Holiday Hoopsgiving Standouts: Day 1 & 2
It might be Thanksgiving weekend, but basketball never stops. While most basketball fans are watching college hoops this weekend, On3 is down in Atlanta, Georgia for the Holiday Hoopsgiving to check out the next wave of talent.
This two-day event hosted at Shiloh High School presented us with some local Georgia teams (McEachern, Wheeler, Kell, Greenforest Christian, The Skill Factory, Shiloh, others), along with some national powerhouses such as SoCal Academy (Calif.), Prolific Prep (Calif.), Combine Academy (N.C.), Wasatch Academy (Utah), Calvary Christian (Fla.), and others.
Here are your standouts.
Saturday’s Standouts
Jaeden Mustaf / Matthews, N.C. (Carmel Christian) / 6-6, 205 Combo Guard / 2024
Jaeden Mustaf showed so much toughness. He put his head down, got to the rim, and finished through contact. He also got after it on the defensive end. He’s just a dude you want on your team. Mustaf finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 from the field.
Mustaf has official visits to Georgetown and Florida State.
AJ Johnson / Castaic, Calif. (SoCal Academy) / 6-5, 170 Point Guard / 2023 / Signed with Texas
AJ Johnson had a much better game today after struggling on Friday. He knocked down his shots and played with much more confidence. The Texas signee finished with 16 points on 50% from the field and 57% from three.
Trey Green / Napa, Calif. (Prolific Prep) / 6-0, 155 Point Guard / 2023 / Signed with Xavier
Trey “Money” Green. Read that one more time. That’s the Xavier’s signee’s new nickname. Green was cash from deep in this one. He’s so much fun to watch and always takes (and makes) the right shots. Green finished with 22 points on 8-12 from the field and 4-8 from three.
Aden Holloway / Napa, Calif. (Prolific Prep) / 6-1, 155 Combo Guard / 2023 / Signed with Auburn
Aden Holloway came alive in the second half today. He knocked down the majority of his attempts from three and the mid range. The future Auburn Tiger finished with 20 points on 6-13 from the field and 4-7 from three.
Carl Cherenfant / Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Calvary Christian) / 6-5, 195 Small Forward / 2023 / Signed with Memphis
Carl Cherenfant has been pretty darn good over the last couple of days. Yesterday, his outside shot was falling. Today, he found his success in the inside and the mid-range. He was also an excellent cutter. Cherenfant finished with a game-high 29 points on 13-22 from the field.
Malik Ferguson / Grovetown, Ga. (Grovetown) / 6-4, 200 Combo Guard / 2023 / Signed with Georgia State
Despite the loss, Malik Ferguson was terrific. The Georgia State signee is a strong, downhill two-way guard that can also score the basketball. He’s as tough and fiery as they come. He finished with 26 points on 9-18 from the field and 4-9 from three, all in front of his future head coach, Jonas Hayes.
Isaiah Collier / Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler) / 6-2, 190 Point Guard / 2023 / Signed with USC
Arrinten Page / Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler) / 6-9, 225 Power Forward / 2023 / Signed with USC
Jelani Hamilton / Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler) / 6-6, 200 Shooting Guard / 2023 / Signed with Iowa State
Fact: Isaiah Collier is the best passer in high school basketball. Collier has such an advanced skillset and will be even better at the next level. A lot of the time, his teammates (as well as his defenders) can’t keep up with him. The speed and ball control is on another level. If you’re running down the floor with him in transition, make sure your heads are ready because he’s about to hit you with a 90 MPH no-look fast ball. Collier gave the fans everything they wanted and put an absolute show along with Arrinten Page and Jelani Hamilton.
Page ran the floor well, finished around the basket, and caught countless lobs from Collier en route to a win and a game-high 26 points for the USC-bound big man. Page also added 5 rebounds and 5 blocks.
Jelani Hamilton… SHOOTER! This man has the green-light from his coach anywhere on the court it seems. He even pulled some nearly half-court. The Iowa State signee has perfect shooting stroke and finished with 16 points.
Friday’s Standouts
Caleb Holt / Huntsville, Ala. (Buckhorn) / 6-5, 185 Wing / 2026
Caleb Holt comes in with a reputation as one of the top freshmen guards. He’s an ultra-quick, athletic, strong, shifty guard that can use his speed and handle to get to the rim. Holt also showed his ability to knock down the catch-and-shoot three-pointer. He has the potential to be a great defender with his chiseled frame and positional size, but showed much less effort on that end of the floor.
*Fun fact: Holt said he grew up a North Carolina basketball fan.
He finished with 30 points and nine rebounds.
Trentyn Flowers / Lincolnton, N.C. (Combine Academy) / 6-8, 180 Small Forward / 2024
Trentyn Flowers came into this event as one of the highest-rated prospects nationally (No. 8 overall by On3) and backed his ranking, finishing with 15 first-half points and missing only a single shot. Flowers excelled in the mid-range and can create his own shot using his size to his advantage to shoot over the top of the defense. He also got to the cup and finished well around the rim, using his craftiness and strength. Flowers led all scorers with 23 points (9-12 FG) and nine rebounds.
Flowers has taken official visits to Oklahoma, Louisville, Creighton, and Georgia State. North Carolina, Georgetown, and Virginia Tech have hosted him unofficially.
A full interview with Flowers is coming soon.
Silas Demary Jr. / Lincolnton, N.C. (Combine Academy) / 6-5, 180 Point Guard / 2023 / Signed with USC
Silas Demary Jr. impressed me in this one. The USC signee was aggressive on both ends of the floor, showed excellent court vision by finding the open man well, while also showing his ability to score. Demary flat out plays hard. He needs to be a bit more careful with the basketball as he had a handful of turnovers in this one but overall, he was one of the best players on the floor.
Tyran Stokes / Napa, Calif. (Prolific Prep) / 6-7, 225 Small Forward / 2026
Tyran Stokes, the man-child. Talk about an above-the-rim athlete. He might only be a freshman in high school, but he has the build of a freshman in college. Standing at 6-foot-7, 225-pounds, Stokes is a threat as a lob catcher, and if you don’t box him out, watch your head. He can finish through contact extremely well and you could make the argument he’s the best player in his class. He holds early offers from Alabama, Louisville, Texas A&M, Xavier, and others. Stokes finished with 20 points (8-10 FG) and nine rebounds.
Fun fact: Tyran Stokes also grew up a North Carolina basketball fan.
Yves Missi / Napa, Calif. (Prolific Prep) / 6-11, 225 Center / 2024
Yves Missi didn’t have to do much scoring in this one thanks to his teammates, but one thing he did very well was protecting the rim (4 blocks). Missi is a mobile big man that can run the floor, switch defensively, and crashes the glass (10 rebounds).
Missi says he is hearing the most from Texas, Nebraska, Baylor, and Stanford.
Trey Green / Napa, Calif. (Prolific Prep) / 6-0, 155 Point Guard / 2023 / Signed with Xavier
For quite some time, Trey Green has been one of my favorite players because of his competitiveness and heart. He’s not the biggest guy on the court, but he never backs down from a challenge. He’s a willing passer but can also get a bucket for his team when he needs. Xavier is going to love this dude.
Green finished with a game-high 21 points, finishing 61% from the field and 5-10 from three point land.
Other notable performances:
Peyton Marshall: 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Jaeden Mustaf: 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
Bryce Cash: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Carl Cherefant (Memphis signee): 26 points, 6 rebounds