
This past weekend we had the opportunity to check out the action at Sonny Johnson’s NEO Elite Showcase in Cleveland, Ohio, and as expected, the talent level in the gym was impressive. Not only were there a number of big time ballers in the middle and elementary school divisions, but the high school division was loaded as well.
On Saturday some of the players that separated themselves from the pack included: Harlem McNeal, Deloni Pughsley, Kameran Mercer, Ashton Jolly, Kaden Mullins, Mason Broyles, Kaylon Brooks, Jaylen Mercer and King Bacot, all of whom arrived at the event with big time reputations and national rankings.
Below is our initial list of standout performers, most of whom exhibited stellar play on Saturday. Stay tuned for Part II in the next couple of days. Follow us on IG @Robt1.
Player | Hgt/Pos | Class | City/State | Evaluation Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Harlem McNeal | 5’10″/CG | 2029 | Houston, TX | Great length, athletic, physical, makes tough finishes, handle for size, can hit the 3-ball, solid court vision & passing skills, lefty, gets buckets, D-prospect! |
Deloni Pughsley | 5’3″/PG | 2029 | Columbus, OH | Dynamic PG with excellent skill set, changes speed and direction well, can create his own shot or make plays for others, 3-level scorer, fun to watch, D-I prospect |
Daviano Brown | 5’10″/CG | 2029 | Cleveland, OH | Good size for position, solid ball skills, can defend multiple positions, can score at 3 levels, sees over the defense, athletic, can defend smaller defenders, good body control, bucket getter, Good court vision & passing ability, college prospect |
Kameron Mercer | 6’0″/PG | 2028 | Cincinnati, OH | Great size for position, athletic, lefty, defends well, 3-level scorer, plays with good pace and poise, has a good feel for the game, unselfish, does not force the action, lets the game come to him, D-I prospect! |
Delon Carter | 5’1″/PG | 2030 | Detroit, MI | Good length, scores at 3 levels, has a mature game, defends at a high level, solid ball skills, athletic, crafty, has a good feel for the game, understands the game, attacks cup, bucket getter, significant upside potential |
King Bacot | 5’8″/PG | 2028 | Richmond, VA | Great size for position, athletic, knows how to use his body to score, handles the rock well for size, solid court vision & passing ability, makes tough finishes, physical, lefty, can block shots, good upside potential |
Kaylon Brooks | 5’6”/PG | 2028 | Mansfield, OH | Highly skilled, plays w/ good pace and poise, plays the game the right way, consistent performer, crafty, solid defender, finishes well with left hand, college prospect |
Ashton Jolly | 4’9”/PG | 2032 | New Orleans, LA | Highly skilled, 3-level scorer, excellent defender, great in transition, attacks the cup, finishes drives at a high level, elite competitor |
Kaden Mullins | 4’5”/PG | 2029 | Miami, FL | Elite skill set, tenacious to the basket, has the ball on a string, stays in the paint, shoots the rock well, makes plays for himself and teammates, changes speed and direction well, fun to watch, consistent performer |
Ashton Spiva | 5’0”/PG | 2030 | Canal Winchester, OH | Strong, physical, gritty guard who’s know how to use his body to score, lets the game come to him, finishes through contact, tough, solid ball skills |
Mason Broyles | 5’2”/PG | 2030 | Cleveland, OH | Good size for position, solid skill set, athletic, can go get a bucket, good vision and passing skills, shoots with range, plays with good pace, poised |
Aiden Nichols | 5’0”/PG | 2029 | Cleveland, OH | Solid skill set, handles the rock well, shoots with range, can score at 3 levels, got hot in a game we watched, good court vision & passing ability |
Landon Kruger | 6’6”/CG | 2026 | New Haven, CT | Explosive athlete, tried to dunk everything, solid skill set, good court vision, willing passer, handles the rock well for his size |
King Kendrick | 5’9”/PG | 2026 | Columbus, OH | Highly skilled, smooth, crafty, stays in the paint, finish’s well at the rim, can make plays for himself or teammates, confident, changes speed and direction well, can create his own shot |
Zachariah Belcher | 6’11”/C | 2026 | Ft Wayne, IN | Great size already, athletic, bouncy, rim protector, rebounds at a high rate, solid defender, good ball skills for his size, plays above the rim, college prospect |
Marlo Moore | 5’10”/PG | 2025 | Chicago, IL | Super quick, crafty, solid defender, shifty, made tough finishes, has second gear, changes speed & direction well, handles the rock well |
Jaylen Mercer | 6’4”/W/PF | 2027 | Cincinnati, OH | Good size, soft touch around the rim, rebounds well, sees the he floor well, solid handle for size, passes the ball well |
Jyaiire Harper | 6’1”/PG | 2026 | Cincinnati, OH | Good length, athletic, lefty, solid court vision and passing ability, good in transition, shoots it well, hit multiple treys in game we watched |
Jayvontae Swift | 4’9”/PG | 2029 | Loraine, OH | Scorer, let the game come to him, played with good pace, finished well with left hand, good in transition, competes, solid on-ball defender, guarded the other team’s best player, willing and able passer |
Tanner Morgan | 4’9”/PG | 2030 | Atlanta, GA | Solid ball skills, tough as nails, motor, skilled, great on-ball defender |
Rocco Loomis | 5’8”/CG | 2027 | Watchung, NJ | Skilled, crafty, quick, gets to the cup, tough, can create his own shot, changes speed & direction well |
Xavier Vickerstaff | 6’2”/W/PF | 2025 | Cleveland, OH | Good size, strong frame, athletic, nice touch around the basket, finishes well |
Tariq Johnson | 6’1”/SG | 2024 | Columbus, OH | Good size for position, quick,lefty, solid handle |
Maddox Purins | 5’11”/PF | 2029 | Poland, OH | Good length, nice mid-range pull up, moves well, solid defender, sets solid screens |

Harlem McNeal

Delnoni Pughsley

Daviano Brown

Kameron Mercer

Delon Carter

King Baycott

Kaylen Brooks

Ashton Jolly

Kaden Mullins

Ashton Spiva

Mason Broyles

Aiden Nichols

Landon Krygier

King Kendrick

Zachariah Belcher

Marlo Moore

Jaylen Mercer

Jyaiire Harper

Jayvontae Swift

Tanner Morgan

Rocco Loomis

Xavier Vickerstaff

Tariq Johnson

Maddox Purins