Russell 'Coach V' Vanlandingham
Lead Evaluator & Talent Scout
Former 20 Year College Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
(NCAA D1, D2, D3 & NAIA Coaching Experience)
Class of 2027 & 2028
‘FUTURE PROSPECT’ MIDSEASON REPORT
6’2 Combo Guard 2028 Maxwell Moody | Oak Cliff Faith Family Possibly The Player With the Highest Ceiling in the Entire Tournament Was 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr. At 6’5 He Has the Skill Set To Push The Ball of Missed Shots and Make PG Plays. In The HC, He Does a Great Job of Reading The Defense and Taking Advantage of the Matchup Whether It’s Taking a Big Man Out On the Perimeter or Posting Up a Smaller Wing. Has So Much Time To Grow His Game and Has the Look and Game of a Player That Will End Up With D1 Offers When It’s All Said and Done. Really Impressed With This Kid, Stay Humble and Hungry Young Fella and Your Recruitment Will Take care of itself. Projected Levels: LM/MM D1
5’10 Point Guard 2028 Elijah Olatunbosum | 15U IFN Cypress Elijah Does What PG’s Should Do, Could Do, But Most Don’t and That Will Benefit Elijah In the Long Run As He Continues To Develop Leadership Habits That Have Nothing To Do With Hitting Shots, but Everything To Do With Gaining Genuine Exposure. When Evaluating PG’s I Look Closely at 2 Things, 1: Do They Stay Engaged In The Game Possession by Possession (Know Time, Possession & Score) 2: Verbal (Vocal) and Nonverbal Communication (Body Language) As a Former College Coach at Various Levels Those Two Traits Determine Your Recruitment and Level of Recruitment If You Play the PG Position. Elijah Did Both Throughout the Tourney and It Resulted In 2 Big Wins That Were One and Two Possession Close Games. Played Consistent Throughout The Weekend When It Came To Leading from Start To Finish. Projected Levels: NAIA / NCAA D2 (With 2 Years To Grow His Game That Level Can Increase)
6’2 Shooting Guard 2028 Walter Checko | SPC 15U Walter Didn’t Necessarily Pass the Eye Test, But He Passed the ‘Flat Out Can Play’ Test in the DFW Tourney. While Others Looked The Part on his Squad, Walter Produced and Played Consistently On Both Ends of the Floor. This Kid Can Score It at All 3 Levels, Does a Good Job of Getting Downhill and Finishing Plays In Traffic and When Left Open He Has The Shot Mechanics That Indicate He’s 40+ % 3pt Shooter. Stayed and Played In Attack Mode, Has The Size and Skill Set To Have a Breakthrough Season, and Has a High Basketball IQ. Nothing Flashy About Walter, Just Produces, Efficient Offensive Player That Competes On The Defensive End. This Kid has a Bright Future Projected Level: High Academic NCAA D2
5’11 Point Guard 2028 Bryson Bell | Schertz Clemens HS Versatile Wing That Can Guard the 1-3 Positions, and Can Play The 1-4 Spots On The Offensive End. Has The Length, Motor, and Athleticism To Be a Key Player On Varsity This Year And Start To Attract Attention From College Coaches In The 2028 Class. Although, He Has The Physical Talent and Traits You Can’t Teach, He Doesn’t Rely On Ability Alone Which is What Stood Out To Me In The DFW Tourney. Active Defender, Pursues Rebounds from the Guard Position, and Is Tough To Stop In Transition When He is Attacking Downhill. Kingsten is a Consistent 3pt Shot Away from being an Elite Varsity Level Player, But Has Time on his Side To Continue To Improve In all Facets and The Talent To do Big Things This Year at Grand Oaks HS. Projected Levels: D1 JUCO / NCAA D2+
6’8 Forward 2027 Dylan Howard | Buda Hays HS And Then We Have BIG Bra’lon Cage that Plays Bigger Than 6 '5, Rather Battle In the Paint Than Settle for 3’s and is a Load Down Low. Pins Hard, has Great Hands and Soft Touch Around The Basket but when push comes to shove Bra’lon is going to WIN The Battle in the Paint. It Was So Refreshing To See a Big Man Playing Big and Forcing Double Teams By Engaging In The Paint on Ball Reversals, And Going After Every Board Forcing Opposing Teams To Block Him Out Which Very Few Did. Attacked The Offensive Glass All Weekend And Got Several Putbacks or 2nd Shot Opportunities for his Team. On Top of That, He Does a Great Job When Drawing Help of Kicking it Out and Finding the Open Man. Really Like Bra’lon and Has D1 Level Upside With 2 Years To Grow His Overall Game. Projected Levels: NCAA D2+ / D1
6’0 Point Guard Blake Collier | 14U GME Blake is a Pure PG that plays with Great Pace, has a nice change of Speed that led to several paint touches, and sees the floor well so when he draws help he finds the right man in scoring position. Most Young Guards can kick it out when drawing help, but it’s another thing to make the right pass to players in the best scoring position and that’s what separates Blake and stands out. He stayed in attack mode and finished plays in 1 on 1 situations or made the right pass that led to easy baskets for GME When Drawing 2nd Line Defenders. Add To that Fact that he is a Legit 6 '0 and a 2029 and You Are Onto Something with this Young Lead Guard. Expect to see his Name Rising in the Ranks in the Metroplex over the Next Few Years as he can flat out play, and is already ahead of 2026’s I’ve Evaluated With His Decision Making at the PG Position. Projected Levels: JUCO / NCAA D2
6’5 Point Forward 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr | 14U GME Possibly The Player With the Highest Ceiling in the Entire Tournament Was 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr. At 6’5 He Has the Skill Set To Push The Ball of Missed Shots and Make PG Plays. In The HC, He Does a Great Job of Reading The Defense and Taking Advantage of the Matchup Whether It’s Taking a Big Man Out On the Perimeter or Posting Up a Smaller Wing. Has So Much Time To Grow His Game and Has the Look and Game of a Player That Will End Up With D1 Offers When It’s All Said and Done. Really Impressed With This Kid, Stay Humble and Hungry Young Fella and Your Recruitment Will Take care of itself. Projected Levels: LM/MM D1
5’10 Point Guard 2028 Elijah Olatunbosum | 15U IFN Cypress Elijah Does What PG’s Should Do, Could Do, But Most Don’t and That Will Benefit Elijah In the Long Run As He Continues To Develop Leadership Habits That Have Nothing To Do With Hitting Shots, but Everything To Do With Gaining Genuine Exposure. When Evaluating PG’s I Look Closely at 2 Things, 1: Do They Stay Engaged In The Game Possession by Possession (Know Time, Possession & Score) 2: Verbal (Vocal) and Nonverbal Communication (Body Language) As a Former College Coach at Various Levels Those Two Traits Determine Your Recruitment and Level of Recruitment If You Play the PG Position. Elijah Did Both Throughout the Tourney and It Resulted In 2 Big Wins That Were One and Two Possession Close Games. Played Consistent Throughout The Weekend When It Came To Leading from Start To Finish. Projected Levels: NAIA / NCAA D2 (With 2 Years To Grow His Game That Level Can Increase)
6’2 Shooting Guard 2028 Walter Checko | SPC 15U Walter Didn’t Necessarily Pass the Eye Test, But He Passed the ‘Flat Out Can Play’ Test in the DFW Tourney. While Others Looked The Part on his Squad, Walter Produced and Played Consistently On Both Ends of the Floor. This Kid Can Score It at All 3 Levels, Does a Good Job of Getting Downhill and Finishing Plays In Traffic and When Left Open He Has The Shot Mechanics That Indicate He’s 40+ % 3pt Shooter. Stayed and Played In Attack Mode, Has The Size and Skill Set To Have a Breakthrough Season, and Has a High Basketball IQ. Nothing Flashy About Walter, Just Produces, Efficient Offensive Player That Competes On The Defensive End. This Kid has a Bright Future Projected Level: High Academic NCAA D2
6’3 Combo Guard 2028 Kingsten Davis | 15U IFN Cypress Versatile Wing That Can Guard the 1-3 Positions, and Can Play The 1-4 Spots On The Offensive End. Has The Length, Motor, and Athleticism To Be a Key Player On Varsity This Year And Start To Attract Attention From College Coaches In The 2028 Class. Although, He Has The Physical Talent and Traits You Can’t Teach, He Doesn’t Rely On Ability Alone Which is What Stood Out To Me In The DFW Tourney. Active Defender, Pursues Rebounds from the Guard Position, and Is Tough To Stop In Transition When He is Attacking Downhill. Kingsten is a Consistent 3pt Shot Away from being an Elite Varsity Level Player, But Has Time on his Side To Continue To Improve In all Facets and The Talent To do Big Things This Year at Grand Oaks HS. Projected Levels: D1 JUCO / NCAA D2+
6’5 Small Forward 2028 Bra’lon Cage | 15U IFN Cypress And Then We Have BIG Bra’lon Cage that Plays Bigger Than 6 '5, Rather Battle In the Paint Than Settle for 3’s and is a Load Down Low. Pins Hard, has Great Hands and Soft Touch Around The Basket but when push comes to shove Bra’lon is going to WIN The Battle in the Paint. It Was So Refreshing To See a Big Man Playing Big and Forcing Double Teams By Engaging In The Paint on Ball Reversals, And Going After Every Board Forcing Opposing Teams To Block Him Out Which Very Few Did. Attacked The Offensive Glass All Weekend And Got Several Putbacks or 2nd Shot Opportunities for his Team. On Top of That, He Does a Great Job When Drawing Help of Kicking it Out and Finding the Open Man. Really Like Bra’lon and Has D1 Level Upside With 2 Years To Grow His Overall Game. Projected Levels: NCAA D2+ / D1
6’0 Point Guard Blake Collier | 14U GME Blake is a Pure PG that plays with Great Pace, has a nice change of Speed that led to several paint touches, and sees the floor well so when he draws help he finds the right man in scoring position. Most Young Guards can kick it out when drawing help, but it’s another thing to make the right pass to players in the best scoring position and that’s what separates Blake and stands out. He stayed in attack mode and finished plays in 1 on 1 situations or made the right pass that led to easy baskets for GME When Drawing 2nd Line Defenders. Add To that Fact that he is a Legit 6 '0 and a 2029 and You Are Onto Something with this Young Lead Guard. Expect to see his Name Rising in the Ranks in the Metroplex over the Next Few Years as he can flat out play, and is already ahead of 2026’s I’ve Evaluated With His Decision Making at the PG Position. Projected Levels: JUCO / NCAA D2
6’5 Point Forward 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr | 14U GME Possibly The Player With the Highest Ceiling in the Entire Tournament Was 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr. At 6’5 He Has the Skill Set To Push The Ball of Missed Shots and Make PG Plays. In The HC, He Does a Great Job of Reading The Defense and Taking Advantage of the Matchup Whether It’s Taking a Big Man Out On the Perimeter or Posting Up a Smaller Wing. Has So Much Time To Grow His Game and Has the Look and Game of a Player That Will End Up With D1 Offers When It’s All Said and Done. Really Impressed With This Kid, Stay Humble and Hungry Young Fella and Your Recruitment Will Take care of itself. Projected Levels: LM/MM D1
5’10 Point Guard 2028 Elijah Olatunbosum | 15U IFN Cypress Elijah Does What PG’s Should Do, Could Do, But Most Don’t and That Will Benefit Elijah In the Long Run As He Continues To Develop Leadership Habits That Have Nothing To Do With Hitting Shots, but Everything To Do With Gaining Genuine Exposure. When Evaluating PG’s I Look Closely at 2 Things, 1: Do They Stay Engaged In The Game Possession by Possession (Know Time, Possession & Score) 2: Verbal (Vocal) and Nonverbal Communication (Body Language) As a Former College Coach at Various Levels Those Two Traits Determine Your Recruitment and Level of Recruitment If You Play the PG Position. Elijah Did Both Throughout the Tourney and It Resulted In 2 Big Wins That Were One and Two Possession Close Games. Played Consistent Throughout The Weekend When It Came To Leading from Start To Finish. Projected Levels: NAIA / NCAA D2 (With 2 Years To Grow His Game That Level Can Increase)
6’2 Shooting Guard 2028 Walter Checko | SPC 15U Walter Didn’t Necessarily Pass the Eye Test, But He Passed the ‘Flat Out Can Play’ Test in the DFW Tourney. While Others Looked The Part on his Squad, Walter Produced and Played Consistently On Both Ends of the Floor. This Kid Can Score It at All 3 Levels, Does a Good Job of Getting Downhill and Finishing Plays In Traffic and When Left Open He Has The Shot Mechanics That Indicate He’s 40+ % 3pt Shooter. Stayed and Played In Attack Mode, Has The Size and Skill Set To Have a Breakthrough Season, and Has a High Basketball IQ. Nothing Flashy About Walter, Just Produces, Efficient Offensive Player That Competes On The Defensive End. This Kid has a Bright Future Projected Level: High Academic NCAA D2
6’3 Combo Guard 2028 Kingsten Davis | 15U IFN Cypress Versatile Wing That Can Guard the 1-3 Positions, and Can Play The 1-4 Spots On The Offensive End. Has The Length, Motor, and Athleticism To Be a Key Player On Varsity This Year And Start To Attract Attention From College Coaches In The 2028 Class. Although, He Has The Physical Talent and Traits You Can’t Teach, He Doesn’t Rely On Ability Alone Which is What Stood Out To Me In The DFW Tourney. Active Defender, Pursues Rebounds from the Guard Position, and Is Tough To Stop In Transition When He is Attacking Downhill. Kingsten is a Consistent 3pt Shot Away from being an Elite Varsity Level Player, But Has Time on his Side To Continue To Improve In all Facets and The Talent To do Big Things This Year at Grand Oaks HS. Projected Levels: D1 JUCO / NCAA D2+
6’5 Small Forward 2028 Bra’lon Cage | 15U IFN Cypress And Then We Have BIG Bra’lon Cage that Plays Bigger Than 6 '5, Rather Battle In the Paint Than Settle for 3’s and is a Load Down Low. Pins Hard, has Great Hands and Soft Touch Around The Basket but when push comes to shove Bra’lon is going to WIN The Battle in the Paint. It Was So Refreshing To See a Big Man Playing Big and Forcing Double Teams By Engaging In The Paint on Ball Reversals, And Going After Every Board Forcing Opposing Teams To Block Him Out Which Very Few Did. Attacked The Offensive Glass All Weekend And Got Several Putbacks or 2nd Shot Opportunities for his Team. On Top of That, He Does a Great Job When Drawing Help of Kicking it Out and Finding the Open Man. Really Like Bra’lon and Has D1 Level Upside With 2 Years To Grow His Overall Game. Projected Levels: NCAA D2+ / D1
6’0 Point Guard Blake Collier | 14U GME Blake is a Pure PG that plays with Great Pace, has a nice change of Speed that led to several paint touches, and sees the floor well so when he draws help he finds the right man in scoring position. Most Young Guards can kick it out when drawing help, but it’s another thing to make the right pass to players in the best scoring position and that’s what separates Blake and stands out. He stayed in attack mode and finished plays in 1 on 1 situations or made the right pass that led to easy baskets for GME When Drawing 2nd Line Defenders. Add To that Fact that he is a Legit 6 '0 and a 2029 and You Are Onto Something with this Young Lead Guard. Expect to see his Name Rising in the Ranks in the Metroplex over the Next Few Years as he can flat out play, and is already ahead of 2026’s I’ve Evaluated With His Decision Making at the PG Position. Projected Levels: JUCO / NCAA D2
6’5 Point Forward 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr | 14U GME Possibly The Player With the Highest Ceiling in the Entire Tournament Was 2029 Kenneth Gabriel Jr. At 6’5 He Has the Skill Set To Push The Ball of Missed Shots and Make PG Plays. In The HC, He Does a Great Job of Reading The Defense and Taking Advantage of the Matchup Whether It’s Taking a Big Man Out On the Perimeter or Posting Up a Smaller Wing. Has So Much Time To Grow His Game and Has the Look and Game of a Player That Will End Up With D1 Offers When It’s All Said and Done. Really Impressed With This Kid, Stay Humble and Hungry Young Fella and Your Recruitment Will Take care of itself. Projected Levels: LM/MM D1
5’10 Point Guard 2028 Elijah Olatunbosum | 15U IFN Cypress Elijah Does What PG’s Should Do, Could Do, But Most Don’t and That Will Benefit Elijah In the Long Run As He Continues To Develop Leadership Habits That Have Nothing To Do With Hitting Shots, but Everything To Do With Gaining Genuine Exposure. When Evaluating PG’s I Look Closely at 2 Things, 1: Do They Stay Engaged In The Game Possession by Possession (Know Time, Possession & Score) 2: Verbal (Vocal) and Nonverbal Communication (Body Language) As a Former College Coach at Various Levels Those Two Traits Determine Your Recruitment and Level of Recruitment If You Play the PG Position. Elijah Did Both Throughout the Tourney and It Resulted In 2 Big Wins That Were One and Two Possession Close Games. Played Consistent Throughout The Weekend When It Came To Leading from Start To Finish. Projected Levels: NAIA / NCAA D2 (With 2 Years To Grow His Game That Level Can Increase)
6’2 Shooting Guard 2028 Walter Checko | SPC 15U Walter Didn’t Necessarily Pass the Eye Test, But He Passed the ‘Flat Out Can Play’ Test in the DFW Tourney. While Others Looked The Part on his Squad, Walter Produced and Played Consistently On Both Ends of the Floor. This Kid Can Score It at All 3 Levels, Does a Good Job of Getting Downhill and Finishing Plays In Traffic and When Left Open He Has The Shot Mechanics That Indicate He’s 40+ % 3pt Shooter. Stayed and Played In Attack Mode, Has The Size and Skill Set To Have a Breakthrough Season, and Has a High Basketball IQ. Nothing Flashy About Walter, Just Produces, Efficient Offensive Player That Competes On The Defensive End. This Kid has a Bright Future Projected Level: High Academic NCAA D2
6’3 Combo Guard 2028 Kingsten Davis | 15U IFN Cypress Versatile Wing That Can Guard the 1-3 Positions, and Can Play The 1-4 Spots On The Offensive End. Has The Length, Motor, and Athleticism To Be a Key Player On Varsity This Year And Start To Attract Attention From College Coaches In The 2028 Class. Although, He Has The Physical Talent and Traits You Can’t Teach, He Doesn’t Rely On Ability Alone Which is What Stood Out To Me In The DFW Tourney. Active Defender, Pursues Rebounds from the Guard Position, and Is Tough To Stop In Transition When He is Attacking Downhill. Kingsten is a Consistent 3pt Shot Away from being an Elite Varsity Level Player, But Has Time on his Side To Continue To Improve In all Facets and The Talent To do Big Things This Year at Grand Oaks HS. Projected Levels: D1 JUCO / NCAA D2+
6’5 Small Forward 2028 Bra’lon Cage | 15U IFN Cypress And Then We Have BIG Bra’lon Cage that Plays Bigger Than 6 '5, Rather Battle In the Paint Than Settle for 3’s and is a Load Down Low. Pins Hard, has Great Hands and Soft Touch Around The Basket but when push comes to shove Bra’lon is going to WIN The Battle in the Paint. It Was So Refreshing To See a Big Man Playing Big and Forcing Double Teams By Engaging In The Paint on Ball Reversals, And Going After Every Board Forcing Opposing Teams To Block Him Out Which Very Few Did. Attacked The Offensive Glass All Weekend And Got Several Putbacks or 2nd Shot Opportunities for his Team. On Top of That, He Does a Great Job When Drawing Help of Kicking it Out and Finding the Open Man. Really Like Bra’lon and Has D1 Level Upside With 2 Years To Grow His Overall Game. Projected Levels: NCAA D2+ / D1
6’0 Point Guard Blake Collier | 14U GME Blake is a Pure PG that plays with Great Pace, has a nice change of Speed that led to several paint touches, and sees the floor well so when he draws help he finds the right man in scoring position. Most Young Guards can kick it out when drawing help, but it’s another thing to make the right pass to players in the best scoring position and that’s what separates Blake and stands out. He stayed in attack mode and finished plays in 1 on 1 situations or made the right pass that led to easy baskets for GME When Drawing 2nd Line Defenders. Add To that Fact that he is a Legit 6 '0 and a 2029 and You Are Onto Something with this Young Lead Guard. Expect to see his Name Rising in the Ranks in the Metroplex over the Next Few Years as he can flat out play, and is already ahead of 2026’s I’ve Evaluated With His Decision Making at the PG Position. Projected Levels: JUCO / NCAA D2
6’0 Point Guard Blake Collier | 14U GME Blake is a Pure PG that plays with Great Pace, has a nice change of Speed that led to several paint touches, and sees the floor well so when he draws help he finds the right man in scoring position. Most Young Guards can kick it out when drawing help, but it’s another thing to make the right pass to players in the best scoring position and that’s what separates Blake and stands out. He stayed in attack mode and finished plays in 1 on 1 situations or made the right pass that led to easy baskets for GME When Drawing 2nd Line Defenders. Add To that Fact that he is a Legit 6 '0 and a 2029 and You Are Onto Something with this Young Lead Guard. Expect to see his Name Rising in the Ranks in the Metroplex over the Next Few Years as he can flat out play, and is already ahead of 2026’s I’ve Evaluated With His Decision Making at the PG Position. Projected Levels: JUCO / NCAA D2
UC Exposure Recruiting Reports
Player Evaluations, Writeups & ‘Future Prospect’ Rankings Assessed By Lead Evaluator & Talent Scout Russell ‘Coach V’ Vanlandingham
Uncommon Exposure | The Source for D2, D3, NAIA & JC Coaches
