USA Basketball Junior Minicamp: Day 3 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 3.
Day 1 Top Performers
Day 2 Top Performers
Let’s discuss the Day 3 top performers from USA Basketball Junior National Team October Minicamp.
On3 MVP: Five-Star PG Boogie Fland
The consistency Boogie Fland has played with this weekend has really stood out. He is playing with excellent pace, getting to his spots and making a playfor himself and others. Another aspect that has really stood out for Fland is his shooting.
On a weekends where there were not a lot of shots falling, Fland has shot the ball at a high rate. He has a smooth and consistent release, with great balance and an efficient load. The ball handleingwas quick and decisive. He did not over dribble and was balanced enough to rise up when he got the defender off balance.
There is also a leadership factor with Fland. He is always talking, and you can find his teammates consistently looking toward him. He seems to always have fun while he is playing, and his teammate seem to enjoy playing with him.
2. Five-Star Plus+ PG Brandon McCoy (2026)
Brandon McCoy plays with a confidenceense and a competitive fire that is hard to miss. He has a flow about him on the ball, that gets him into productive postioins, ready to make a play. Defensively, he can be a ball hawk, guarding the point of attack with quick feet and long arms.
McCoy is a bigger guard. He has a smooth and fluid game, able to get into the mid-range and knock down jump shots or distribute to teammates and set them up for easy buckets. McCoy is a top three player in his class, he also made the team last year and won a gold medal in the FIBA Americas U16; people in the camp know who he is. Even getting the other person’s best throughout the event, McCoy attacked every matchup the same.
3. Four-Star SF Drake Powell (UNC)
There is a hustle factor that really shines with Drake Powell. He is one of the best perimeter defenders in the camp, and that gear has been on high all three days. His ability to rebound from the wing position has stood out as well.
Powell has gotten his offense mostly in transition. He has made plays, either on defense or on the boards, and been able to push the breakto push pressure on the rim. While hhas been able to sprinkle in a couple elbow pull ups, he he has not scored very efficiently in the half court. Ther is no questioning the impact that Powell has on the game, he makes winning, impactful plays.
4. Four-Star SF Cam Scott (Texas)
Cam Scott looks the part, he has great length and a lot of explosive pop. He shows the pop off throughout the drills sessions, getting on the rim for some aerial acrobatics. Today, two things stood out, he made jump shots and he was very good in the passing lanes
Scott is a player who knows how to play. He has made his career out of making the right basketball play, whether the extra pass, or pulling up and kicking it out. Today, he played aggressively, on both ends of the floor. Tihe jump shot was in rhythm, taken with confidence. He guarded the ball, switched up and down the lineup. The NBA personnel was taking note of who he was, and right fully so.
5. Four-Star PG Darius Acuff (2025)
Darius Acuff is able to score the ball. He has a quick handle and is uber confident when it comes to creating space and getting his shot off.
Acuff playus with an understanding a pace. He is a quick athlete, andhe uses his hesitation and change of pace to get past the firesat like of defense. The scoring id not a question with him. The next step in his progression is the reads and the court vision. His first instinct is to score. When he gets on the move, and in the paint, the passing touch can be lost.
Acuff plays with an alpha mentality. He puts consistent pressure on the rim with the ball in his hands.
6. Four-Star SF Annor Boateng (Missouri)
Annor Boateng has always been a connecting piece. A player who does a lot of different things on the court and you can put him in a lot of different situations and expect production out of him.
The development he showed in this setting is the jump shot. He has always been amulti-positional defender, a good rebounder, and a good passer from different levels, but the shooting has opened up new doors. He played confidently today, honestly, he has played confidently this whole weekend. Boateng has efficiently gotten into his shots and knocked them down from multiple spots on the floor.
Seeing how this confidence carries over will be intriguing. You saw it some during July with the Arkansas Hawks. He is someone who has always competed.
7. Four-Star PF Chris Cenac (2025)
The frame sticks out immediately. Chris Cenac is one of the tallest players, if not the tallest in his group. Listed at 6-foot-10, he has good length and broad shoulders, a very projectable frame.
The offensive game seemed to be coming around nicely today. He is someone who has always had touch, but his repoitoire was continuing to come around. Cenac handled the ball in transition, and in the half court, he got to the rim in in straight lines. The release on his jump shot was smooth, sofandhe even knocked down a mid-range floater on the day.
The defense though is what really stands out with Cenac. He is able to move his feet and guard on the perimeter, open his hipos and switch in the half court, and protect the rim and rebound on the bloc. HTe athletic pop and fluidity mixed are very intriguing with him. He continues to prodcuce.
Other Standouts
Four-Star SF Khani Rooths – The archetype is becoming more clear with Khani Rooths. The 6-foot-8 wing is becoming more confident with his offensive game, especially in the mid-range. The defensive upside is very appealing.
Five-Star SG Meleek Thomas (2025) – There is an electricity to Meleek Thomas’ game. He is wired to score. With the ball in his hands, he is always on balance, and his feet are always set to raise up for a shot. Confidence.
Four-Star PG Kingston Flemings (2025) – Kingston Flemings stood out as a point guard. The passing reads and touch were working today. he also really competed while defending the point of attack. This was a good weekend for Flemings.
Four-Star SG Hudson Greer (2025) – While Hudson Greer showed off the explosive burst through the first two days, he showed the basketball accumen on day three. His cutting led to multiple easy buckets, same with his passing. A very good weekend for Greer.
Four-Star PF Latrell Allmond (2026) – There is a physical factor that comes with Latrell Allmond. Listed at 6-foot-8, he is not afraid of the contact around the basket. The scoring was up and down throughout the weekend, but his presence was felt.
Four-Star SG Jamari Phillips (Arizona) – The shooting continues for Jamari Phillips. He is very confident, able to create space to get a clean look.
Four-Star SG Kiyan Anthony (2025) – Kiyan Anthony has developed a smooth scoring game. He has good touch from beyond the arc and caget into the lane off one and two dribbles off a sloppy closeout. His game continues to develop.
Four-Star PG David Castillo (Kansas State) – There is a steadying factor that David Castillo brings to the floor. He plays within himself, able to handle shoot and pass. Made the right play today.
Four-Star G JJ Andrews (2026) – JJ Andrews plays a physical style of basketball from the guard position. He is a good defender, both on and off the ball, a good rebounder, an dhe i a downhill driver with the ball in his hands.
Four-Star PG Nyk Lewis (2025) – There is a toughness factor with Nyk Lewis where he simply finds production and winning plays. A good rebounder for his position, he defends the point of attack, makes life tough.
Four-Star SG Akai Fleming (2025) – Akai Fleming played a composed game. He shot it well, did not turn it over, and showed some alpha instincts in the half-court. Very promising weekend, especially days twop and three.
Four-Star PF Niko Bundalo (2025) – Niko Bundalo was the first person in the gym on Day three, and in the 20, or so minutes, he was able to get up a couple hundred jump shots before anyone else arrived.
Four-Star PF Nigel Walls (2025) – There is an intriguing factor with Nigel Walls, simply off his size and the way he moves. He is still raw, but there is something definitely there. He mslides his feet well, he contests shots at the rim, and he is an improving scorer. AN upsdie play, check back in a couple months and see where things are at.
Four-Star PG Mikel Brown (2025) – Mikel Brown has showcased his skill, especially in the small-sided games. Off the bounce, his crafty handle gets him to his spots. Defenders have to respect his jump shot becausethe range extends out to 30 feet, easily.
Four-Star SF Shelton Henderson (2025) – Shelton Henderson has a great frame, strong with good length and fluidity. He does a lot of the positive things on the courrt, Good defender, good rebounder, can initiate and set up teammates. Lots of positive plays coming from him.
Four-Star SF Jack McCaffery (2025) – The IQ and know-how really shined for Jack McCaffery during the small-sided drill sessions. His off-ball cutting was with purpose, and he moved the ball and related well. Even with the three not falling, he showed a nice pull-up jumper.
Four-Star PG JJ Mandaquit (2025) – There is a claiming factor that JJ Mandaquit brings to the game. He is a floor general, someone whose head is always up looking to make the pass. He is crafty with excellent touch.
Four-Star C Xavion Staton (2025) – The blocked shots continue for Xavion Staton. He has become the biggest defensive factor around the basket in camp. Many have challenged him and few have come away successful.
Four-Star PG Dylan Mingo (2026) – Dylan Mingo plays with a lot of confidence. He brings a flair to the point guard position with a solid skill base. He has good vision and can really defend the ball. Next step is continuing to make the jump shot a weapon.
Four-Star SF Sir Mohammed (Notre Dame) – Sir Mohammed showed some flashes today. Knocked down couple cluth jump shots and his passing was very interesting from multiple levels.
Four-Star SF Jackson Keith (2025) – Jackson Keith competed. Every play, on the baords, on both ends of the floor, he competed. TPlaying with that type of purpose got him some production.
Four-Star SF Chidi Nwigwe (2026) – Chidi Nwigwe simply knows how to play. He has a great frame and a good skill base. The shot was confident, with good form. The passing was on target and on time. He rebounded and he defended. It was a solid shwoing.