Crush in the Valley - Jan 21 & 22
Ty-Laur Johnson || Our Savior Lutheran (NY) || PG 5’11 || C/O 2023
Memphis commit. Ty-Laur was the most consistent positive performer of any player at the event. He never forced his game and was always involved in positive ball movement. Whenever OSL went through scoring droughts, they leaned on Ty-Laur to take over on-ball responsibilities. He delivered by hitting threes, collapsing the defense with dribble penetration, and generating several transition plays for teammates off steals in both wins. 25/6/3 and 6 steals vs. Trinity followed by 16/3/7 vs. Dream City. Highlight of the event for Ty-Laur was a leaping behind-the-back bounce pass in transition for an easy teammate dunk in the 2nd quarter vs Trinity (NV). Also had a breakaway dunk in that game, showing off his elite vert standing under 6’0.
Youssouf Singare || Our Savior Lutheran (NY) || C 7’0 || C/O 2023
UConn commit. The Malian native shined in his second game vs. Dream City Christian, stuffing the stat sheet with 25/13. Facing fellow 7-footer Dream City Christian center Emmanuel Stephen, it was Singare who consistently won position inside with multiple seals for dunks and consistent boxouts for team rebounds. Major lob threat with hops who can run the floor at a high level for his size. He was too fast for any of Dream City Christian’s bigs and thrived in transition with several highlight dunks. Role currently appears to primarily be in the dunker spot, but he did flash the potential to attack other bigs off the bounce with a blow-by drive from the perimeter for a slam in the 2nd half vs. Dream City.
Tyran Stokes || Prolific Prep (CA) || SF 6’8 || C/0 2026
Uncommitted. Tyran had a very up-and-down event but there is a lot to be excited about with his game. The freshman looks like one of the early candidates to be the #1 recruit in the 2026 HS class. Standing at 6’8 and built like a tank, Tyran is explosive off the bounce and has excellent footwork for his size, and it shows particularly in his perimeter shot prep. On Saturday he consistently demonstrated an ability to drive and finish through contact while threatening with spacing from the perimeter. Was active defensively attacking passing lanes. Stokes’s three-point mechanics have some areas for improvement but overall are positive. His footwork is outstanding for his age with the ability to shoot off the dribble, but his release could be improved. Still only a freshman, Stokes was easily flustered by his mistakes and was pulled for a stretch of the Sunday game after uneven play. Was visibly frustrated with himself early but came back into the game in the fourth quarter and looked rejuvenated. Had a key steal and transition run in the 4th to expand a narrow lead over Veritas Prep.
Aden Holloway || Prolific Prep (CA) || G 6’0 || C/O 2023
Auburn commit. Holloway had the most memorable quarter of any player at Crush in the Valley I, going nuclear from three in the 4th quarter vs. Dream City Christian to bring Prolific back into the game. He hit shots or got to the line on six straight possessions and finished with 32 points. A shifty mover with an elite handle, Holloway showcased his ability as a pull-up shooter who can pressure defenses off the bounce. His love for basketball shines on the court through his demeanor. At times he forced the scoring aspect of his game too heavily and could have looked to better set-up teammates. He struggled to defend the larger Marqui Worthy in the Sunday game, due in-part to his small stature.
Yves Missi || Prolific Prep (CA) || C 6’10 || C/O 2024
Baylor commit. Missi was an aggressive rimrunner in both games and provided a lob threat to Prolific’s guards that was sorely needed. Has a lean frame but a solid vert that translated to multiple highlight blocks vs. Dream City Christian. Mostly scored off assisted dunks, but did flash the ability to put the ball on the floor with a drive and finish in the 3rd quarter vs. Veritas Prep. Will probably need to add bulk before he can play significant minutes in the Big 12 for Baylor but has an interesting toolset of rim protection and rimrunning.
Jared McCain || Centennial (CA) || CG 6’2 || C/O 2023
Duke commit. Centennial’s offense is built around McCain as their primary scorer. Displayed a solid, well-rounded game predicated on shotmaking. His shot mechanics are smooth and should translate right away at Duke. Despite most of the near-sellout crowd being there to see him, he was patient with the ball, picked his spots well, and created for teammates. Finished with 25/10/6 and 3 steals vs. Salesian Prep.
Alejandro Aviles || Dream City Christian (AZ) || F/C 6’8 || C/O 2025
Uncommitted. Aviles was the star for Dream City Christian in their major upset of #1 Prolific Prep on Saturday, then had a relatively quiet game vs. Our Savior Lutheran on Sunday. An intelligent off-ball mover with a game that lives in the mid-range, Aviles got to his spots and shot over Prolific Prep defenders using his high release point jumper. Can handle the ball a bit at center and took multiple defenders off the bounce to the rim, using his solid frame to shield off Prolific’s lankier bigs. Finished with 24 points in the Saturday game. Currently needs to work on his three-point mechanics, which are less fluid than his mid-range. A bit slow-footed – was beat in transition multiple times in the Sunday game vs. OSL by the more athletic center Youssouf Singare and spent a lot of time on the bench. Looked exhausted Sunday.
Marqui Worthy || Veritas Prep (CA) || CG 6’3 || C/O 2023
UMass commit. Attended his second game on Sunday vs. Prolific Prep. Worthy was a one-man offensive unit vs. Prolific, keeping his team in the game with a thirty-point performance. His strong frame was too much for Prolific’s undersized guards, and his offensive game thrived on drawing and finishing through contact. Had a memorable defensive possession where he blocked a 2v1 transition play at the rim. Overall, he struggled to defend Prolific’s smaller, shiftier guards and committed several fouls on the perimeter with handsy defense.
Amos Hodgson || Bishop O’Dowd (CA) || SG 6’2 || C/O 2023
Uncommitted, currently recruited by D2s and JUCOs. Hodgson had a fourth quarter to remember vs Grant HS on Saturday, taking over the game with shot after shot both off the catch and off the dribble. Finished the game shooting 8/14 from three and has the makeup of a shooting specialist who could contribute to low-major D1 programs, offering shot versatility and positive off-ball movement.
Contribution by: Garrett Johnson