With approximately 160 players at the Wootten 150 Camp (between upperclassmen and underclassmen), as many as 80 players were playing simultaneously across the gym at any given point. Because of that, it’s difficult to accurately say who stood out overall, since it wasn’t possible to watch all 80 players closely in real time.

Still, a number of players stood out for the better, including several I came into the event intending to scout. Reese Alston, Beckham Black, Paul Osaruyi and others have clear and encouraging NBA potential. And a number of others caught my eye when they were playing in games against players I was specifically there to watch.

Below are my raw scouting notes on a handful of players. These are not detailed scouting reports, per se. They’re observations and assessments intended to explain the essence of each player’s game—who they are, how they play, how they impact the game right now, what stands out, and what needs to be addressed.

The result is hopefully a collection of scouting points that can eventually help paint the picture of each player.

Class of 2027

NBA Potential Right Now

Reese Alston

2027 | Height: 6’3 | Position: PG | High School: Second Baptist School | Home State: TX

Alston is a 6’3 point guard with positional size and elite blow-by speed that make him arguably the most dangerous point guard in high school basketball. He’s not a perfect player, but at this level he’s a point guard who can’t be contained. His command of the ball is second to none, demonstrating the ability to slice through perimeter defenders and get into the paint any which way—straight-line drives, pick-and-rolls, and in transition. He creates advantages off the dribble and consistently capitalizes.

Once Alston drives, he can pinpoint lob passes to his bigs, as well as bounce passes to the baseline and kick-outs to three. He’s in control of all of this within the fast-paced nature of the game. He processes the game at a high level and has the physical gifts and talent to make his mark whenever he has the ball. He will likely generate many free throws because he constantly puts pressure on the rim and the backline of the defense—even on bigger players.

He’s a blur with his blow-by speed, but still maintains smoothness and control. Alston has the athleticism to play above the rim, too. The game has seemingly already slowed down for him. He can split defenders and manipulate them with various hesitation moves, inside-out dribbles, and has a strong base to take wide hop-steps when driving to create space. His ball control and body control are a dynamic combination right now, although I want to see if he can control the ball as proficiently against better competition.

In the pick-and-roll, right now there’s no preventing Alston from either turning the corner or going wide to penetrate the defense. In transition, he can finish at the rim with either hand and with touch. His finishing chops are consistent and impressive.

His jump shot is unproven. He can shoot it off the dribble, with some fade-away action displayed at times, but to what degree he can shoot the ball I’m not sure. In terms of his ability to create shots in different offensive situations—and to make those shots—that’s yet to be determined. He’s multidimensional as a ball handler and finisher, but not as a jump shooter right now. He’s confident and skilled enough with the ball to take jump shots off of different footwork variations and setup situations. When you watch him, it’s as if he’s trying to tap into all types of shots in due time, at least while he still has the freedom to experiment at the high school level.

He needs to sometimes improve his shot selection, and you’d want to see more of a runner or floater as he progresses, particularly because the consistency with which he currently finishes close to the rim may be harder to maintain against bigger and longer defenders at the next level.

I’d like to see Alston playing off the ball as well. Can he impact the game off the ball?

Defensively, you’d like to see him challenged more—I want someone to make Alston guard. So it’s “to be determined” for me on defense. He appears to have good length and slides his feet well, giving him the tools to guard on the perimeter, but he hasn’t necessarily been tested to the highest degree at the high school level, so that remains an unknown.

Reese’s father, Rafer Alston, played 11 NBA seasons.

Beckham Black

2027 | Height: 6’3 | Position: PG | High School: SEPA | Home State: TX

Black is a point guard and shooting guard with an all-around scoring package. Unlike many other scorers, he doesn’t sit around and watch off the ball. Instead, he’s constantly moving and is a threat when on the go—either catching the ball in stride or commanding the game as a primary ball handler. Black makes advanced shots in the half court while still being efficient as a team player. Pull-ups, runners, floaters, catch and shoot off two feet, catch and shoot off movement, and more. He can be the focal point of any possession or blend in and then attack when the ball is swung to him.

His scoring prowess and alpha-level shooting ability make him dangerous, whether he’s scoring in bunches, extending leads or cutting deficits.

Black has effective footwork to create space and separation on his jump shots, and he typically seems in control of the action. Black quarterbacks his team but is also able to score efficiently off the ball as a cutter and movement shooter. He can play with other great players and still be an asset, picking his spots regardless of the role he’s in.

He’s not the most explosive or bouncy player, but he’s definitely athletic enough, even catching an off-the-backboard alley-oop during the camp. He looks like he can have a reliable runner or floater down the line, even if he’s not finishing through taller players at the rim—but only time will tell.

He seems to never disappear even if he’s not scoring—coming up with a timely steal, deflection, rebound or cut.

He’s undeniable in high school in terms of having the skill and liberty to try and make a play. He plays with controlled pace and scoring skills that are rare among his peers right now.

Efficient shot taker considering the volume he takes. Doesn’t force too many bad shots and more often than not is able to get to his spots.

Seems to be a winner, a very competitive player. Every time you hear him or watch him, he’s always trying to make sure his team is winning. Even playing 3-on-3 up to eight, he’s remembering every basket his team made and is able to point out which baskets the other team made to always keep score. Always has a winning mentality, a winning mindset, and it seems to be innate. At the SLAM Summer Classic in August, Black made the game-winning free throws, and did so with calm confidence.

I wonder if his release on his jump shot is a little too slow, although it’s possible that it’s not.

He can come off DHOs and quickly pull up for a jumper. Advanced footwork with jab steps to complement a relatively sweet stroke. Multiple pull-up jumpers off the dribble, with good lift on his release.

He can quickly get into his jump shot, or get off the ball to relocate and continue to play with a winning mentality. You’d like to see if his passing and ability to set guys up translates against better competition, because if he’s not contributing with his shooting, he needs to be able to facilitate and quarterback the offense.

You also want to make sure there’s no risk of him becoming a tweener at 6’3. Point guard skills will need to continue to be developed and displayed.

Beckham’s brother, Anthony Black, is a current NBA player.

Paul Osaruyi

2027 | Height: 6’11 | Position: F | High School: Bella Vista | Home State: AZ

A mix of interior physicality, dunking, and mid-range shooting. A force to be reckoned with down low, with the potential to draw out opposing bigs to the 3-point line. Osaruyi is an inside-outside forward who oozes potential due to his explosiveness above-the-rim and developing mid-range jumper at 6’11.

If his jump shot is consistent—to go along with being a rim runner and a physical player inside—he has the complete package as a big man and could be a first-round NBA Draft pick down the line. Looking promising.

He has a real combination of physicality where he wants to dunk through you and over you, while also being able to put the ball on the floor at an advanced level for a traditional high school big man. He plays with a good mix of stability and intensity.

Not sure he can necessarily break down his man off the dribble, but in terms of an inside-outside threat, his catch and shoot potential is there.

He’s very difficult to contain at the high school level. He can wear guys down by dominating the paint with muscle and explosiveness. His motor and relentlessness are something I would like to explore further.

I want to see more of a motor when he’s in competition against guys who can match him physically, but he’s very impressive right now.

I also want to see how he can impact the game if he’s not scoring. Can he rebound the ball? Can he dive to the rim? Can he beat guys down the floor in transition? Can he set screens?

Joshua Rivera

2027 | Height: 6’7 | Position: SG | High School: Archbishop Stepinac | Home State: NY

He’s a good scorer right now who can be a really effective second or third option on a championship-level high school team. Rivera is overlooked in my opinion. Ranked “3 or 4 stars” in most places. I think he’s better than that, with 5 star potential. But still, for NBA potential there’s a ways to go—but I still wanted to include him here. Rivera has the shooting stroke to make defenders close out hard. This will open up his floor game. At 6’7, that’s a real threat. He can put the ball on the floor, using his size and handle to skillfully maneuver the court. He plays with his head up and can handle the ball a little bit right now. The size, shooting, and fluidity were consistently on display.

He doesn’t dominate the ball; he just gets it in stride, and tries to make things happen off the bounce, while still being able to drill it from deep.

He looks to score, yes, but ultimately he would be more effective as a point forward with a more well-rounded skill set.

It would be good to see him become more of a passing threat. He has to develop the skills that will bring his versatility and connectivity to life.

Nice catch and shoot three-pointers, off-the-dribble pull-ups going in either direction, and he had an and-one driving left and finishing with his right hand.

He needs to add strength and fill out his frame. At 160 lbs, a lot of his development will hinge on building muscle so he can fully utilize his smooth game at 6’7. Added strength should help him absorb contact and get to the free throw line more often. Improving his passing and rebounding is also imperative going forward, because the shooting touch at 6’7 is already on display.

Antonio Pemberton

2027 | Height: 6’1 | Position: PG | High School: Masters Academy International | Home State: MA

He’s extremely confident and maybe the best pull-up shooting point guard in the country. He has a “dog mentality”—extremely competitive—while being able to attack and deflate opposing defenses with his pull-up shooting. He’s a relentless scorer, and so far, it works.

Perhaps a little undersized for a point guard, but compensates for the diminutive size with good rise on his jump shot.

Always trying to attack, and even doing so doesn’t lose control of himself or the ball.

More of a scorer than a passer right now.

Can hesitate and use step-backs and head fakes to really try to finish in the painted area. Can also skillfully use a fadeaway jump shot to create space and shoot over taller players.

He’s clearly a player who has worked on his game a lot because the nooks and crannies of being a small player are things that he seems to have become skilled in, and the things that he has to compensate for are things that he seems to have recognized and developed workarounds for.

A lot of advanced counters with his handle, footwork and head fakes for a high schooler.

Can score the ball in tight windows, really makes shots of high difficulty levels. Just a tough scorer and point guard who won’t back down from anybody and can get deep into his bag as a high school player and a scorer. Plays with a Damian Lillard-style of trying to attack off the bounce into a pull-up jumper.

Can pull up from three in transition as well. Really impressive scorer right now for a point guard.

College-Level Players to Monitor

Kevin Savage III

2027 | Height: 6’0 | Position: PG | High School: Wheeler High School | Home State: GA

Going to Purdue.

Nice point guard.

Nice reverse layup.

Lefty point guard who plays with toughness and confidence. Even though he’s undersized, he’s apparently able to intimidate players that are bigger and taller than him.

Comes off ball screens really well with controlled pace and can finish at the rim. Can get defenders on his hip and back and make them pay. Good elevation at the rim even though he’s undersized.

Can also pull up off ball screens and gets into his jump shot in a fairly skilled way for a high school player coming off screens.

He might be a little too undersized to have a dominant impact on the game, but he seems to, again, be maximizing what he has right now.

He favors his left hand a little bit, but he’s highly effective in the pick-and-roll as a lefty and can slither through the teeth of the defense.

He doesn’t waste too many dribbles, so you can tell that the game is not too fast for him, and he’s also able to shoot it off the catch if needed.

Defensively, he gets down in a stance.

You’d wonder how he fits into the game if he has to be slid off the ball, because right now he looks like a point guard who really needs the ball to play out of the pick-and-roll.

He’s a tough kid with a lot of good promise and a nice, smooth lefty flow at his size.

Elijah Paez

2027 | Height: 6’5 | Position: W | High School: Iowa United Prep | Home State: TX

Wing with good driving ability, positional size and sneaky athleticism to make plays at the rim. Paez is a competitor who thrives in a chaotic game, able to get steals defensively and then finish at the rim going the other way. He has 3-and-D potential if his shooting rounds into form.

Defensively, he’s active, timing steals and deflections and making defense a central part of his game.

He looks to attack, it seems, at all times. He finishes at the rim with bounce and aggressions, and is a sneaky cutter, too. He will generate some free throws. He can dunk it off two feet and most likely off one foot as well.

I’m not sure about playing at multiple speeds—half court, etc.—or if he can be more effective on the perimeter in a structured offense. I didn’t see enough of half court production, though I’m not counting him out. He looks like a competitor who makes winning plays and the extra effort plays. He loves to attack and isn’t scared to take contact. In fact, he looks for it.

He plays with a certain toughness and competitiveness for a perimeter player.

He’s engaged at all times.

He’s hard on himself when the plays don’t go well.

His ball handling needs work. He continuously struggled vs. pressure and had to give up the ball.

I’d like to see how he passes the ball, because he’s a perimeter player. I want to see how he can get others involved.

He had a nice block in transition, but again, on the offensive end, he picks up his handle way too many times. In transition, he needs to pass it ahead earlier; don’t just pound the ball and then give it up and waste the shot clock when he gets pressured by the defender. He needs to work on his handle to beat the pressure. This will be the swing skill for him in the immediate term for him to take the next step in his game.

Good potential as a 3-and-D wing at the college level who can truly score at the right times and make winning plays. He’ll help a high-major program in a substantial way—maybe not in year 1, but probably no so long after.

Dylan Jones

2027 | Height: 6’7 | Position: SF | High School: Bartlett High School | Home State: TN

Bouncy, long and muscular small forward who is more comfortable pulling up for jump shots right now than attacking the basket. He’s able to stop on a dime and rise for a jump shot on his drive, but his shooting form is a little unorthodox and he doesn’t have the highest release point.

He had some clear driving lanes to the basket, but instead chose to stop and turn for a fadeaway jumper.

Good bounce and athleticism to defend on the perimeter and contest shots in the paint. He can pin shots against the backboard defensively. He’s a pogo-stick athlete.

Appears to be able to block multiple shots within the same possession.

He’s a very bouncy player.

He plays with bounce and pop.

Able to show well on ball screens defensively with long hands and active hands.

He’s a disruptor defensively and, it appears, is trying to push the ball on a defensive rebound all the time.

Good physicality and aggressiveness.

He’s a competitor with real athleticism and bounce, which only helps his case.

I’m curious to see how he is as a cutter and a finisher through contact, because he has the physical tools and the defensive know-how, apparently, to be an impact defender.

Now have to see how the offensive game rounds into form. Is he a threat as a shooter? If so, what kind of shooter and what kind of threat? Offensively, there’s a lot more to explore. Defensively, there’s a lot to be excited about as a switchable perimeter defender who covers lots of ground and is disruptive, although it was only a small sample size at the camp.

Malik Moore

2027 | Height: 6’4 | Position: G | High School: Iowa United Prep | Home State: IA

A little undersized at 6’4 for a shooting guard.

He’s a lefty.

He’s definitely a confident shot taker.

Long arms can create separation off the bounce for a nice step-back jumper.

But you want to see how he can impact the game without scoring, or in other ways other than scoring.

Confident shot maker who can make tough shots for sure, though.

Good length on his layups, attacks the basket.

His wingspan is really long.

He can finish with reverse layups and isn’t scared to take contact. So he looks like somewhat of a triple-threat scorer who can score from all three levels because of his length, willingness to attack and demonstrated shooting stroke.

Just want to see what else he brings to the table, perhaps more rebounding as well and defending, to be more in the Derrick Jones Jr. prototype, so to speak.

Braxton Keathley

2027 | Height: 6’5 | Position: CG | High School: Prolific Prep | Home State: KY

Committed to Pacific University. He’s probably the highest-rated or one of the top-rated recruits in program history, if I had to guess, because he’s definitely a high-major player.

Good positional size for a point guard at 6’5, and appears to be a sharpshooter.

Could be more of a combo guard than a point guard. Has some muscle on him so I don’t mind that for the college level.

Confident shot taker and shot maker. Didn’t make too many shots off the dribble, but he’s definitely a dangerous shooter off the catch (and off of maybe a few dribbles getting into his shot). One-dribble pull-up for sure.

He doesn’t get sped up, which is good. He can keep possessions alive even if he’s not creating his own shot, just kind of patient and secure with the ball.

Sees driving lanes well, but I’m not sure he can finish amongst “the trees” right now. He likes to kick it out when he gets into the paint because of that.

A very confident shot maker with deep range.

Tyrese West

2027 | Height: 6’10 | Position: PF/C | High School: Sacramento High School | Home State: CA

Good size.

Lift on jumper.

Good size and can shoot the ball. He’s clearly a big man who’s not limited to playing on the inside.

Takes outside shots with liberty.

Need to see more of him to get a better feel for his all-around game, but clearly has the size and a relatively soft touch to be a player to monitor.

Class of 2028

College-Level Players to Monitor

William Brunson

2028 | Height: 6’6 | Position: SF | High School: IMG Academy | Home State: NJ

Nice size.

Gets to his spots, but the handle is still developing and the jump shot is still not as consistent as you’d like. Smooth jump shot at times, but a relatively low release point.

Seems to be bouncy in the open floor and can use euro steps and some effective footwork to slither through the lane for layups.

Gets to his spots and doesn’t hesitate on the catch and shoot or the one-dribble pull-up.

Definitely more comfortable going left than right right now, and his handle is a work in progress as defenders can cut him off and he picks up his dribble.

But he has a physical frame, can dunk through some people, and is a wing who has some three-and-D potential as we watch his development moving forward.

Offensively, it’s still relatively raw with his floor game, though he can occasionally incorporate an advanced jump shot like a fadeaway or a turnaround.

But again, the physical tools, the catch and shoot threat, the lefty transition abilities are all evident. He’s definitely a player to continue watching and monitoring.

Noah Grossman

2028 | Height: 6’4 | Position: CG | High School: Crossroads | Home State: CA

Caught a nice alley-oop.

Somewhat undersized combo guard, but plays at a fast speed, always running up and down the floor and usually shot-ready on the catch.

Can catch and shoot, or pump fake, put the ball on the floor and try to make a play when he gets into the teeth of the defense.

More of a connective piece than a scorer right now, but he needs to improve his overall offensive arsenal to become more than just a mid-major high-impact player or a high-major impact player.

That’s where it looks like right now, but more development is needed.