Last Friday, the second annual 8EYE Classic was held at the mecca of North Philadelphia hoops, Ben Franklin High School. Hosted by 8EYE Media founder, Jamie Boyer, the annual contest went away the normal trend of pitting the best players within a specific class and focus on matchups. Shout-out to 8EYE Media founder, Jaimie Boyer for putting together another stellar event. Here are the players who stood out:
Nazreon Reid 6’9 F, Roselle Catholic (NJ) 2018
Reid arguably could have been the best player in the entire event. It’s easy to see why UConn has already offered the freshman forward given the way he impacted the game on both ends of the floor. On numerous occasions, Reid corralled a rebound, initiated the break and either passed to an open teammate or finished the play himself. He was certainly the most intriguing prospect. At 6’9, Reid has the tools to guard multiple positions defensively with his condor-like wing-span and footwork for a player of his size. Nazreon Reid should contribute immediately to an already powerful Roselle Catholic team this season. Reid’s boundaries are limitless if he continues to add to his already lethal arsenal.
Damon Wall 5’11 G, Doane Academy (NJ) 2018
Damon Wall wanted to make sure he made his mark at this event, and he certainly did. The prototypical Philly point guard played with a chip on his shoulder en-route to scoring 17points and earning the MVP trophy for Team Black. Wall was constantly in attack mode, doing most of his damage by attacking the basket, and absorbing contact while finishing at the rim. It didn’t stop there. Wall got after it on defense showing the quickness, footwork and determination to stay in front of and redirect his man. Damon Wall should have a great season leading Doane Academy. Adding a midrange jumper to his bag of tricks will help him ascend to the next level.
David Beatty 6’3 G, Archbishop Carroll (PA) 2017
The ever-electric Beatty did not disappoint as he slashed & dashed his way to 20 points and garnered the MVP award for Team White. Beatty displayed the ability to initiate the offense, but his game is more suited to attacking the basket. Using his handle, Beatty got into the lane seemingly at will where he either finished at the rack or got fouled. Defensively, Beatty has the athleticism to be a lockdown defender. The super sophomore showed hints of expanding his game by connecting from beyond the arc. Beatty is poised to have a breakout sophomore campaign, but will become even deadlier if he adds a floater or midrange J.
Derrick Jones 6’6 F, Archbishop Carroll (PA) 2015
He simply stole the show… and this was before he played in the Upperclassmen game. Jones won the dunk contest against NJ guard, Breein Tyree by leaping over 6’9 forwards, Temple commit, Ernest Aflakpui, and Penn State commit Mike Watkins. During the game Jones scored 20 points while putting on a dunking exhibition throughout the game. His perimeter game is still expanding as evidenced by his willingness to shoot the long ball and attack the rim in the half court. Jones currently holds offer from Kentucky, UNLV, UConn, Arizona, Auburn & Cincinnati.
Samir Doughty 6’4 G, Math, Civics and Sciences (PA) 2015
Doughty was as relentless as a pack of wolves as he scored 22 points, and was named MVP for Team White. Whether it was in transition or a half court setting, he got to the cup with ease. Doughty didn’t wow the audience with super-athleticism, but his handle and change of speed moves allowed him to get a step on his defender. Once in the lane, his strong build allowed him to consistently finish around the basket with either hand. Already a prolific scorer, Doughty could add to his repertoire of moves developing a floater or midrange jump shot.
