NetScouts Basketball

Portland, OR – For the 16th year, the Nike Hoop Summit has come to Portland, Oregon, featuring some of the top American high school prospects against some of the best the world has to offer at 19 years of age or younger. It is a week-long event culminating in a Saturday game where players from Team USA take on the World Team. The practices are also quite important, as they are only open to certain personnel, plus show preparedness, coachability, and also feature a couple scrimmages of their own against a team made up of high school talent, known as the Portland Generals.

Both teams were loaded with players that have NBA intrigue, along with many who will be stars in the new landscape of college basketball. Prior viewing, along with practice, give a good idea of the value each player will bring to the table, and a good overview of what will get them minutes at the next level.

Team USA

Bruce Branch III | 6’7 195 lbs | BYU

The youngest player on Team USA, Branch III had a fairly quiet week with some flashes of intrigue with his combination of size, length, shooting ability. This was not a great setting to show his on-ball skills he had displayed with the Compton Magic or at his stops at Perry HS or Prolific Prep, but he bought in, covers a lot of ground with his plus wingspan, and shows good communication. His shooting, perimeter skills, and defense are what make him one of the top prospects in this upcoming class, while he still is developing physically and vying to become a more assertive type to cement his status near the top of the 2027 NBA Draft class. He still has a wayo go, but plenty of tools and talent to work with, even if he took more of a complementary role during the practices and scrimmage.

Christian Collins | 6’8 205 lbs | USC

Having just committed to USC, Collins had some great moments with St. John Bosco this past year, with solid physical tools, ability to put the ball on the floor, and overall energy. His shot has a slight hitch but is still a weapon and he knocked down several long range attempts in the Generals scrimmage. Shows an ability to pass off movement and is an active defender, though will still want to add to his frame. He lacks ideal size and strength at the four, while still ironing out the shooting consistency and ball skills under pressure to him at the wing. On production, he has been one of the top players in this HS Class, just some things to monitor closely during this upcoming season in terms of exactly how high he could go in the 2027 Draft.

Jason Crowe Jr. | 6’3 180 lbs | Missouri

Well known for his scoring prowess, Crowe Jr. is now the all-time leading scorer in the state of California, finishing his HS Career at Lynwood/Inglewood with 4,718 points, while averaging 43.6 points per game this season. The lefty is a three-level scorer and is the most consistent shooting threat on the team, while also able to get to the paint and having a mid-range game. Defensively, he plays with high intensity, having to press a ton during his HS career, though could use some discipline and strength. It will be the skills beyond scoring, which he will do plenty of next season at Missouri, that determine his ceiling as a Draft prospect. He took somewhat of a back seat during the Generals scrimmage, though coming off a MVP performance at the McDonald’s All-American game, would not doubt he comes into Saturday’s Hoop Summit game with high intensity. For Crowe Jr., it will likely be about finding balance in terms of his offense and the overall team offense, and it should be a fascinating journey to see that potential balance.

Caleb Gaskins | 6’8 225 lbs | Miami

Gaskins brings size and a sweet shooting stroke from mostly midrange. Playing with the Boozer twins on last year’s Chipotle winning Columbus HS, they finished as runner-up in The Throne, with Gaskins being productive during the HS season and other events. He is also one of the younger players in the class and has the ability to use his size to his advantage on both ends. At times his floating on the perimeter puts a dent into his efficiency, and it would be great if he was a higher volume long-range shooter, which could happen with the touch he has shown inside the arc. He had a strong scrimmage against the Portland Generals, with numerous dunks, shooting off the catch, and some makes in traffic. Should be an immediate contributor at Miami next season, with the efficiency and his ability to stretch out to distance being key factors in just how long he is there.

Caleb Holt | 6’5 205 lbs | Arizona

One of the most dependable prospects in this class with his ability to do a little bit of everything, scalability on the wing in terms of his on and off ball ability. Strong, focused, and though his shot needs a little work in terms of consistency and release time, it is a weapon. Brings intensity on defense and caused a world of issues for ball handlers during the Generals scrimmage, while shooting his footwork and decision making on offense. He is more towards the size of an average SG as opposed to a really “big guard”, and is not necessarily a high-end explosive player, with his understanding of himself, change of pace, and just how hard he plays being what make him a really enticing player among the top of the potential 2027 Draft Class.

Brandon McCoy, Jr. | 6’5 190 lbs | Michigan

The combination of explosive leaping ability and ground coverage make McCoy Jr. a major defensive presence and disruptor, while still giving him some offensive juice as well. His confidence in his shot noticeably improved, while there are still questions about his touch and low release. His energy is contagious, and during the Generals scrimmage, he put his impact all over the game. Not many do more in terms of event creation, with deflections, steals, and his penchant for blocking perimeter shots. He does occasionally gamble, though will many times make up for it with his ability to recover with his quickness and length. Excels in transition, got to the basket plenty, and while it is not a certainty that he will be the on-ball, playmaking force he was originally projected to be, McCoy Jr. has the length and tools that should make him somewhat scalable even with the questions with his shooting, at the very least allowing him to be a valuable wing presence for Michigan next season.

Deron Rippey Jr. | 6’2 180 lbs | Duke

For a school who had some noticeable issues in terms of their lead guards being able to break down defenses, that is something that Rippey Jr. should provide from the jump. He is an impressive vertical athlete, has top tier quickness, while also having ball skills and flashes of shooting versatility as well. The smallest guard on the team in terms of height and length, he does things teams love from their smaller players in terms of hounding players on defense, mirroring and overall effort. He sees the floor well, makes plays for himself and others, and can really float with his vertical athleticism. Duke has not had a point guard like Rippey for quite a while, and he should make life a lot easier for his teammates next season.

Jordan Smith Jr. | 6’2 200 lbs | Arkansas

Smith Jr. has been sweeping just about every HS player of the year award after another strong season at Paul VI, that saw them win City of Palms, make the Chipotle Nationals, and finish the season 33-3. While he may be the shortest player on the team, his massive wingspan differential puts him in the dimensions of Donovan Mitchell, with Smith Jr. saying he gets Jrue Holiday and even Kawhi Leonard comparisons with his impact on the game. Simply put, he plays well beyond his size, affects the game a ton defensively while being able to get to the basket and out physical opposing guards. He was the leading scorer in the scrimmage against the Generals and was a force on defense both on and off the ball. His shot from midrange has improved, and the major question is just how consistent he is from long-range. He has become the real leader and alpha in this Class to this point, and he should have a huge year at Arkansas, and if his shot shows some level of consistency, John Calipari will have another high pick to add to his list of alumni.

Tyran Stokes | 6’7 245 lbs | Undecided

Throughout his prep career and before, Stokes seems to consistently have an imprint on whatever game he plays in. On-ball consistently this season with Rainier Beach, he fits into more of an off-ball role, and gets plenty of rebounds, shows a good passing eye, has an ability to put the ball on the floor and his three-point volume and confidence in HS this season was high. With this being said, the thing he still seems to be best at is his ability to use his overwhelming strength and athleticism as a downhill driver, cutter, and his confidence in his shot does not necessarily match its consistency right now. Also, he is known at times for having on-court outbursts, which he did at times during the week. Stokes was effective in the Generals scrimmage, while also showing the same warning signs that make you wonder if he really knows himself as a player and what can make him into a truly efficient force. Kentucky, Kansas, and Oregon have been in his list of possible destinations, with Vanderbilt and Washington both making late pushes. Kentucky seems to be the betting favorite right now, and they will get a tantalizing talent, with some things to work on in terms of holding onto the top spot he has claimed for a majority of his time in HS.

Ethan Taylor | 7’0 245 lbs | Michigan St.

With the World always having some big bodies, Team USA brought in a 7-footer of their own in Taylor. He moves well, is a lob threat, and affects shots around the basket while being difficult to back down. On a Link Academy team loaded with DI talent, Taylor often took a backseat, which he also did with MoKan in the EYBL. He is enticing due to having NBA Center size, already being quite strong, and effects the game off those two things alone. Tom Izzo’s ability to develop big men should bode well for him and hopefully will continue to focus on creating a presence around the basket on both sides of the floor.

Cameron Williams | 6’11 205 lbs | Duke

The big thing that stands about Cam Williams is his ability to punish smaller opponents with his high release point and shooting touch. He can hit tough shots, stretch out to the NBA line, and his movement skills at 6’11 are impressive. He also affects shots, has decent timing as a shot blocker, and can move laterally to stifle drivers. The big issues with Williams are his lack of strength and if a defender gets into his area, it really can knock him off balance. In the scrimmage and in practice, Williams rarely dribbled, which might be a lot of what we see next season at Duke as well. Will be an incredibly different look at the 4 spot and while he should be able to stretch and has the athleticism and size to finish above the rim, his core strength will be a significant factor into how high he gets picked in the NBA draft.

Elijah Williams | 6’6 200 lbs | Baylor

The lowest ranked player on the team in terms of his 247 Composite ranking, Williams had a solid week showing some ability to shoot along with some nice finishes and athleticism that should at the very least make him a rotation player at Baylor right off the bat. He has been going through the Team USA system throughout his HS career and showed the professionalism and understanding one might expect from the son of former NBA player and coach, Monty Williams. He was solid, though unspectacular in the scrimmage, but is another player that coaches can trust to play in the system, give effort defensively, and stretch the floor. Everything with Williams just needs to get a tad more consistent, from his shot, to his finishing, to his decision making. This week still showed that he has talent and size that makes him worth keeping an eye on through his time in college.

World Team

Ikenna Alozie, Nigeria | 6’1 190 lbs | Houston

His second year on the team, he plays well beyond his height with his length, reach, vertical athleticism. He’s a really strong rebounding guard, plus breaks up plenty of passes, and makes nice reads off the bounce. His outside shooting is still streaky and he is not necessarily a lead guard, as he doesn’t seem to have a high level of comfort running the offense. Much better playing off someone else, even with his willingness as a passer. His strong athleticism, and overall energy should bode well with Houston’s system. Will really be about ironing out the things professional teams want to see in a guard Alozie’s size that determines how quickly he makes the jump to the professional ranks.

Tajh Ariza, Japan | 6’9 200 lbs | Oregon

Another Hoop Summit returnee, after a year at Link Academy Ariza showed a bit more assertiveness as a cutter, and in terms of using his size and movement skills beyond the defensive end. He moves well, covers plenty of ground and creates events as a defender, doing so last year in the Hoop Summit game which saw the World take USA to overtime. Even with his noticeable improvement, he has a way to go in terms of creating for himself, long-range shooting consistency, and it will be a must for him to add strength. He should be someone Oregon can at least play to provide defensive versatility and give  off ball movement, along with the size to take advantage of mismatches on the wing.

Adam Atamna, France | 6’5 195 lbs | ASVEL

One of the most consistent performers during the week, he showed a level of professionalism and an ability to read the floor that should make him a crucial piece to how the World performs during the game. Playing for ASVEL, he saw quite a bit more success during the LNB Elite as opposed to EuroLeague competition, which is also possibly something to monitor during the game. During the week he shot it consistently, was a more than competent initiator, and was a great leader by example who showed competitive fire. Creates separation off the bounce, shows quick decision-making ability, and communicates on defense. He is not particularly long and had only an 8’4 standing reach, putting him below an average SG. Still, there were some that saw him as a potential lead guard down the line, and it looks likely he goes back to ASVEL and gets buzz in 2027 after he had a really nice Hoop Summit week.

Arafan Diane, Guinea | 7’0 305 lbs | Houston

Known for his massive size which allows him to carve out space in the paint, he also has soft hands and touch out to midrange, having several strong seasons with Iowa United. Diane is a rare big in terms of his ability to actually punish defenders on post-ups, and also has a soft touch out to midrange. He is good on the glass at both ends, is a drop coverage rim protector, and even shows some ability to pass out of the post. One thing that will need work is his conditioning, and while he moves fairly well for a player of his size, dropping some weight is a must. There were questions about him at the McDonald’s All-American practices and game, along with this week at Hoop Summit, about his intensity in practice and ability to get up to speed with his high-level contemporaries. His size, touch, and ability to maintain positioning should have him getting time for the Cougars, it will be his time with Alan Bishop and the training staff that will determine his overall impact. He unfortunately sustained an injury in practice on April 9 that will keep him out for a sustained amount of time, including the Hoop Summit game.

Sinan Huan, China | 7’1 230 lbs | Purdue

Everyone knows that Matt Painter loves his 7-footers, and Huan measured as the tallest player on the team, while also having a 7’5.5 wingspan. It was a solid week of practice for him, as he made noise around the basket, rebounded on both ends, and ran the floor hard. He still needs to work on maintaining positioning, and at times takes too long to make decisions, which leads to opponents closing in on him, forcing turnovers. Seems to know who he is, what he does well, and plays within himself. Draws fouls, gets offensive boards, affects shots, he’s not necessarily a starter off the bat in college, though will still likely get some time and be a fan favorite with his tools and effort.

Ethan Mgbako, Haiti | 6’5 195 lbs | Vanderbilt

Mgbako has a strong frame on the wing, is a long-range threat and shows ability to score in a few different ways with his ability to carve out space. The younger brother of two-time Hoop Summit participant, Mackenzie Mgbako, he’s smaller, though has some of the same qualities as a scoring threat, having led the EYBL in scoring in a few sessions. He did well playing off either Sadler or Atamna in World practice scrimmages, however was quiet in the scrimmage with the Portland Generals. A last-minute addition with Maximo Adams having to drop out of the game, Mgbako seems like a solid addition at the wing for Vanderbilt who brings scoring chops, strength as a perimeter defender, and an animated personality.

Lucas Morillo, Dominican Republic | 6’6 210 lbs | Illinois

His combination of size and feel on the wing have made him a fan favorite of those that went to Hoop Summit practices this week. His shot was inconsistent during the week, still Morillo has confidence and it looks like it will be a weapon. The most interesting part of his game is his ability to stop and start, his quick decision making, and his overall versatility. Currently ranked in the Top 60 nationally, he looks like another solid piece for Brad Underwood at the wing, with a nose for the ball, and potential as a shoot, pass, dribble player.

Miikka Muurinen, Finland | 7’0 225 lbs | Undecided

He is tall, has center physical measurements beyond weight, moves well, and his shooting mechanics look pristine. Had a number of moments during the week that showed the talent that made him one of the top ranked players in the 2026 HS Class before going to Partizan Belgrade. Even so, he can use work on his shot selection, and seemed quite easy to knock over or move him off of his position. The major concern with Muurinen is how he has affected those that have been around him, whether it be at Sunrise Christian, Bradley Beal Elite, Arizona Compass Prep, and this past year with Partizan Belgrade. Everyone seems to have stories of times he was difficult to deal with, and he did not dispel them during this week. The talent is tantalizing and it seems like he wants to go to college next season as opposed to entering the Draft, but whoever takes him on, they will need a plan for adding strength and his overall maturity.

Babatunde Oladotun, Nigeria | 6’10 200 lbs | Maryland

The youngest player on the World Team and in the game, Baba only played in a few high school games for Blake HS in Maryland while dealing with injury. He had a good summer with Team Durant playing up and did well at summer events which led to his decision to reclassify, much like Bruce Branch III. Having gone through a number of Team USA events as well, he consistently looked like the most intriguing prospect on the World Team. He tends to fade on his jumper, though that helps him hit tough shots and shoot over opponents. His decision making and strength both could use work, but both showed marked improvement here. Had a number of standout plays in the scrimmages in practice and the Generals match-up. He can score in a few different ways, stretch the court, and the ball skills at his size along with his ability to cover ground on defense really stand out among this current class. Work to be done, however this week was a strong step in the right direction.

Paul Osaruyi, Canada | 6’10 225 lbs | Undecided

Still a 2027 prospect, Osaruyi is incredibly explosive for his size, clearing the Vertec entirely at Basketball Without Borders from 12’0+ touch point. He replaced Malian/Spanish prospect, Sayon Keita, for a late spot on the World Team, and flashed his inside, outside ability in practice during shooting drills. When it came to scrimmages, he seemed to sometimes hold onto the ball too long and take a split second longer than you would hope to make decisions. Also, his perimeter game is much more hypothetical than practical at this point. The physical tools and athleticism with Osaruyi have always been high level, and he is a good rebounder, who can effect things on defense. It will be about his ability to refine his skill work, become more comfortable as a shooter and passer, improve his awareness as a defender to keep his spot near the top of his current HS Class. His year at Bella Vista Prep was a positive, this week still showed he has a way to go to get to the point you would hope given his raw talent.

Miles Sadler, Canada | 6’0 170 lbs | West Virginia

He is likely not actually the height they have him listed at, just also know he was flat out one of the best high school players in the nation this past year. The unquestioned leader of the EYBL/Chipotle Nationals winning CIA Bella Vista, Sadler is quick, crafty, can run an offense and create for himself as well. He was quieter in the Generals scrimmage than one would have thought while still being a set-up man with ability to breakdown a defense and get by a press. He has the leadership qualities and the tools you would want in a small guard, getting to the paint, shooting, and pressuring the ball on defense. He has quick hands, and a toughness that should make him a beloved fixture of West Virginia next season.

Abdou Toure, Guinea | 6’6 205 lbs | Arkansas

The most explosive player on the World Team, Toure showed a lot of flashes while at times fading a bit into the background. He showed a good attitude, coachability, and effort defensively. His shooting still is a work in progress, though a part of his tool belt, along with his vertical athleticism which lead to above the rim finishing, foul drawing and a need to keep an eye on him as a cutter. He should work really well with the high level athletes Arkansas is bringing in with both Jordan Smith Jr. and JJ Andrews. He still needs  to work on his handlingand decision making, however Toure showed that he should be able to hang with Team USA as an athlete, and displayed a professionalism that you would hope for.

Portland Generals

The scrimmage team, the Portland Generals were coached by Matt Jones, and had several players to keep an eye on. Here is a brief summary of what to watch with Generals players

Beckham Black, 2027/Undecided: best player on the floor during World scrimmage, pace, ability to pass off the live dribble, floater game along with shooting versatility

Aliou Dioum, 2026/West Virginia: agility at his size and ability to get low, bend on defense, has some ball skills and knocked down a few from long range against USA

Vaughn Karvala, 2026/Indiana: knock down shooter, ability to shoot off movement, shows ball skills and solid size on the wing at the college level

Amadou Seini, 2026/Undecided: size, ability to run the floor, finish above the rim, get rebounds, and cover in drop, quiet against World, put a mark on the game against USA

Lucas Toukam, 2026/Northern Arizona: rim running, ability to get the ball around the hoop, big energy player who scored in double figures in both scrimmages.

This article was written by Michael Visenberg of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow Mike on X @NBADraftMikeyV