The Memphis Hoopfest has become one of the marquee basketball events not just in the area but in the country. This year promises to put the country on notice with the talent landing in the Bluff City. Over the years, the event has featured some of the nation’s best basketball prospects and teams. Former alumni of Hoopfest include Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Dayron Sharpe, James Wiseman, Ron Holland. All of those guys are playing in the NBA. Some names in the college ranks who project to be future NBA players are Ace Bailey (Rutgers), Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma) Billy Richmond (Arkansas). People may not remember, but a former IMG player, now staring for the Memphis Grizzlies was also in this event, Zach Edey.
This year, the Memphis Hoopfest features a collection of talent locally, regionally and nationally with a record of 16-3, a top 10 in the country, Dynamic Prep. Their head coach is Jermaine O’Neal. The former Indiana Pacers star is on the sidelines for this burgeoning national program. He is coaching his son (SMU commit) Jermaine O’Neal Jr.
The Dallas based program has one of the best rosters in the country with Jaden Toombs (6’10 SMU commit), Marcus Spears, the son of ESPN football personality and former Dallas Cowboy (SWAGU) Marcus Spears. They also feature the #2 player in the country according to Rivals, 6’6 Ryan Hampton.
Pace Academy has some local flavor with former FACS 6’5 guard, MJ Hayes (injured) and 6’6 Landon Royston, formerly of ECS. That program is led by Chris Campbell who was influential regionally before making Dallas his home.
From the West Coast, Sierra Canyon comes in this weekend bringing in Bryce James, son of the leading scorer in NBA history, Lebron James. The last time Sierra Canyon came to town, it was Bronny James who put on a show with his teammates 2 years ago. Chris Nwuli (Rutgers) and Maximo Adams (a high-level prospect with a Kansas offer) give Sierra Canyon plenty of scoring pop along with 3 other Division 1 commits.
This weekend, over 20-25 plus future Division 1 players, maybe more and it all starts tonight with games all day tomorrow at Briarcrest Christian High School.
Players To Watch
- Jaden Toombs 2025 Forward/Center 6’10 (Dynamic Prep, TX) SMU commit, Top 60 (ESPN)
- Ryan Hampton 2027 Wing 6’6 (Dynamic Prep, TX) # 2 in the country (Rivals) Offers: Arizona State, Auburn, Cincinnati, SMU
- Chris Nwuli 2025 PF 6’8 (Sierra Canyon, CA) Rutgers Commit, Top 75 (ESPN)
- Jermaine O’Neal Jr 2025 Wing 6’6 (Dynamic Prep, TX) SMU commit
- Maximo Adams 2026 Wing 6’7 (Sierra Canyon, CA) Offers: Kansas, USC, Syracuse, TCU
- Jacobe Coleman 2025 Guard 6’3 (Dynamic Prep) Sam Houston State commit
- Marcus Spears 2027 Wing 6’7 (Dynamic Prep, TX) Offers: LSU, Oklahoma State, SMU, Stanford, Texas
- Kade Bonam 2025 Forward 6’7 (Sierra Canyon, CA) Offers: Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, Fresno State, Portland
- Bryce James 2025 Wing 6’6 (Sierra Canyon, CA) Arizona commit
- Leroy Kelly 2025 6’2 PG (Dynamic Prep, TX) Oral Roberts commit
- Gavin Hightower 2025 6’0 PG (Sierra Canyon, CA) Iona commit
- Sam Funches 2026 6’11 PF/C (Germantown, MS) #45 ESPN, Offers: Creighton, Florida State, Auburn, Arkansas, California
- Terrion Burgess 2025 6’8 Forward (Benton, AR) #81 (Rivals) Offers: Alabama, Arkansas, Arkansas State,
- Mike Williams 2025 6’2 PG (Germantown, MS) Jackson State commit
- Dylan Jones 2027 6’6 Guard (Bartlett, TN) Offers: MTSU, Sam Houston State, Tennessee State , UT-Martin
- Taquez Butler 2025 6’3 (Whitehaven, TN) Offers: Radford, Bryant, Jacksonville, Morehead State
- Bryce Cofield 2025 6’6 Forward (Sierra Canyon, CA) Offer: Southern Utah
- Braylon Williams 2028 PG (Bartlett, TN) Offers: Tennessee State, Radford, Alabama State
- Cortez Graham 2025 Guard (Hillsboro, TN) Offers: Tennessee State, North Alabama
- Anthony Spratt Jr 2028 6’6 Wing (Germantown, MS) #1 Player in Arkansas(’28) Top 75 Nationally
- Dorion Bowen 2026 6’5 G/F (Whitehaven, TN) Offers: Texas A&M, Radford, Arkansas State
- Fred Smith Jr 2026 6’8 Forward (Briarcrest Christian, TN) Offer: Memphis, Top 50 by (On3)
- Otttabwa Dickson 2025 6’8 PF (Whitehaven, TN) Offer: Austin Peay
- Cameron Brown 2025 6’6 Guard (Whitehaven, TN) Top 20 (’25) in Tennessee
- DJ Okoth 2028 6’6 Forward (Bartlett, TN) Top 100 Nationally (’28)
