Top 16U Performers from the 2022 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, Pt. II
SUWANEE, GA —This was one of the deepest, most competitive 16U divisions we’ve seen in a while. Gibbons always has a great 16U group, and this year was right up there with the best of them. On Tuesday, we published some of the top performers from the division, and we’re excited to present you with more names that stood out to our staff.
6-foot-3 guard Michael Drayton III really caught my attention this weekend for Team Judah Nation 16u team. He has a great overall feel for the game and I admire his competitive spirit to win. He’s quick on the attack & and can be bouncy in transition. Drayton has a great shot from around the perimeter and shows nice patience before making a move. His future is definitely bright and I will surely keep tabs on this kid. - D’Courtland Christian
Out of every player we’ve seen this spring—and I mean every single one—Abernathy is one that people want to talk to me about the most. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something along the lines of “man, I just saw that Abernathy kid with the Allstars, and he was lighting it up.” I totally get it too. He’s a killer, man. It’s become like clockwork. We know that an Allstars 16U game will likely feature significant production from Aberntathy whether it be via his ability to score the ball in a variety of ways, his exceptional passing, or rebounding. We’re fortunate to get to see him as often as we do. I’m excited to continue to see him excel on stages like this. If there’s one thing I can count on, it’s the Atlanta Allstars program continuing to get guys better, so I know we haven’t seen the best out of Abernathy yet either. - Josh Tec
I like guys that win state championships, they understand the work that goes in from the beginning of the year to the end. It’s not easy to win 3-4 games in a row at the end of the season and play for a title. Evans knows how that works being at The Greenfield School. He is a prospect with size, he can score from the perimeter and he does a lot of the little things that college coaches still watch and take note of when evaluating. Evans took multiple charges throughout the weekend, he dove for loose balls and still plays with that old-school demeanor of just out-hustling the competition. - Justin Byerly
Explosive. That’s the easiest and best way to describe Bilal’s game. The prolific scoring guard out of Riverwood High School can provide that explosion via a barrage from the 3-point line, via his athleticism and bounce, or both. What’s certain is that Bilal is going to be one of the most dangerous scorers in any gym that he’s in. In one of the most high-powered backcourts we’ve seen this spring, Bilal consistently stands out. He’s known for his scoring, but Bilal is also a defender that can rack up steals and bother opposing guards. - Josh Tec
Walker has been on our platform dating back to a year ago at our North Carolina Preview Camp where he was named a top performer. He is such an interesting prospect because he can play multiple positions. He is a guy that can make shots from the perimeter but - with his bulky frame, he is nearly impossible to guard in the post. He is quick on his feet and can use his footwork to make the defense look silly. He can get out and push the ball on the break. Walker is an undersized big man but with the way he moves, there is a little Grant Williams in his game before Williams became a threat from the outside with the Boston Celtics. He is one to track in that 2024 class. - Justin Byerly
