AAU Super Showcase: Thursday’s Top Performers (Scarberry Media)

<b>ORLANDO – </b>While the super-matchup between Each 1 Teach 1 and Houston Hoops dominated Super Showcase chatter on Thursday, several players in the 17u division put on dominant performances. Let’s get into the top performers from Thursday.
<h4> Joel Berry II (PG, Each 1 Teach 1 Elite / Apopka Lake Highland Prep, FL / 2014):</h4>
In a monumental victory over Howard Pulley on national television, Berry saved his best performance for the biggest moment yet at the 17u Super Showcase. Going off for 21 points, five steals, and four assists, Berry scored nine huge points in a momentum-changing third quarter. In a blowout win vs. Atlanta Xpress earlier in the day, Berry II finished with 13 points and five assists in limited action. The North Carolina commit has been arguably the top player in Orlando, getting the job done on both ends of the floor. Berry’s excellent jump shooting has made E1T1’s offense that much more dangerous, as the 6’1 guard can score when he wants to, but is equally as effective as a facilitator.
<h4> Justise Winslow (SF, Houston Hoops / Houston St. John’s / 2014):</h4>
On a loaded Houston Hoops squad, Winslow had a stellar showing on Thursday, saving his best performance for the matchup with Each 1 Teach 1. Winslow’s 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, were tied for a team-high. The 6’5 208-pound small forward was equally as dominant in an earlier Thursday win over the Wilson Blue Devils, flushing down several powerful slams, in addition to an array of slick assists. With offers from Arizona, Duke, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, and UCLA, among others, Winslow’s stock is surely increasing with his recent set of performances in Orlando.
Tyus Jones (PG, Howard Pulley / Apple Valley, MN / 2014)

Considered by many to be the top point guard in America, Jones reaffirmed the hype surrounding his recruitment with a dominant performance vs. Ohio Phenoms on Thursday night. Scoring a game-high 29 points, 25 of which coming in the first half, Jones was virtually un-guardable, scoring in a variety of ways, but most effective with his quickness in transition. In addition to the Minnesota native’s scoring outburst, Jones operated equally as well as a facilitator, dishing out seven assists, also a game-high. According to ESPN, Jones has his list down to Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State. Neck and neck with Emmanual Mudiay in terms of the nation’s top point guard, Jones has done nothing to hurt his stock in Orlando.

Jae’Sean Tate (SG, All-Ohio Red / Pickerington Central / 2014)

Leading a Vince Edwards-less All-Ohio Red squad through the Super Showcase, Tate put together an impressive set of performances on Thursday. As Red rolled to two consecutive wins, Tate averaged 17 points per game, highlighted by several high-flying jams. As usual, Tate was also a force on the offensive glass, ripping down three offensive boards in Red’s opening win over Grassroots Indiana. After ending his junior season at Pickerington Central with 31 points and 17 rebounds in a regional semifinal loss, Tate has evolved his overall skill set on the summer circuit. Committed to Ohio State, look for Tate to have a monstrous senior season, as he is clearly the top player in the state.

Robert Johnson (SG, Boo Williams / Richmond Benedictine, VA / 2014

Attracting the attention of Indiana head coach Tom Crean in Boo Williams’ Thursday morning win over the Jacksonville Lee Bulls, Johnson’s 19 points and six assists were both game-highs in a 61-40 win. At 6’3, Jackson gets great elevation on his jump shot, and that was evident as the high-major prospect put on a clinic on Thursday. Through three quarters in Boo Williams’ Thursday evening win over the New York Gauchos, Johnson did it all for Boo Williams, tallying 13 points and five assists. After an impressive showing at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June, Johnson has been one of the fastest rising shooting guards in America, claiming offers from Florida State, Indiana, Marquette, Villanova, and Wake Forest. We spoke to Johnson on who has been after him the most this summer in the video above.

– Zach Fleer / @ZachFleerSP