Continuing our coverage of the Commonwealth Basketball Group (CBG Live) Sessions I and II from the U-Turn Sports Academy in RIchmond, VA, lets now take a look at some of the standout Seniors and Post Grads. 

Tyler Nickel 6’7 2022 East Rockingham

Tyler can flat out shoot the basketball and has ridiculous range and good accuracy well beyond the arc.  Also does a great job employing his big frame as a guard and scoring off the bounce and finding the open man.  Tyler can beat you in a number of ways offensively.  Excellent use of jabs and shot fakes.  Beats you with step backs, very good pull up jumper and strong drives to the rim!  Tyler committed to North Carolina back in mid September.

Alphonso Billups 6’6 2022 Varina

Long and silky smooth the recent VCU commit can beat you from anywhere in the floor and in a variety of ways.  Alphonso is a threat beyond the arc hitting the jumper both off the dribble and off the catch.  His stroke is fluid and mechanically sound.  He attacks the basket with creativity managing to maneuver his lanky frame in a graceful manner as he slips through traffic and finishes with touch and length.  Defends multiple positions. 

Jaden Daughtry 6’5 2022 Benedictine

Jaden has made the move from the post to the guard position over the last couple seasons and poses a threat as a physical shot maker who can stretch you out beyond the arc or still pound you inside to score.  He has smooth, repeatable mechanics and can not only score off the ball but has had success as a primary ballhandler as well.  He dazzled the crowd scoring 17 straight points in a game against John Marshall showing his shot making versatility as the lefty buried jumpers off the catch, off the dribble, off shot fakes and screens and also with finishes at the rim.  Jaden holds offers from Old Dominion, NJIT, Hampton, Marshall, Troy, Jackson State, Charleston Southern, Norfolk Stay and Bethune Cookman.

Anthony Davis, Jr 6’4 2022 Miller School 

Ant is a strong and powerful wing who combines quickness and physicality with a relentless motor.  He can beat you with jumpers or punish you at the rim finishing off fearless and dtermined drives to the rim with physicality and explosiveness.  He is the son of former Virginia Tech offensive tackle Anthony Davis who spent time on the NFL with the St Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints and Dawn Diego Chargers after being signed by true Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he played from 2003-2008.  Anthony committed to Fairfield University just this week.

Dejuan “DJ” Campbell 6’2 2022 Kecoughtan 

A speedy, quick and explosive guard, few can impact a game on both ends of the floor as much as “DJ”.  He’s always in attack mode be it off the dribble with his explosiveness or on the defensive end with relentless ball pressure.  DJ has committed to Western Carolina.

Davien Banks 6’2 2022 LC Bird 

Davien is a very astute and unselfish ball handler. Does a great job scoring on the move and is quick and shifty but he finds a good mix between scoring and distributing the basketball.  Defensively he is solid and active on the ball and shows great anticipation off the ball getting to passing lanes quick for steals.  Very athletic , powerful legs. 

George Beale 6’4 2022 Kings Fork 

Strong, powerful and downright nasty attacking the rim George  attacks defenders with a vengeance using his powerful frame and some crafty ball handling.  He’s fearless, relentless and has the physical and fundamental tools to score almost at will.  George is best off the bounce both attacking the rim or shooting off dribble pull-ups although he can hit the three pointer.  Super athletic and durable he loves to play off contact and use his physicality to get an angle.  He committed to LIU Brooklyn after a strong summer for Boo Williams - Meech where his frequent 20+ point outbursts and activity on the glass and defensive versatility caught the eye of a number of D1’s before he finally committed. 

Jayden Brewer 6’6 2022 Combine Academy

Jayden’s length and versatility makes him an intriguing prospect.  He comes to Combine Academy from Indianapolis IN Ben Davis HS and after a strong summer with Indiana Elite.  Excellent playmaker who is unselfish and shows very good vision and passing skills to compliment his strong scoring ability.  Plays off hesitations nicely and attacks defenders with a good burst and long strides.  Has the ability to shift into another gear and just explode to the rim for high flying dunks or use his body and fight through contact and score.  Jayden was recently offered by both Bethune-Cookman and Florida International.  Evansville, Miami (OH), Cleveland State and USC Upstate have also offered.

Jacob Cooper 5’10 2022 Combine Academy 

The quintessential floor general!  Jacob has a quick and sure handle and quick feet to go along with it.  His abrupt stops and explosive starts and ability to change directions makes him so difficult to stay in front of and he can thread the needle with the pass with the best of them.  Uncanny vision!  He can also hit the jumper and score in traffic with runners and floaters.  Sticky, in your bubble defender whose ball pressure is unyielding.  Jacob talks and is a reliable decision maker and game manager.  He was named the 2019 VHSL Class 5 Virginia Player of the Year after leading the Green Run HS Stallions to a state title.  Jacob earned his first D1 offer in July from McNeese State.

Kashawn Cordes 6’4 2022 John Marshall

Kashawn’s athleticism is off the charts!  Long, quick and explosive yet graceful and poetic in his movements he can guard you end to end in a harassing and relentless manner showing not only excellent footwork but solid technique and the ability to stay locked in defensively.  On the offensive end he plays off hesitations nicely and has an explosive, blow by burst and is a dynamic finisher.  Kashawn can also hit the jumper but he is so dangerous as a slippery and quick basket attacking guard who can blow by you or go over the top of you to score.

Cam Gregory 6’5 2022 Steward School

Cam is a long fluid athlete and an intelligent and crafty playmaker.  He can shoot it from all levels and also break defenders down with his quick crossovers, length, ability to change speeds and impressive bursts on change of pace or changing direction as he works his way to wherever he needs to get to on the floor.  Excellent vision and passing skills and an instinctive playmaker who mixes in scoring and distributing the basketball and can impact the game not only in either task but on the defensive end as well.  He scored in double figures both games including a game winner as Steward knocked off Varina.  Cam is a National Honor Society Member and carries a 4.6 GPA.  He has offers from Central Connecticut State, Millersville and St Francis. 

Rob Lawson 6’0 2022 Capital Christian

Rob is a powerfully built and explosive floor general.  A former quarterback he is a solid decision maker, underrated as a shooter and plays with an outstanding burst attacking space.  A true game manager and a physical, unyielding defender!  Rob has offers from UMBC, Bryant, St Thomas Aquinos.

Nick Marrero 6’2 2022 Patriot HS

Nick can flat out shoot it!  A threat from all levels and a guy who can hit jumpers all day long and from anywhere on the floor, contested or uncontested!  He moves off the ball intelligently and knows how to get open, stays in motion using screens nicely or creates separation using contact or with excellent cuts and his release is so quick he doesn’t need much time nor space to get his shot off.  His range is ridiculously deep and he is a high percentage shooter.  Nick plays off the threat of his jumper and can create his shot off the bounce as well.  He carries a 3.6 GPA and is hearing from a number of DIII programs including ODAC power Randolph-Macon. 

Greg Melvin 6’7 2022 Cape Henry Collegiate 

A big, physical guard Greg can overwhelm many defenders pounding them with punishing drives to the rim.  He can hit the three pointer and is most efficient in the mid range as he moves without the ball nicely, hits the catch and shoot at a good rate, and is a solid finisher.  Strong and active on the glass on both ends of the floor and has solid footwork able to defend in space nicely.  Norfolk State, Bryant, Fairfield, Canisius and Drake have offered. 

Kendon Peebles 6’4 2022 Catholic HS (Va Beach)

Kendon battled through some injuries two years ago that limited not only his playing time but his effectiveness and you just knew once healthy the sky is the limit.  Now his body has filled out quite a bit and he’s using his elite level athleticism and fearlessness as a basket attacking wing who can score right over the top of many defenders.  Shows good creativity on non sink finishes and has a reliable handle.  His length activity and athleticism allows him to be a factor on the glass especially on the offensive end where he can come out of nowhere for stickbacks. 

Tazir Smith 6’3 2022 Virginia Academy

Tazir is a dynamic playmaker, a highlight reel finisher who can jump out of the gym!  He uses hesitations, between the legs dribbles and crossovers and has the ability to explode right by defenders or brake abruptly into a smooth and efficient pullup jumper.  Athletic and skilled, explosive and fearless.  Tazir routinely buries volleyball line jumpers showing excellent footwork and a quick release.  He uses screens effectively but can also get open with quick cuts but his release is so quick he doesn’t need much space to get his shot off.  He’s a lob target with ridiculously and effortless bounce.  Just explodes off the floor!  You have to keep a body on him as Tazir can fly in out of nowhere for stick back dunks and he brings great energy and enthusiasm on both ends of the floor.  One to monitor as his recruiting should really pick up after a strong summer with Higher Level 17U Premier. 

Greg Williams 6’4 2022 VA Academy 

Greg showed his ability to fill it up from anywhere on the floor.  Athletic and long he slices past defenders with shiftiness and length and shows great body control able to score around or over defenders and has a great touch at the rim.  A lefty with deep range well beyond the arc Greg can also impact the defensive end with length, instincts and anticipation.  He’s not only an impact offensive threat but a game changing defender with versatility and leadership skills.  Greg has an offer from West Point. 

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