USA Basketball minicamp top performers: Day 2
Houston, Texas – USA Basketball invited sixty-two of the top players from across the country to Houston for the Junior National Team minicamp. The players are competing for spots on the Team USA roster this summer as they will travel to compete in the FIBA World games.
Players from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 classes were under one roof, along with selective media and scouts as onlookers. The competition was stiff and the players got after it on the court.
Here are the standouts from Day two of the USA Basketball Minicamp.
USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp event preview
Full USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp roster
USA Basketball minicamp Day 1 top performers
On3 MVP: Five-Star SG Darryn Peterson
Darryn Peterson showcased an advanced middle game in the small-sided portion of the practice. The 6-foot-5 off-guard was very confident and aggressive in the half-court. The hesitation dribble and change of pace got him to his spots on the floor.
The confidence Peterson showed to raise up and make shots was the takeaway. The balance was on point, and the release was consistent. You like the toughness he plays with, and that showed in all the settings.
Peterson is the No. 8 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.
2. Five-star SG Meleek Thomas
Meleek Thomas is in go mode at all times; there does not seem to be an off switch with him. The competitive fire simply bleeds off him as he looks like he is always having fun. Thomas, at his best, is a shot-maker. He can be electric with his ability to get to his spots and rise up, finding his balance even when facing away from the basket.
The defense popped today for Thomas. He guarded at the point of attack and made life tough for opposing guards. His length and quick twitch were impressive and useful. Thomas showed feel as a scorer in the pick-and-roll. He utilized an array of floaters, pullups, and deep threes.
Thomas is the No. 3 player in the 2025 On3 150.
3. Four-star PF Caleb Wilson
Simply put, Caleb Wilson made plays. Even with his baby face, he showcased consistent toughness on the block. He has excellent timing as a shot blocker, defending both on and off the ball. Wilson also continues to add pop in his step.
Offensively, he has great touch with some ball skills. The perimeter still is still a little slow, but when given time, he is able to execute. He plays with no fear, and he continues to improve each time we see him. A lot of upside here as he continues to grow into his frame.
Wilson is the No. 9 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.
4. Five-star PG Boogie Fland
Boogie Fland bleeds supreme confidence and competitive fire. He wants the ball in his hands, and he wants to be the one making the play to get the look. Fland has a smooth jump shot, he carries range on it, and the mechanics do not change.
Fland, a veteran of USA Basketball, played fast but controlled today. He was fine being a facilitator and handled the ball pressure with ease. Fland does not touch the paint as much as you would like, but he has an efficient handle and good footwork to get open. He affected winning consistently.
Fland is the No. 5 player in the 2024 On3 150.
5. Five-star SG Tre Johnson
It is just hard to ignore the shooting and scoring ability of Tre Johnson. Physically, he is every bit of 6-foot-5, with long arms and a projectable frame. Every dribble he takes is with a purpose, and the footwork gets him open looks in the half-court.
Johnson plays the game with a quiet confidence. He has great balance with the ball in his hands and reads the defense and angles very well. He knocked down multiple pull-up jumpers today off change-of-direction dribbles. And his catch-and-shoot three is effortless with deep range.
He scored in each setting and did so consistently.
Johnson is the No. 1 player in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking.
6. Four-star C Jayden Quiantance
You notice the size immediately with Jayden Quaintance. The 6-foot-10 center has long arms with broad shoulders; he is a physical presence. But it is the way he moves that get you talking about him as a prospect. He plays with a lot of pop around the basket, and he moves well side-to-side.
Quaintance rebounded the ball well. He was aggressive, rebounding his area, and even snagged a couple out of his area. Quaintance finished around the basket with some thunderous dunks and showed an attacking dribble from the mid-post. He has been steady and consistently productive.
He is the No. 28 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.
7. Five-star F Ace Bailey – Rutgers
Ace Bailey was a name I had circled coming into the event. He was impressive throughout the minicamp. And with all the positives he provided, it was what he gave on the defensive end that is my talking point today.
Standing at a legit 6-foot-9, the Rutgers commit was aggressive in the passing lanes and as a weak side defender. Bailey had multiple blocks at or above the square; he also broke well in the passing lanes, gathering deflections in the half-court and guarding the wing.
The shot-making was also interesting. Today he was more above the rim, but he played efficiently and within himself.
Bailey is the No. 5 player in the 2024 Industry Ranking.
8. Five-star SG Dylan Harper
When you widen the lens and look at the totality of Dylan Harper’s game, you see that he simply makes basketball plays. Today the vision was on full display in the half-court. Harper played confidently as the primary ball handler in the pick and roll. He had a great pace and kept his balance in the paint, making plays and passes through contact.
Harper is a noted scorer, and he was able to get some shots going in the mid-range, but his ability to create opportunities for teammates and get them open looks was the takeaway today. On target and on time.
Harper is the No. 2 player in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking.
9. 2026 F Caleb Gaskins
Caleb Gaskins was a player that I found myself consistently looking for on the roster as he continued to make plays. At a lengthy 6-foot-7, he made shots consistently. It took Gaskins a little time to get comfortable in the setting, but once he did, he was able to pick his spots as a catch-and-shoot threat. He also grabbed a few traffic rebounds and gathered deflections in the passing lanes.
10. Four-star CG Jeremiah Fears.
At first glance, you may not notice Jeremiah Fears, but after watching a half of basketball, you take quick notice. He plays with a confident demeanor on the floor and brings an alpha mentality on the ball. He is smaller for a guard, but his ability to create space on the ball gets him open looks in the half-court.
Fears is the younger brother of Michigan State signee Jeremy Fears. He played, with his brother, this season at Joliet (IL) East High. During this session, he showed the pop. He was explosive, which helped him as an on-ball defender.
Fears is the No. 40 player in the 2025 On3 75.
Other notes
*Four-star SG Cam Scott has a great frame. He was locked in on defense in this setting, getting deflections and stops in the half-court.
*Four-star PG David Castillo is steady. He can shoot the ball with range, and he gets the ball to the right spots.
*UNC commitment Ian Jackson will need to clean some things up on offense, but the confidence does not waiver. He plays hard on both sides of the ball.
*Purdue commitment Kanon Catchings popped at times today. He was able to utilize his length around the basket, making some plays.
*2026 Latrell Allmond carved out his role well in this setting. He is a nice area rebounder, and he showcased some pop around the rim with good hands.
*Four-star PG Tahaad Pettiford plays with a good bit of electricity. The quick-twitch lefty is confident off the bounce, getting to his spots.
*2026 Trent Perry played with no fear. Has attacked the basket when the opportunity presented itself and knocked down shots when open.
*2026 Caleb Holt has no problem making the tough-guy plays. He is a paint-touch warrior with the ball in his hands.
*I like the effort five-star SG Isiah Harwell gave on the defensive end.
*Five-star SG Jalen Haralson has a lot of tools and ability. He scored the ball well, looking for his shot in the half-court.
*Four-star F Carter Bryant continues to show flashes. His physical abilities are where the interest builds.
*Four-star PG Mikel Brown plays with a ton of confidence. When given an open look, he knocked down shots too.
*2026 Jalen Montonati is a player to watch as he continues to develop. He is thin, which is to be expected given his age, but his feel for the game is obvious.
*Four-star C Jaden Toombs continues his steady play. He is finishing on the block both with touch and above the rim. And he has rebounded his area well.
*Four-star F Chris Nwuli seems to be developing his confidence in the half-court. He made a couple of one-dribble pull-ups along with a spot three during small-sided games.
*2026 Adam Oumiddoch showed off a crafty handle and interesting counters that got him to open spots on the floor.