Tyson Commander’s Star Continues to Rise as ACC Schools Show Interest

Tyson Commander Team Melo 2022 and VaTech Head Coach Mike Young

Team Melo, the Baltimore based NIKE EYBL program has consistently produced several high major prospects year in and year out. Their newest star is 2022 Shooting guard Tyson Commander, who attends John Carroll High School in Bel Air, Md.; and has spent a good portion of the last year picking up offers from elite basketball programs across the nation.

Commander who is also a finalist for the Sport Majors Player of the Year as a sophomore and one of the top scorers in the very competitive MIAA conference spent this past weekend on campus at perennial ACC power Virginia Tech on a unofficial visit. Commander spent time with both Associate Head Coach Chester Frazier and Head Coach Mike Young.

Tyson who holds multiple Division I offers already is a scoring guard who is a threat at all three levels. At 6’3 we like his positional size, length, and a build that surely will blossom in a college weight room. He has a very advanced scoring package for his age that has been honed on the EYBL stage along with a firm understanding of how to create his own shot - he moves without the ball well, has good use of both hands, along with good footwork.

He's an especially efficient scorer around the lane who is finishing at the rim along with a full assortment of pivots and spins at his disposal, shoots at very high percentage on two-point field goals, and goes right into contact to get himself to the free-throw line in high volume.

Commander is a sneaky athlete who rebounds well for his size, particularly on the offensive end, where he'll fly at the glass from the perimeter. He moves well enough laterally to be a solid defender and may even have some potential versatility to guard bigger guys as he builds up his body.

Commander is one of the elite scoring guards in the area and is expanding his national profile each time he steps onto the floor. By his senior year expect Commander to one of the most recruited and sought after guards in America.

Supersized Super Stars Making Big Impacts

DMV’s two NIKE programs Team Melo and Team Takeover have each secured one of the area’s premier big men in the class of 2021;  a pair of 6’9s in Victory Naboya (TTO) and Adam Walden (MELO). 

Let’s meet the DMVs new twin towers!

Victory Naboya arrived on scene and made an immediate impression; his end to end speed and tremendous athletic ability alone put him in a class by himself – his package is truly a rarity for a player at this stage. He's a bit stuck between the four and five spots standing between 6'8 and 6-9 with long arms.  A raw specimen offensively he isn’t yet working with a high level of skill yet he is amazingly efficient and highly productive.  

Noboya is already playing well above the rim with ease, shows excellent timing resulting in him being an exceptional shot blocker and alters many other shots he doesn’t actually get to.  What you will see very soon is a player who will be looking to tear down the rim every time he touches the ball inside.  We liken Noboya to a young J.J. Hickson because of his ability to control both backboards, finish in transition, and provide energy plays that get his team going.

Victory has the frame of a college freshman already and when combined with his athleticism and motor it makes him one of the most intriguing prospects that we have seen in the DMV in a longtime; from an evaluation standpoint it is extremely easy to state that once his feel for the game and skill-level improves, he has a realistic chance to establish himself as one of the best big men not only in the DMV but in the country – his is the definition of a high floor high ceiling player.

 

 

 

Adam Walden long-term potential is obvious. With his tremendous size, frame, length and mobility, his elite physical tools put him in the same class as Noboya but for a different reason power – think Derrick Favors in this instance.   

Physically gifted, Walden’s combination of size, power, mobility, athleticism and explosiveness is unparalleled at the middle school level.  He too is a work in progress offensively but it’s clear to see already that with his particular set of physical tools he will consistently be able to finish with authority whether the rim and paint is protected or left open. 

Due to his upward explosiveness and size, guards just need to lob the ball around the cylinder and he can go up and get it without a running start. Adam has a soft overall feel for the rim from about 8 feet out in all directions.  He is also very good at finishing non-dunks around the bucket. A dominant rebounder and Adam is extremely active and effective on glass combine that with an exceptional ability to run the floor for his size he is a player that knows who and what he is and he embraces it; at 6’8/6’9 Walden is also a timely and active shot blocker who patrols the paint with secret service like protection; he contest shots, rebounds in and out of his area and can single handily control the game in those two areas.   When his offense catches up with his defense and rebounding it could be a scary proposition as this is one of the younger 2021 who looks like he easily could reach the 7’0 plateau.  

 

On the high school side Walden is rumored to have cut his list to two schools Mt. St. Joe’s and Calvert Hall with the Cardinals looking to hold the early edge.

Che Evans Beware of the Body Catchers

The high flyer from Baltimore caught a body over the weekend at the Future 150 “Summit” in Houston, TX punishing both the defender and the rim. Stay tuned for more of Evans you will find him this fall suiting up for Delany High School and at the Coach Francis Classic August 26^th.  Enjoy the footage courtesy Gymratesinsiders!

Bmore Bullies Team Melo 2022 AKA” The Chip Collectors”

The 2022 Baltimore based Team Melo squad has been running rampant all season long collecting banners, titles, and trophies – and now national recognition.  Boasting a stellar line-up of versatile and talented players their relentless pressure, unselfish play, and disciplined coaching has many taking note.  Extremely fun to watch they have the requisite pieces in the right places to translate up multiple levels meaning that this group will be a problem for years to come!

GREAT SCOTT!

Starting with the head of the snake; the straw that stirs the Melo drink is PG Sammy Scott.  Sammy is one of the elite point guards in his class nationally. With a strong, powerful, compact frame he is able to absorb contact all over the court especially in the paint, where he has a multitude of unique finishes. He has a nice burst off the dribble to get separation from his defender and he'll drop off the nifty assist or convert the floater in the paint area.

 In the open court he is exceptional at utilizing the look ahead pass and his vision overall is NEXT LEVEL. The ball never dies in his hands and his passing prowess is high-level. He knows how to put the ball into the pocket of the shooter. Love his astuteness in the high screen and roll, and he has almost eliminated the excessive dribbling when he's running the half court set. Not to mention he is showing natural PG leadership ability as he guides his team on both ends of the floor.   Labeled the “Grim Reaper”  Scott is putting fear into the hearts of opponents each time the ball is in his hands.

 

BATMAN & ROBIN

The wing and front court of the Melo squad is manned by CJ Scott and Andrew Rhuebottom, giving them amongst others on the team, the necessary pieces at each level to impact games at the championship level.

CJ Scott’s combination of size and developing skill on the wing make him a very intriguing long-term prospect in the class of 2022. He's equally dangerous shooting behind the three-point line or with tough mid-range pull-ups. He handles the ball fluidly and also has an advanced offensive repertoire for a player of his age and size.

 He'll use a jab step or shake his man off the dribble to get to his pull-up and can also create space in the mid-range area with a step-back. He uses his size and length to score over defenders in the mid-range area and also has a special ability to make tough shots.  We also are impressed with vison and passing ability – all of the aforementioned skill set is done with flair and we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg for this young man.

 

 

Andrew Rhuebottom is the man in the middle and has turned the corner as an elite level big man, not simply a player with size.  He is now impacting the game on both ends on every possession.  We completely focused and engaged he has been unstoppable for stretches.

Another one of the top post prospects in the national class of 2022 Andrew is still just scratching the surface of his ability. He's broadly built with wide shoulders, a naturally strong frame and good agility and athleticism for his size. He runs the floor well, has good use of both hands and plays with a ton of sheer force around the rim. He's a powerful finisher who can finish through contact and loves to get on the offensive glass.

His impact is on the defensive end of the floor allow the Melo squad to extend their defense and he acts as an eraser for any mistakes out fronts – a luxury that Team Melo uses to its full advantage . He's an excellent rim protector who both blocks shots and challenges just about everything in the paint. Offensively, he has tools to develop and is consistently showing flashes of agile footwork, a soft touch that extends out to 12-15 feet and a good passer's instinct for his size.  He is playing the game both back to the basket and face-up and can be certified as a problem for anyone one or team trying to contain him.

The scary part is that this is just the surface of the talented Melo bunch they are deep at every position and as they continue their individual growth as players so will the growth of the team. Baltimore’s Melo group has a pipeline for continued success in the future and the ground floor is Team Melo 2022.

Believe the Hype Jason Murphy is the Real Deal

Jason Murphy went into his freshman year rated as one of the Top 50 prospects in the country, Top 10 in the DMV, and was rated as the #2 center in the DMV.  So far Murphy has stayed true to form and done nothing to diminish those honors bestowed upon him.  In fact Murphey who kept the trend alive of top rated DMV Prep players competing on the varsity level from day one; is not only competing but thriving.  He is being considered the top player as freshman in all of Howard Country where he attends Chapelgate Christian Academy.  

Whereas detractors devalue the middle school ranking system, the trend continues at a 75%+ clip of players noted in said ranking competing on the varsity level and in the case of Murphy and the Top 10 contributing and making an impact.  If that isn't validation enough then the interest he is drawing from JT3 and Georgetown University should be.

When using the word impact, Murphy is without question Top 3 in the area and is vying for DMV Preps Freshman of the year.  At 6’9 his combination of size, length, and bounce is off the charts. He's got a massive, yet still mobile, frame and can go up to catch lobs. He not only runs the floor well for a guy his size but also has relatively good agility, allowing him to patrol the lane at a wide radius with his shot-blocking ability. He's similarly active on the glass and consequently able to rebound out of his area. Offensively, he's a terrific finisher around the rim and starting to show an instinct for passing.  His physical tools are off the charts and are the basis for his tremendous upside. While he needs to continue to develop his muscle and skill, he's the type of guy who is only just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.

Murphy is no hype; and if see is believing enjoy the show below:

Corey Barnes A Dues Paying Member of the “Ball So Hard” Club

When it comes to motor, effort, and physical play Corey Barnes is at the top of his class. His ability to overpower defenders with his high school ready body is what separates him from the pack. He goes strong to the rim, going right at any shot-blocker, and consequently getting to the free-throw line in high volume. He is at his best in the open floor where he combines his power with some break-away athleticism and good instincts. 

Corey is refreshingly unselfish and is naturally a good passer, his perimeter skill set is also coming along quite nicely with both his three-point shot and mid-range pull-up vastly improving as he is now consistently being groomed against the nation’s most elite competition at the nation’s top events on the biggest stages. The iron sharpening iron theory is working excellently and has local coaches bidding for his services as he prepares for his move to the DMV area in a few short weeks.

A strong showing at the Middle School All-American game solidified his position as a top national prospect as he displayed a variety of skills that translate well to the next level.  One of the best on the ball defenders he can guard all 3 perimeter positions as well as some 4's in smaller line-ups due to his solid core strength -  the young man leaves it on the floor every time out.  Only a shoulder injury kept him off the All-Star floor at the Basketball Spotlight Future Phenom Camp where he performed admirably before having to be shut down early Sunday morning.

Barnes will look to beat you up and make you work every second of every possession on both ends; he will look to physically dominant you, there are not many players at this age that truly understand how to play the game this way – as he continue to showcase his rapidly improving ball-handling, finishing, and shooting skill we can clearly see some next level athleticism coming into his game and this looks to be a big year for him as he establishes himself as a "here and now" as well as a "future guy". When Barnes is not scoring he is a naturally a good passer, a good rebounder and an unselfish team first player who treats the game and all those around him with the utmost respect.

Kenny Womack Is Offically In the Building - New 2020 PG Steals Show During Spotlight Camp Weekend

Point guard Kenneth Womack arrived on the scene with a bang and will immediately impact the hierarchy in the 2020 class both locally and nationally.  Womack plays with aggressiveness and is one of the more compact and stronger guards specifically in the arms and shoulders.  Womack loves to go left off the dribble and if allowed to is unstoppable in an one on one situation. He showed exceptional leadership qualities off the bat as he interacted with the top players in the country often leading by example.

 Womack was most dangerous in the open court as he probed the defense, found open targets accurately, or finished himself – working himself all the way to the glass but also showing some impressive and efficient shot-making ability in the middle game, with the floater and the pull-up.  Womack also knocked down the tray ball of the catch and we rarely saw even in a camp environment the heady guard take a bad shot.  Maturity, IQ, pace, and vision we all positive attributes we saw from Womack throughout the weekend.

Kenneth exhibited the characteristics of a top flight floor general and did a good job of running the team and being productive on a consistent basis on both days playing with a high level group – he found his spots and made the most of his opportunities. He has excellent point guard instincts and is a good decision maker.  Long arms Womack is a underrated athlete, he is a terrific ball handler and passer and is ready for the biggest and brightest stages the class of 2020 has to offer.

Montez McNeil The New Head of the Department of Defense

Montez McNeil has been one of most well-kept secrets in the DMV but has recently expanded his national profile to include operating as the starting big-man for Team Melo’s NYBL runner-up team and then followed that up anchoring the middle for the 13u squad that took 2nd at nationals.  He has battled against the best in the country and has grown tremendously in the last 12-months.  Just a baby in the class of 2020 McNeil arrived in DC on Friday night showed he has grown man tendencies as he ate glass, blocked shots, and impacted the game off the block and in transition.

McNeil followed that up with a stellar weekend at the Basketball Spotlight Future Phenom Camp; carrying is squad offensively for long stretches all the while manning the middle and taking on all comers. The result? With the best of best in the gym McNeil remained standing when it was all said and done finishing the weekend with an appearance in the Spotlights All-Star game that featured talent, size, and unbelievable skill.

Montez (measuring 6’4 ½) turned 13-years old less than 60 days ago will easily top 6’7 with potential for reaching the magical 6’9/6’10 range and it potentially all could happen before he reaches HS as in the 3+ years that he has been monitored he has not yet had HIS growth spurt. 

McNasty McNeil knows who he is and embraces it at the highest level, an athletic big man with a non-stop motor that turns each possession and game into a brawl around the rim. Quick off the floor, he attacks rebounds and shot attempts with both hands above the rim and sprints the floor with purpose. Showing signs of sophisticated offense prowess with excellent footwork national scouts all that know this exceptional big will tell all that has much more than a his power game to fall back on.

Another player that has waited his turn to stand in the limelight; he stands there now proudly – why? Because he earned the right to.