Youth Prevails at Las Vegas Classic

The big boys are here and they haven’t disappointed but it was the young fellas that really shined on our first day of the Las Vegas Easter Classic. Here is a look at some of the top youngsters we saw in action including Jeffery Jordan of Illinois and Mike Singletary of Texas. They are just a few of the many that stood out.

Jeffery Jordan - Recognize the last name? He is the heir of His Airness himself, Michael Jordan. Talk about pressure for the ninth grader. So far, he looks as if he’s ready for the heavy challenge. The lefty can handle the rock but more than anything, Jordan moves extremely well without the ball and knows how to get to a spot for a score. The 6-foot-1 freshman is playing at Loyola Academy in Chicago.

Michael Thompson - Joining Jordan in the backcourt was Thompson - a gritty, hard nosed guard from Lincoln Park HS in the Chicago area. As a freshman, he averaged 18 points and nine assists in his first varsity season. Thompson helped lead his Rising Stars JG Gold team to a huge win over a loaded Houston Hoops 15U team.

Speaking of those Houston Hoops…

Mike Singletary - Unlike Jordan, this Singletary isn’t related to the former Chicago Bear with the same name. But do know this: this Singletary is for real. He’s a big, physical kid that absolutely muscles over and past opponents. He’s a very capable rebounder and isn’t afraid to mix it up around the basket. Big time potential.

Isaiah Rusher - Think Chris Bosh. Rusher is long, lanky, quick on his feet and just oozes potential at 6-foot-10. He is more refined than Bosh at this stage as far as body stature goes. Rusher is a solid rebounder and shot blocker. With his size and age, expect big things from this Lone Star State stud. He’ll return to Bellaire HS (the same school that Emeke Okafor shined at).

Jai Lucas - The Lucas family just doesn’t get a break. John Lucas, the father of Jai and John, II of Oklahoma State, is fresh off a trip to San Antonio for the Final Four. Now the former NBA coach is here in Las Vegas to root on his young and very talented point guard son. Jai has great vision and speed with the ball. He loves to hook teammates up for the bucket. We love his competitive spirit and basketball knowledge. He must be a coach’s son or something. Lucas will join Rusher at Bellaire HS next year.

Taylor King - A lot has already been said about the future UCLA star so it is hard to look for new things about his game. Known for his amazing shooting range, King proved to be a ruler of the pass on Friday. He found several teammates for good buckets and he maintained the team’s passing attack.

Jay Dee Luster - His reputation is beginning to take over the state of California and for good reason.. He was named the Player of the Year in his conference as a 14 year old. Now he’s running the show for a very talented and athletic Southern California All-Stars. The 5-foot-7 freshman point loves to pass the basketball and is very comfortable with the ball in his hands. Down the road, he could be a top 10 to 20 player in the nation.

Meca Eweka - The 6-foot-5 freshman played extremely well, going for a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) when we saw him. He’s a hard working, level headed player out of the always talented Rainer Beach HS in Seattle. Eweka will shine for the Emerald City Pioneers over the summer.

Hamidu Rahman - The 6-foot-10 center from Franklin (NJ) HS will suit up with the New Jersey Wildcats during the AAU season and expect him to learn a little bit more about the game each time he puts on a jersey. He’s raw but he’s improving daily, according to his coach.

Kamyron Brown - The famed Mater Dei HS in California is known for their top talent. Brown shouldn’t hurt that reputation either. He’s a good shooter and can handle the ball fairly well for a 6-foot-1 off guard. Brown is playing with the Southern California Razorbacks.