders for his team.
Joe Farino | G | 2027
Farino showed his ability to be a 3-level scorer. Very proficient from 3, knows how to utilize his head fakes & ball handling skills to get to his mid-range jump shot & to get to the basket as well. When teams helped, he was able to be a play-maker at times & made it look easy while doing it.
Amare Long | G | 2027
Long is a guard that you’ll rarely see being sped up by opposing teams. He plays with a ton of poise, uses simple ball handling moves to get to his spots & he can score the ball from just about anywhere. On the defensive end, Long has very good hands when playing the passing lanes which allowed him to easily rack up 2+ steals in every game of action.
Onyx Oschwald | F | 2027
Oschwald is a very big body inside & he made sure to let it be known. Owning the boards on the defensive end & at times battled his teammate Julian Davis on the offensive boards. Oschwald showed great footwork around the basket & finished well on either side through a ton of contact at times being that he required help.
Cam’Ron Austin | G | 2027
Austin is a backcourt teammate of Long’s who he was able to help take pressure off of at times. Austin controlled the offense for his Bayou Elite squad & made timely passes to his teammates to help them score. Austin easily makes Bayou Elite a much better team when he’s looking to be aggressive himself.
Jesiah Hines | G | 2026
Hines is a combo guard that plays with great energy on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he’s a crafty guard that did a good job at breaking defenders down & finishing around the rim with his acrobatic like finishes. Defensively, Hines is a sneaky defender that does a good job at baiting guys to make passes as if he doesn’t see before picking them off.
Elijah Brandon | G | 2026
Brandon had the ball on a string at the National Invite Tournament & made himself a tough cover for teams. Knocking down 3s from the outside & getting to the cup at will. He used his strength well to shield off defenders, finished in traffic well with either hand & when guys stepped up he made the right reads to deliver sharp passes.
Mannie Villegas | F | 2026
Villegas, the tournament MVP was a true rebounding machine for his squad that had to be focused in on when boxing out. He crashed the boards hard & finished about 90% of the offensive rebounds he contained. Villegas got out in transition & with a guard like Brandon it made Villegas' job really easy. He was able to flush home a few dunks & was completely dominant.
Bradyn Arline | G | 2026
Arline showcased his ability to really shoot the ball from 3. Shooting with great arc, using good footwork & shooting high percentage shots is what stood out to me about Arline. He didn’t force any action & stuck to his strengths. Arline showed his ability to put the ball on the floor & make plays for himself & others.
Isaiah Gore | G | 2026
Gore is a guard with pretty good size & a tight handle that allows him to get to his spots on the court. He’s a player that doesn’t try doing to much & does his job. He has a nice touch around the rim & showed great patience with running an offensive. If Gore adds just a little more assertiveness to his game he’ll be more of a dominant play-maker.
Jaiden Newton | G | 2025
Newton, the tournament MVP was a highlight reel for Go Torey & had his way with breaking down defenders with his shifty handle, scoring the ball well off the bounce & getting to the cup at will. Newton shot the ball exceptionally well from 3, had a ton of success from the mid-range area & had a good amount of fast break flushes that gave his team a huge energy boost at times.
Zach Efobi | F | 2025
Efobi looked to be one of the hardest working players in attendance at the National Invite Tournament. Never getting out hustled, but doing all of the out hustling allowed Efobi to snatch down rebounds left & right. He not only gave his team extra opportunities to score but he fought hard & lived at the free-throw line by being that much of a force inside.
Troy Worrell | G | 2025
Warrell is a really quick guard that showed his ability to get to by defenders & finish around the rim with good use of the glass. He used a nice floater that he used to finish over bigger defenders & was a big time play-maker for his team. On the defensive end, Warrell took off zero plays & was a defensive nightmare for other teams with his on ball pressure that forced guys into bad passes.
Shawn Raffety | G | 2025
Raffety did a wonderful job at leading his team & not having to force any action while doing so. He was a knock down 3 point shooter both off the catch & off the bounce, he got to the basket where he finished well & he was a play-maker at times when he wasn’t spotting up. His stellar played helped get his team to the championship game & despite falling short he continued his success from deep.
Brendan Gaines | G | 2025
Gaines showed his true versatility on both ends of the floor. Being able to be a reliable spot up shooter & being able to defend from positions 1-4 despite being a guard. Gaines put the ball on the floor well & finished inside with his sneaky athleticism. With a few proper gathers & he would’ve easily caught a few posters at the rim.
Josiah Legree | G | 2024
Legree is a shifty combo guard that was breaking defenders down at will. Knocking down trey balls but really thriving well off the bounce from the mid-range area. The silky smooth guard got to the cup where he finished lay-ups acrobatically or above the rim with his underrated athleticism that he showcased when he needed to. Legree was really impressive in the championship game where he & Barfield was a highlight reel in closing moments.
Isaiah Ayers | G | 2024
Ayers showed off his ability to shoot the 3 ball well & was a tough cover out of the pick & roll action. When guys went under he made them pay from the outside & when guys went over he got downhill & finished himself, hit the roll guy or kicked to his shooters spotting up. Ayers did a really good job running the show for his team & willed them to the championship game.
Clarence McBride-Allen | F | 2024
McBride was a tough cover on the boards & out of the pick & roll action. He’s a big body that’s really mobile & hard to keep off the boards without a body on him. With his size he was able to end a game just by using his size to rebound & finish over smaller defenders. Out of the PNR action he rolled hard to the basket & drew up a ton of attention when rolling which opened up the floor for his ball handlers & outside shooters.
Sincere Barfield | G | 2024
Barfield, the tournament MVP was a showtime threat & played with a lot of energy on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he’s a 3-level scorer that can really score the ball off the bounce. Very proficient from 3, posted up smaller guards at times & finished well at the rim with either hand. Defensively, he was hounding opposing players & making them very uncomfortable. Off a few defensive rebounds & steals Barfield showed his ability to finish above the rim in a variety of ways.
Juwaun Carter | F | 2024
Carter is a forward that could handle the ball at times like a guard. He was pretty much a mismatch for opponents that played with smaller lineups. Putting defenders in the basket with his size, footwork & strength inside to do so. Carter showed great patience when operating out of the post & made great reads when double teams happened. He was also pretty consistent from 3 & showed great touch as well.
Hyshon Cannon | G | 2024
Cannon, the tournament MVP is a really aggressive attacking guard that used his tight handle to break down defenders, followed by his strength & athleticism to finish at the rim consistently in traffic or through contact. With his quick first step & ability to hold off defenders he made it tough for defenders to recover once he got a step ahead requiring defenders to help which made it easier for his teammates. While knowing he was the man he showed his unselfishness & his ability to lead his team to a championship.
Filaun Paythress | F | 2022
Paythress, the strong southpaw forward, was a force to be reckoned with. Playing at his speed while getting to the basket & getting his teammates involved. He used a variety of gathers to finish but made it really hard to stop his euro-step move by using his body well to go along with good ball placement. Paythress was also a solid outside threat as well.
Devin Wright-Myles | F | 2024
Wright did a good job of rebounding the ball inside by using his athleticism to get them & strength to snatch them down. He did a good job at getting the ball to ball handlers & running the floor to be rewarded for easy lay-ups or dunks & on the offensive end he finished a ton of lay-ups in traffic & through contact. Wright showed some improvement from 3 as well & knocked down a three in each contest. Defensively, Wright did a good job at altering shots at the rim & making it tough for guys to finish inside.
Domenic Raymond F | 2024
Raymond is a stretch four that caught my attention with his ability to shoot the ball exceptionally well from deep. He can put the ball on the floor & make plays for himself by using his body well enough to create space for jump shots or finish at the rim where he used a variety of head fakes & good footwork to do so. He has a really nice soft touch around the rim & he used his size to rebound the ball well. Raymond showed that he really understands the game.
Mekhi Lott | G | 2024
Lott brought a ton of energy to his Express Elite squad on both ends of the floor. From knocking down high arcing treys to willingly defending opposing team’s best ball handlers & making their job tough. Lott showed he can shoot off the bounce but he shot it really well off the catch. He used simple ball handling skills to get by defenders & finish in traffic or dishing or his teammates. On the defensive end, Lott forced a ton of turnovers & helped his team rack up a ton of fast break points with his ability to get out in the open floor.
Written By: Shaquan Worthy
Nasir Coleman | G | 2030
Coleman, the National Invite Tournament MVP is a guard that can play positions 1-3 with his size, ability to handle to ball, get to the basket & finish well with either hand in traffic or through contact. Coleman showed off his playmaking ability when defenders collapsed & was a pest on the defensive end with his long arms.
Tylief Washam | G | 2030
Washam is a diminutive guard that’s always dribbling with his head up & eyes on a swivel to make the necessary passes. Wings & bigs are lucky to play with a guard like Washam, that is so unselfish and aware of his teammates strengths. Washam has a very tight handle, a sniper off the catch & he’s a pest on the defensive end.
K-Whan Young | G | 2029
Young is a very calm guard takes very good care of the ball. In two outings, (one being the championship) against a tough D-Up squad he was able to play at a pace suitable for him. Play-making & creating for himself.
Cameron Jeter | F | 2030
Jeter is a lengthy forward that does a good job at being a honest defender & using his length to force turnovers or delay the timing of passes. He gets out well in transition & finished well in traffic or through contact.
James Swiggett | G | 2030
Swiggett is a very crafty guard that uses his handle well to get to the cup for acrobatic finishes, shooting well off the bounce & being a playmaker. Swiggett is also a three from dee
Mackell Jenkins | G | 2028
Jenkins, the tournament MVP is a guard with very good size & the versatility to guard positions 1-4. He used his size well to both rebound & finish around the basket. With good speed & athleticism, Jenkins made it tough for guards to contain him & when the help appeared too much he made the right reads to get rid of the ball.
Semaj Warden | G | 2029
The southpaw guard has an high IQ for his age. Offensively, he’s the ultimate floor general that every team needs. Warden is an excellent passer that not only puts the ball in the right spots, but he puts his teammates in great positions to be successful. Warden can score the ball when needed & defensively he’s always aware of the smallest rotations to force turnovers or slow teams up.
Elijah McCollin | G | 2029
McCollin really showed his ability to stroke it from deep. He sets his feet well, use his legs well enough to extend his range & shoots a nice jump shot with good arc. McCollin also showed his skills to shoot the ball off the bounce as well when guys went under ball screens & used simple moves to get to the basket.
Nathaniel Wilson | G | 2028
Wilson is a very energetic lefty guard that’s hard to stop when he running the break. He used good change of direction moves that helped him get to the basket where he finished well in traffic or through contact. Wilson simply knows how to get into the paint at will whether he’s scoring or dropping dimes.
Mical Saint-Jean | F | 2027
Saint-Jean is a forward that punished smaller defenders inside on both the defensive & offensive glass. He helped make a difference on the offensive end by his ability to power through defenders once he got offensive boards. His stellar play helped his team come out on top.
Julian Davis | F | 2027
Davis, the tournament MVP was a monster on the boards just by being a good rebounder & always in the right spots to get rebounds. He showed his ability to not only lead fast breaks & score the ball on his own but to make point-guard like plays as well. He showed his ability to make Kevin Love like outlet passes to teammates getting out on the break & defensively his inside presence worked wonders for his team.
Joe Farino | G | 2027
Farino showed his ability to be a 3-level scorer. Very proficient from 3, knows how to utilize his head fakes & ball handling skills to get to his mid-range jump shot & to get to the basket as well. When teams helped, he was able to be a play-maker at times & made it look easy while doing it.
Amare Long | G | 2027
Long is a guard that you’ll rarely see being sped up by opposing teams. He plays with a ton of poise, uses simple ball handling moves to get to his spots & he can score the ball from just about anywhere. On the defensive end, Long has very good hands when playing the passing lanes which allowed him to easily rack up 2+ steals in every game of action.
Onyx Oschwald | F | 2027
Oschwald is a very big body inside & he made sure to let it be known. Owning the boards on the defensive end & at times battled his teammate Julian Davis on the offensive boards. Oschwald showed great footwork around the basket & finished well on either side through a ton of contact at times being that he required help.
Cam’Ron Austin | G | 2027
Austin is a backcourt teammate of Long’s who he was able to help take pressure off of at times. Austin controlled the offense for his Bayou Elite squad & made timely passes to his teammates to help them score. Austin easily makes Bayou Elite a much better team when he’s looking to be aggressive himself.
Jesiah Hines | G | 2026
Hines is a combo guard that plays with great energy on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he’s a crafty guard that did a good job at breaking defenders down & finishing around the rim with his acrobatic like finishes. Defensively, Hines is a sneaky defender that does a good job at baiting guys to make passes as if he doesn’t see before picking them off.
Elijah Brandon | G | 2026
Brandon had the ball on a string at the National Invite Tournament & made himself a tough cover for teams. Knocking down 3s from the outside & getting to the cup at will. He used his strength well to shield off defenders, finished in traffic well with either hand & when guys stepped up he made the right reads to deliver sharp passes.
Mannie Villegas | F | 2026
Villegas, the tournament MVP was a true rebounding machine for his squad that had to be focused in on when boxing out. He crashed the boards hard & finished about 90% of the offensive rebounds he contained. Villegas got out in transition & with a guard like Brandon it made Villegas' job really easy. He was able to flush home a few dunks & was completely dominant.
Bradyn Arline | G | 2026
Arline showcased his ability to really shoot the ball from 3. Shooting with great arc, using good footwork & shooting high percentage shots is what stood out to me about Arline. He didn’t force any action & stuck to his strengths. Arline showed his ability to put the ball on the floor & make plays for himself & others.
Isaiah Gore | G | 2026
Gore is a guard with pretty good size & a tight handle that allows him to get to his spots on the court. He’s a player that doesn’t try doing to much & does his job. He has a nice touch around the rim & showed great patience with running an offensive. If Gore adds just a little more assertiveness to his game he’ll be more of a dominant play-maker.
Jaiden Newton | G | 2025
Newton, the tournament MVP was a highlight reel for Go Torey & had his way with breaking down defenders with his shifty handle, scoring the ball well off the bounce & getting to the cup at will. Newton shot the ball exceptionally well from 3, had a ton of success from the mid-range area & had a good amount of fast break flushes that gave his team a huge energy boost at times.
Zach Efobi | F | 2025
Efobi looked to be one of the hardest working players in attendance at the National Invite Tournament. Never getting out hustled, but doing all of the out hustling allowed Efobi to snatch down rebounds left & right. He not only gave his team extra opportunities to score but he fought hard & lived at the free-throw line by being that much of a force inside.
Troy Worrell | G | 2025
Warrell is a really quick guard that showed his ability to get to by defenders & finish around the rim with good use of the glass. He used a nice floater that he used to finish over bigger defenders & was a big time play-maker for his team. On the defensive end, Warrell took off zero plays & was a defensive nightmare for other teams with his on ball pressure that forced guys into bad passes.
Shawn Raffety | G | 2025
Raffety did a wonderful job at leading his team & not having to force any action while doing so. He was a knock down 3 point shooter both off the catch & off the bounce, he got to the basket where he finished well & he was a play-maker at times when he wasn’t spotting up. His stellar played helped get his team to the championship game & despite falling short he continued his success from deep.
Brendan Gaines | G | 2025
Gaines showed his true versatility on both ends of the floor. Being able to be a reliable spot up shooter & being able to defend from positions 1-4 despite being a guard. Gaines put the ball on the floor well & finished inside with his sneaky athleticism. With a few proper gathers & he would’ve easily caught a few posters at the rim.
Josiah Legree | G | 2024
Legree is a shifty combo guard that was breaking defenders down at will. Knocking down trey balls but really thriving well off the bounce from the mid-range area. The silky smooth guard got to the cup where he finished lay-ups acrobatically or above the rim with his underrated athleticism that he showcased when he needed to. Legree was really impressive in the championship game where he & Barfield was a highlight reel in closing moments.
Isaiah Ayers | G | 2024
Ayers showed off his ability to shoot the 3 ball well & was a tough cover out of the pick & roll action. When guys went under he made them pay from the outside & when guys went over he got downhill & finished himself, hit the roll guy or kicked to his shooters spotting up. Ayers did a really good job running the show for his team & willed them to the championship game.
Clarence McBride-Allen | F | 2024
McBride was a tough cover on the boards & out of the pick & roll action. He’s a big body that’s really mobile & hard to keep off the boards without a body on him. With his size he was able to end a game just by using his size to rebound & finish over smaller defenders. Out of the PNR action he rolled hard to the basket & drew up a ton of attention when rolling which opened up the floor for his ball handlers & outside shooters.
Sincere Barfield | G | 2024
Barfield, the tournament MVP was a showtime threat & played with a lot of energy on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he’s a 3-level scorer that can really score the ball off the bounce. Very proficient from 3, posted up smaller guards at times & finished well at the rim with either hand. Defensively, he was hounding opposing players & making them very uncomfortable. Off a few defensive rebounds & steals Barfield showed his ability to finish above the rim in a variety of ways.
Juwaun Carter | F | 2024
Carter is a forward that could handle the ball at times like a guard. He was pretty much a mismatch for opponents that played with smaller lineups. Putting defenders in the basket with his size, footwork & strength inside to do so. Carter showed great patience when operating out of the post & made great reads when double teams happened. He was also pretty consistent from 3 & showed great touch as well.
Hyshon Cannon | G | 2024
Cannon, the tournament MVP is a really aggressive attacking guard that used his tight handle to break down defenders, followed by his strength & athleticism to finish at the rim consistently in traffic or through contact. With his quick first step & ability to hold off defenders he made it tough for defenders to recover once he got a step ahead requiring defenders to help which made it easier for his teammates. While knowing he was the man he showed his unselfishness & his ability to lead his team to a championship.
Filaun Paythress | F | 2022
Paythress, the strong southpaw forward, was a force to be reckoned with. Playing at his speed while getting to the basket & getting his teammates involved. He used a variety of gathers to finish but made it really hard to stop his euro-step move by using his body well to go along with good ball placement. Paythress was also a solid outside threat as well.
Devin Wright-Myles | F | 2024
Wright did a good job of rebounding the ball inside by using his athleticism to get them & strength to snatch them down. He did a good job at getting the ball to ball handlers & running the floor to be rewarded for easy lay-ups or dunks & on the offensive end he finished a ton of lay-ups in traffic & through contact. Wright showed some improvement from 3 as well & knocked down a three in each contest. Defensively, Wright did a good job at altering shots at the rim & making it tough for guys to finish inside.
Domenic Raymond F | 2024
Raymond is a stretch four that caught my attention with his ability to shoot the ball exceptionally well from deep. He can put the ball on the floor & make plays for himself by using his body well enough to create space for jump shots or finish at the rim where he used a variety of head fakes & good footwork to do so. He has a really nice soft touch around the rim & he used his size to rebound the ball well. Raymond showed that he really understands the game.
Mekhi Lott | G | 2024
Lott brought a ton of energy to his Express Elite squad on both ends of the floor. From knocking down high arcing treys to willingly defending opposing team’s best ball handlers & making their job tough. Lott showed he can shoot off the bounce but he shot it really well off the catch. He used simple ball handling skills to get by defenders & finish in traffic or dishing or his teammates. On the defensive end, Lott forced a ton of turnovers & helped his team rack up a ton of fast break points with his ability to get out in the open floor.
Written By: Shaquan Worthy
