USA Basketball Junior October Minicamp: Day 1 Top Performers
Colorado Springs, Colorado – Eighty-four of the top players from across the country got the invite to the 2023 USA Basketball Junior National Team October Minicamp. The event lasts from Friday, October 6, to Sunday, October 8. On3 was court side with NBA personnel and pre-approved media.
The players were broken up into two groups. The older players, mostly from the 2024 and 2025 classes – with a couple 2026s mixed in – were with the blue group. The red group consisted of mostly class of 2026 and 2027 players, with a couple 2025s mixed in. The blue group went first and the red group followed. There was around four and a half – maybe a little more – hours of court-time on Day 1.
Let’s discuss the Day 1 top performers from USA Basketball Junior National Team October Minicamp.
On3 MVP: Four-Star PF Morez Johnson (Illinois)
There is something about a guy who simply goes out and rebounds. Morez Johnson, an Illinois commitment, seemed to come down with every rebound when he was on the floor. The four-star power forward carries a sturdy frame with a strong base. He does his work early on the boards, establishing position, understanding angles, and high-pointing the ball.
Offensively, Johnson finished well around the basket. He played through contact and finished plays with both hands. He also contested shots at the rim; while not blocking everything, he made his presence felt to the would-be driver.
2. Five-Star Plus+ CG Dylan Harper
It does not surprise me, per se, because his game has not changed. But Dylan Harper’s pace is simply on a different level from everyone else on every floor he steps on. The lefty simply does not get rushed at any point.
Harper is at his best with the ball in his hands, making plays and creating opportunities for his team. When the game opened up, and he was playing in space, no one during this session was able to stay in front of him. He has excellent vision, and his processing was quick and precise today. The next step for Harper is continuing to work on the jump shot. While he has a good floater, his release on the pull-up and spot shooting is low, and it flattens things out.
3. Four-Star C Patrick Ngongba
The past eight months for Patrick Ngongba have been on a steep upward trajectory. During the sessions today, he showcased skill. The jump shot was impressive during drill play when he was able to get his feet set, the base was solid, and the release was consistent.
Ngongba rebounded the ball well today in his area. Defensively, he showed he was capable of opening up and dropping in coverage to protect the paint. Ngongba has recently changed his frame, slimmed down, and tightened things up. He appears to still be getting used to his new body; he is able to do things now that he was not previously.
Touch, strength, size, and toughness. Ngongba showed a lot today for a center.
4. Five-Star SF Drake Powell (UNC)
Drake Powell has made his name as the ultimate glue guy. Someone who can do a lot on the floor, on both ends, to enhance the play of everyone on the court around him. In this setting, Powell came out a little more aggressive.
Powell is an excellent defender; his length and instincts have him guarding multiple positions along the perimeter. With the ball in his hands, he consistently touched the paint. While the play was not always executed properly, the reads were true. During station work, the jump shot looked confident, and in a gym where there were a lot of misses on the day, Powell
5. Four-Star C Xavion Staton (2025)
Xavion Staton established himself early as the best rim protector in camp. It was a clinic he put on, to be honest. Both hands, weak side, on the ball; it was a self-run block party.
Staton is still raw with his game; there’s no questioning that. However, his instincts, the fluidity with which he plays, and the way he moves is so intriguing. Offensively, he was a little unsure of himself in the post. The next step would be turning, facing, and showing to be a threat whenever he catches it in the half-court. However, he showed touch throughout the session, stepping out to knock down multiple threes off the catch.
Staton is a long-term play. You see the upside in everything he does. Today showed that the flashes are starting to turn into production.
6. Five-Star SG Caleb Holt (2026)
Each time I looked up during his sessions, Caleb Holt seemed to be around the ball and making a play. Holt is a physically gifted sophomore with a strong frame, an athletic build, and great length. He made his name on the defensive end of the floor.
Holt is a tough-nosed defender, able to move his feet on the ball and suffocate ball handlers in the open floor, and able to aggressively play the passing lanes, cutting off angles. Holt is a veteran of USA Basketball after winning gold this summer with the USA Basketball U16 team. He came into this camp with a lot more confidence on the offensive end. Even during breaks in the session, Holt was spotting up taking jumpers.
The competitive fire ran hot today.
7. Five-Star Jalen Haralson (2025)
Jalen Haralson is dynamic in the one court. When he grabs the rebound and initiates the break, he showcases his basketball IQ and the processing. Haralson has a great frame, already strong with solid length.
He is at his best as a secondary initiator, playing off others and creating mismatches at multiple levels on the floor. The jump shot was streaky today – he did knock down a couple off movement – but the passing and the reads is what shined today.
Haralson brings matchup problems to the floor.
8. Four-Star PG Jeremiah Fears (2025)
It is kind of a play on words, but it also is a true way of his he plays; Jeremiah Fears is fearless. He is not afraid of the spotlight or the moment, wanting the ball and attacking his spots. A player who walks out with a true alpha mentality always sticks out in these settings.
Fears is a dynamic lead guard. He is at his best when he is putting pressure on the defense off the bounce. His mid-range jump shot was working today, getting to it off two and three dribbles. The three-pointer was confident as well.
Fears is the younger brother of Michigan State freshman Jeremy Fears. He is a quick-twitch athlete who gets to his spots.
9. Four-Star PF Chris Cenac (2025)
If Xavian Staton was the best rim protector, and he was, then Chris Cenac was the best defensive big on the day. Cenac is a good rim protector in his own right, with very long arms, vertical pop, and natural timing. It was the way he moved that really stood out. There were multiple plays where Cenac would be guarding the ball at the top of the key, then switch down to the block, and end up affecting the shot attempt down low.
On3 was bullish with Cenac during our last update because of the incredible upside that he shows as a defensive player. But the offensive game is coming along as well. The shooting touch is there as he is confidently knocking down the corner three in rhythm. He also attacked the basket on a couple of straight-line drives, finishing at the rim.
During our update, we compared Cenac’s archetype to Noah Clowney at a similar stage. We feel the same way after watching him today.
Other Standouts
Four-Star SG Kiyan Anthony (2025) – He is still growing into his body, but Kiyan Anthony is developing a comfort level scoring the ball. He has an array of hesitation and change of pace moves with the ball in his hands, and he showed touch at multiple levels. Continuing to gain strength will continue progressing his game forward. He is the son of Carmelo Anthony.
Five-Star SG Ian Jackson (UNC) – Ian Jackson plays hard. He defends the ball with a purpose, and that shows. When the game opens up and the pace is fast, that is when Jackson is at his best. He always has a smile on his face.
Four-Star SF Cam Scott (Texas) – Cam Scott showed off his explosion with probably the dunk of the day, taking off his left foot on a big. He has a great frame, very fluid with length and pop. He confidently took his jump shot; while streaky, the base and form were good.
Five-Star PF Koa Peat (2025) – Koa Peat typically shows well in this setting. He uses his size to collect rebounds, his feel to push the break, and his vision to deliver pin-point passes. Peat pads the stats, and he produces.
Four-Star PG Darius Acuff (2025) – Darius Acuff has a flair about him. When he is on the floor, it is hard to take your eyes off him. He has a quick burst toward the rim and is a confident shooter with range.
Four-Star PF Bryson Tiller (2025) – Bryson Tiller is a physical presence in the paint and around the rim. He is a straight-line driver toward the rim, able to finish plays through contact and extend possessions on the offensive glass.
Five-Star SF Tyran Stokes (2026) – The thing that popped the most for me with Tyran Stokes was the reads. He showed some excellent passing reads and deliveries in both the half and full-court settings.
Four-Star SF Jamier Jones (2025) – It seemed that every time I looked up, Jamier Jones was around the ball. While his play was not flashy, it was effective, picking his spots and making plays.
Four-Star SG Hudson Greer (2025) – Any chance he got the opportunity, Hudson Greer showed off the explosion. He plays above the rim, and he aggressively attacks dunks off put-backs and in transition.
Four-Star PG Nyk Lewis (2025) – Nyk Lewis always seems to make a play. Whether it getting a rebound, a deflection, making the extra pass, or finishing at the rim, Lewis brings that extra toughness to the table each time out.
Four-Star SG Jamari Phillips (Arizona) – Jamari Phillips is a confident jump shooter. He has good footwork and a purposeful handle to create space and get his jump shot off.
Four-Star SG Darius Adams (2025) – The drills were where Darius Adams really shined. He showed that he had all the tools, the touch, the passing, the pace. There is a lot there, and he continues to put it together.
Four-Star SF Tajh Ariza (2026) – Tajh Ariza is the son of former NBA champion Trevor Ariza. He is someone that continues to get better each time you see him. He has great positional size and is playing with a lot of confidence.
Four-Star PG DeRon Rippey (2026) – DeRon Rippey is one of the more explosive players in the camp, and that shows during the drills portion of the session. He has great upside as an on-the-ball defender and touches the paint regularly with the ball in his hands.
Four-Star SG Trent Perry (2026) – Trent Perry came in and played with a purpose. He was aggressive on both ends of the floor, playing well in the passing lanes and touching the paint on offense. He passed the ball well, too.
Four-Star SG Alijah Arenas (2026) – Alijah Arenas, the son of Gilbert Arenas, is a polished scorer. He is confident in the mid-range, especially off the bounce, and knows his game. Mature player.
Four-Star PG JJ Mandaquit (2025) – Simply put, JJ Madaquit runs a team. He is a vocal leader; he has excellent court vision and plays with a good pace. When he is on the floor, his team knows who to get the ball to and then hustle to their spots because he will find them.