Boots on the Ground: 2025 Hoop Exchange Fall Festival Report
Stephen Gillaspie spent the past weekend in Tavares, Florida to watch some of the BEST future NBA players! Read how several TOP-TIER prospects performed. PLUS: insights on some sleeper prospects.
What’s Hoop Exchange?
It’s okay; I wasn’t super familiar with it either!
Remember when I went to the All-American JUCO Showcase this past July? If you don’t, I took a trip to the great Atlanta area this Summer to sharpen my holistic basketball scouting skill set. I got connected with the folks from Elite Basketball Services to check out some of the TOP Junior College Athletes that will trickle into the consciousness of the Draft Scouting community.
During my time making connections, I was made aware of some future events—the Hoop Exchange Fall Festival being one of them.
You could find this overarching goal on their website, but the main objective of this event is to connect people—specifically, colleges, basketball players, and media. The folks at Elite Basketball Services do a tremendous job of providing access to members of each of those entities. The facilities for this event are located in beautiful Tavares, Florida, in The Big House. This complex contains nine courts, all of which are constantly being used for some fun games.
The Fall Festival has featured a slew of past and current NBA players, but their latest promotional image proudly displays Amen Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Scottie Barnes, and Keon Ellis. You could imagine several prominent schools and academies attending this event, given that it’s in Florida. You would be correct. Not every Florida powerhouse attended this year’s event, but many players from the 2026 graduating class (and on) featured on reputable grass root recruiting outlets were present.
And, boy, did they show a lot to the hoop heads in the building.
Similar to what I did with the All-American JUCO Showcase piece, I will highlight the players that stood out to me. Most will be those who are highly ranked for their respective graduating class, but you know I will drop a little something for the Sickos out there.
Without further ado…
Jaxon Richardson | Columbus Explorers | Wing | 6’5” | 185 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 11
Jaxon was far and away the best player of the Fall Festival. Like what was the case with his older brother, Jase Richardson, Jaxon shows an insane amount of feel on the floor. What makes Jaxon different from his brother—or NBA alumni father, Jason Richardson—is how much he impacted the game without the ball in his hand. On multiple occasions, Richardson crashed the offensive glass from the wing and converted on putbacks. He played smart and instinctive defense—tipping passes or intercepting them outright. Jaxson made smart passes, showing a strong connection with his teammates. He linked up with guard Marcellous Jackson on transition lobs several times. Of course, Jaxon showed the ability to shoot from deep (seems to run in the family). With a strong performance during this event, it’s easy to see why Jaxon is widely considered one of the top talents in the 2026 class.
Joe Philon | Montverde Eagles | Forward | 6’8” | 185 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 38
In the matchup of Montverde vs. Columbus, several of the most highly touted prospects in the 2026 class were on display. For Montverde, Joe Philon was the most impactful player in my eyes. I made a comment to the No Ceilings group chat that Philon had helium legs. As you could assume, this was because of his effortless leaping ability. Joe flew all over the floor throughout the day, using his athleticism and rangy frame to grab rebounds, break up plays on the defense end, and put on an absolute show in transition. While there wasn’t much Philon couldn’t do throughout the day, I have a sneaky suspicion that he is going to be one of those “if he shoots it” guys. During the course of the day (small sample, I know), Joe didn’t connect on many of his outside shots—hitting just one shot from deep that I witnessed. Despite the lack of shooting, there was plenty to be excited about with Philon’s game. If he can iron out some of the unnecessary actions in his jumper (and pack on some weight), he will be a very dangerous player.
Caleb Gaskins | Columbus Explorers | Forward | 6’8” | 208 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 16
Despite being the #2 ranked prospect in his class, Gaskins ranked third to me in terms of impressiveness for this event. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t awesome, though! Caleb was one of the more poised players of the entire weekend—even when dealing with a ton of pressure. Aside from his poise, he and his brother, Cayden Gaskins, were some of the more physically filled-out players of the event, too. With his strong build, Caleb demonstrated some fun defensive stands—tipping passes, mirroring his man’s feet, using his chest, and closing out possessions with rebounds. What was pleasing to watch was the blend of feel that Gaskins possessed, along with his strength. Caleb didn’t shoot particularly well from deep this weekend, but he converted on a number of midrange shots and smooth post finishes. He also showed some nice passing feel, connecting with Cayden often (must be a brother thing). Like Philon, Caleb will need to be a consistent shooter from deep, but he’ll come into college with a frame that can withstand a higher level of competition.
Lincoln Cosby | Montverde Eagles | Forward | 6’9” | 205 | 2027 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 15
That’s right; I was more impressed by a 2027 classman than some of the highly ranked 2026 prospects. Lincoln Cosby didn’t participate in Day One (Saturday) of the event. I’m not sure why (didn’t ask), but I was pleasantly surprised to see him on Sunday. It was immediately apparent why he is graded so high in his class. He is long, fluid, and moves well. Oh, and he’s a lefty, so he gets extra points. Once the games started rolling, it was great to see him be utilized as a perimeter defender, as he showed off his silly length and anticipation skills. He was able to knock down some shots from deep, too. I wasn’t blown away by his handle, but he obviously has some time to work on it. While he didn’t do much dribbling to create, he was able to get to some shots off the bounce. I couldn’t help but think that he is going to be his class's Nate Ament. There are some floor spacing aspects to his game on offense, and he also showed impactful defense while not being the most filled-out guy on the floor.
Jayden Hodge | Montverde Eagles | Forward | 6’6” | 195 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 69
Depending on what high school rankings you look at (I recommend as many as you can stand), Jayden Hodge can be found in a number of places. ESPN ranks him at 69 (I know), which was sixth among players in his class that performed over the weekend. You could have fooled me after what I saw. Hodge put constant pressure on the basket, driving and cutting to the basket on seemingly every possession. His downhill approach during this event led to him making a few trips to the free throw line—and he made more than he missed. Jayden wasn’t the biggest/tallest player on the floor throughout this weekend, but he found ways to carve out lanes for him to finish on the block or on the drive. Defensively, Hodge forced a few turnovers and crashed the glass. There wasn’t much to speak of in the shot department, so that aspect of his game might explain his ranking. Still, Jayden was more impressive than his rankings suggest, so don’t be surprised if/when he sneaks up on consensus.
Obinna Ekezie | Southeastern Prep Academy Flacons | Big | 6’11” | 220 | 2027 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 5
Obinna Ekezie was hilarious to watch—not that he was crazy, or a Shaqtin’ A Fool candidate, but because he is so strong. I can’t tell you (mainly because I didn’t count) how many times players wound up on the floor because they thought they could tangle with Ekezie on screens or rebounds. Obinna towered over many players, but his feet blew me away. There were several instances in which he switched (and stayed) onto a guard on the perimeter, and was able to stay in front. Having nimble feet, he also showed the ability to do the traditional big man things well: finish around the basket, protect the rim, and rebound. Admittedly, I don’t know the most about Ekezie’s background, but it feels like most of his plays feel more reactionary than instinctive. That’s not to say he can’t be a valuable player, but it just may take more work than it would otherwise. With another year of development on a stacked team, Obinna will likely make strides in that department in preparation for college ball.
Felipe Quinones | Columbus Explorers | Forward | 6’4” | 180 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 68
Jaxon Robinson isn’t the only younger brother of NBA talent, as Felipe is the younger brother of Lester Quinones—who spent time with the Warriors, 76ers, and Pelicans. Felipe had a fine weekend, but because of the star power of his team, Quinones had to get in where he fit in. To be honest, he did a good job of being a high-end roll player during this event. He brought the ball up the floor, helped to initiate the offense, made instinctive cuts, and played stout defense. Felipe was a hound on defense—showing a combination of effort and intellect. What took me by surprise was the touch he could put on his passes—especially the well-placed lobs he tossed up to Jaxon Robinson. To be honest, I don’t know how good or bad his shooting is based on him taking very few attempts from deep (if any). I don’t know how strong his handle is as a “guard” exactly, but the tools are there for him to be a switchblade guard, of sorts. I would venture to guess that high school ranking outlets are ranking Felipe where they are based on his role on this team. I get it; there is just so much talent on the Explorers.
C.J. Rosser | Southeastern Prep Academy Flacons | Forward | 6’9” | 195 | 2027 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 4
The SEPA Falcon roster has a ton of talent, many of whom are of the 2027 class. C.J. is ranked one spot ahead of the aforementioned Obinna Ekezie, so why would I have him behind his teammate? Rosser showed off a ton of tools during this event, but he had moments where he ghosted in and out, whereas Obinna made his opponents feel him consistently. C.J. has silly length and looks more than comfortable operating along the perimeter. Rosser showed some shooting touch from deep, as well as some drive and finish flashes. The problem was that, well, they were just flashes. It’s worth noting the Falcons favored “hockey substitutions”, which means I probably didn’t see the normal dosage of C.J. Still, just going on what I saw, Rosser could have done more to be more of a present force.
Beckham Black | Southeastern Prep Academy Falcons | Guard | 5’11” | ??? | 2027 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 9
I didn’t see someone who was “only” 5’11” over the weekend, so it’ll be nice when we get some “official” measurements once Beckham goes to college. I did see a fairly skinny player, though. There were times during the Fall Festival when Black was a little frustrating to watch. It took him a minute to get the shot to fall initially, and there were passes where—like a bad quarterback—he left too much air underneath the ball when he made entry passes. Be that as it may, Beckham did show off some positive plays. I was relieved to see him make some three-pointers—something that has troubled his older brother, Anthony Black. It may not be for everybody, but he did get into it with another player (who will remain nameless in print), which lit a fire underneath him. After that, Beckham bullied smaller guards on the block and let them know when he scored on them. He also showed off that passing DNA he and his brother have, launching a few no-look lobs that caused the court to erupt. I want to see more consistency and intensity, but Beckham has a real shot to be a special ball player.
Kevin Thomas | Montverde Eagles | Forward | 6’6” | 185 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): 56
I talked about it with Felipe Quinones, and the same thing applies to Kevin Thomas: he plays on a stacked team. Because of his role, there will inevitably be stretches where you simply have to produce when your number is called. Even though he is ranked higher than Jayden Hodge, Thomas found himself to be of lesser utility this weekend for the most part. He still contributed, hitting on a high volume of his deep shots—something I didn’t see enough of from almost every high-end prospect. Thomas showed some interior finishing as well, which makes him more endearing. Aside from being an efficient scorer/shooter, there wasn’t anything else that stood out as “special”. The defense came from elsewhere on the team, and his efficient shooting really limited any sort of playmaking chops.
Remember the Name
You know your resident Draft Sicko has to drop some names of some players that stood out that you won’t find on Top 100s, 60s, or 25s, and that is exactly what I will be doing in this segment.
Marcellous Jackson | Columbus Explorers | Guard | 6’4” | 205 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): Not Ranked
The Explorers have an embarrassment of riches on their roster, which can sometimes result in players fitting into a role rather than showing off their full repertoire. Over the course of the weekend, I couldn’t help but be impressed with “Cello” Jackson. Despite not being the more “prominent” name on his team, he organized everyone throughout this event. He has a very mature frame—especially for a guard—and was able to take it to every other guard he lined up against. He was able to get to his spots in the paint and finish through defenders. He also cleared a defender in transition for one of the most crazy dunks of the festival. To be honest, I’m shocked he isn’t a Top 100 prospect, as Cello is a coach’s dream due to the respect he commands from his team, the grit he plays with, and the natural ability to dribble, pass, shoot, and defend.
Chudier Diew Yak | North Broward Prep | Big | 6’9” | ??? | 2029 Class | Ranked: Not a Ton of 2029 Data
Just go ahead and keep track of this name. When I found out that Yak was a freaking freshman, I was stunned. I believe he is taller than he is listed, for one thing. He went toe-to-toe against the aforementioned Obinna Ekezie, and looked like a formidable opponent. I cannot overstate how impressive Yak moved for his size; he was very fluid and moved with the ball in his hand like a natural. His ground coverage at his age is very mature, and he is relentless on the boards. Broward Prep even went against Montverde earlier in the weekend, and Yak blocked many shots of future NBA players. He defended the perimeter against that Eagles squad, too, and pushed the break off of defensive events that he forced. He will need to get bigger, as he is of the Bol Bol style of frame, but there is no way Yak isn’t already a primary target for the more prestigious universities/international clubs that exist.
Mohammed Masoud | Sports Leadership And Management (SLAM) | Wing/Forward | 6’6” | 205 | 2026 Class | Ranked (ESPN): Not Ranked
I’ll admit I had no idea who Mohammed Masoud was when I watched his team go up against a SEPA team that featured Beckham Black, Obinna Ekezie, and CJ Rosser, but I was tremendously impressed with what I saw from him. Despite not being as tall as some of his opponents, Masoud threw down multiple dunks—some off of putbacks. He showed the ability to connect on several of his jumpers. He picked off Beckham Black a few times in the game. He showed the ability to drive and dump the ball off to his teammates. He did not shrink against the big names he lined up against, and wasn’t afraid to let them know when he was taking it to them. SEPA ultimately won the matchup, but Masoud made sure he walked away taking a proverbial chunk out of that team. From my understanding, Masoud hasn’t been playing the game for a long time (roughly a year with SLAM).
One thing I wanted to do specifically with Mohammed—especially since I have gotten to know some of his history—is magnify him within this piece. I spoke to his coach, Alex Garcia, to find out a little more about his guy:
“We just got Mohammed about three months ago. We saw him play in the summer—he was playing on a small travel team. We asked him was school he had played for, he told us West Broward. For some reason or another, his first season was when he was a sophomore and he didn’t make the team. He had mentioned something didn’t work out with the team because they already had a roster, and he didn’t play his junior year. So when I saw him playing with his travel team, he blew my mind away…We loved him because he played against our travel team. We were like ‘Listen, we think you could be special with our team’ and everything just clicked.
After the summer, he was like ‘Coach, I am interested in coming to your school…We were happy because we knew we got a heck of a player that no one knew about.”
When I spoke to Alex, I mentioned that the thing that impressed me was how Mohammed was going up against a team outfitted with Top 100 prospects, but Mohammed didn’t care; Mohammed was going to take it straight to them. I asked Coach what about Mohammed allows him to play that way:
“It’s discipline. He’s a “Yes, sir / No, sir” guy. He goes out there and plays like a player that knows his clock is ticking. He doesn’t have much time [before he graduates High School], so he’s going in the weight room. Mentally, he comes in focused. He’s working on his grades to get the highest GPA possible. He doesn’t want any excuses…He has to make up for lost time, so you can see that in the way that he plays. He works hard—he wants to be first at everything. He’s one of the hardest workers at practice. His mindset is just at the level of a college player already.
Everyday, he’s just been better and better, and the more and more competition that we put in front of him—that’s how he is going to excel. He’s got to see the top level guys now because he hasn’t been seeing it. But we’re so happy that every time he’s been put in front of a good team, he’s been catching everybody’s eye.”
Just like he caught my eye. The last thing I asked Coach was: what is one part of Mohammed’s game that isn’t necessarily the best part now, but is something that he sees that Mohammed is close to tapping into and making a focal point?
“His pullup jumper off of the dribble has gotten really good. He three-point shot has always been decent, but now he is putting it on the floor where he is shooting over taller guys. His arc has gotten much better, you know? His follow through has gotten a lot better. I think in a couple more moths working with our trainers, he is going to be a really good mid range shooter for his size—and he needs it at his size. Something his opponents need to worry about is him getting to his spot and pulling it up. It looks really nice…He’s getting more and more comfortable getting to his spots and pulling up. We’re happy where he is with his three-point range, but now that mid range is coming along, and that’s what I think is going to put him over the top.”
Based on where he started, and what I saw over the weekend, Mohammed is going to add that middy and be even more of a problem. He is going to be a legit surprise for whichever school has done their homework in recruiting him.
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Saw Cosby up close all summer, think he is closer to 6'10-11 than 6'9". Impressive kid
Marcellous Jackson is a baller, good stuff!