The 2026 NBN Magazine Spring Showcase was held recently (April 11-12 at Sunnyslope HS/Phoenix AZ) – an event that had top prep school programs like CIA Bella Vista/AZ and AZ Compass Prep squaring off against top club teams like Compton Magic Elite/CA, AZ Unity EYBL, Belmont Shore/CA, Factory/AZ and Phoenix United EYCL. Scouts/media on-hand included Ronnie Flores (Ball is Life and Pangos AA Camp selection committee), Gregg Rosenberg (Prep Hoops), Delon Bowen (Prep Hoops AZ/Next Up AZ), Nothing But Net Magazine and Courtside Films. With a small event spread among just 2 courts at one site, it made it much easier to evaluate all the players in attendance. Due to prep schools in attendance playing regularly scheduled games there were D1 colleges in attendance including Arizona and BYU.
BallerTV live-streamed all games played. Full length video re-plays of all games are now available on replay from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/nothing-but-net-spring-showcase-2026/games
Here are my Top 5 Takeaways from the event:
* Yann Kamagate Emerges as New 2028 #1 Contender
Having to sit out this past HS season due to transfer ineligibility reasons, 7-0+ 2028 Yann Kamagate (St. Francis/La Canada CA) was largely hidden from view. But this Spring he is a prime member of a formidable Compton Magic Elite 17u squad front line that includes 2 other elite HMs in 6-10 2027 Darius Wabbington (Sunnyslope/Phoenix AZ) and St. Francis teammate 7-3 2027 Cherif Millogo. Kamigate has the total package coaches dream of in elite young forwards. Burkina Faso native has a terrific combination of size/length, ultra-athleticism, skill and feel that makes him a serious NBA prospect as well as a top contender to claim the #1 spot in 2028. AJ Williams, Isaiah Hamilton and Colton Hiller are all excellent prospects in their own right, but none of those three have the 7-foot size to go with the footwork, bounce and skill set Yann possesses. At this event, Kamagate produced games of 28 points (11/15 FG, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks; 21 points (9/11 FG), 8 boards, 4 steals and 3 blocks; and 15 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks. Early offers include Washington and USC (Trojans offered immediately after the event). That list of offers will obviously explode within the next few months. NBN Magazine Spring Showcase video-highlights: https://x.com/CourtsideFilms/status/2043348914963931245
* CIA Bella Vista Loaded with Young Talent
Fresh off a 2026 Daily Double Crown – winning both the Nike EYBL Scholastic title and Chipotle Nationals championship, CIA Bella Vista fielded 4 teams here – all loaded with talent and potential! While 6-10 2027 stud Paul Osaruryi was busy in Portland OR for the Nike Hoop Summit, there were stills lots of young talent on display for the Phoenix-based prep school power including 6-6 2028 Mmesoma Ndubsi, 6-3 2028 Jaeden Mahendrarajah, 6-9 2028 Rafael Corta Sanchez and 7-0 2027 Caesar Yenan, Ndubsi is a strong and bouncy WF that attacks and finishes at the rim with ferocity and is a great defender: had 24 points (10/15 FG; 2/4 3FG) vs. Compton Magic Elite 17. Mahendrarajah is a very good three-point shooter – had 25 points (6 threes) versus Compton Magic 16. Rafael Corta Sanchez is a skilled Spaniard with size and versatility while Yenan (a Cameroon native) is a big, strong and explosive athlete with a developing skill set.
* Belmont Shore Duo Are Legit D-1 Prospects
With an alumni list that boasts the likes of DeMar DeRozan (USC/NBA), Brandon Jennings (NBA), DeAndre Daniels (2014 NCAA Champion UConn/NBA draft pick), Grant Jerrett (Arizona/NBA), Tyler Dorsey (2017 NCAA Final 4 Oregon/NBA), Daniel Hamilton (UConn/NBA), David Singleton (UCLA) and Bryce Hamilton (UNLV), having bona-fide D1 prospects is nothing new for the Long Beach CA-based club squad established in 1993. This year’s squad includes a legit D-1 duo of 6-7 2027 Camden McKinney (Oakland Tech/Oakland CA) and 6-6+ 2027 Isaac Hagens (Poly/Long Beach CA). McKinney is a strong and sturdy hybrid-forward with a soft and accurate touch that extends beyond the 3-point (has a UC-Santa Barbara offer). Hagens is a rapidly developing swingman that is assertive to the cup and potent from long-range. Very good student (UC-Irvine are among the schools showing interest) had 17 points and 9 boards versus loaded CIA Bella Vista Canyon squad.
* Factory Looks to Be a Factor on New Balance P32 Circuit
Kenny Mullins always does a very good job coaching his Phoenix-area squad and this year he has plenty to work with. 6-7 2028 Terrance Byrd (Sandra Day O’Connor/Phoenix) is a skilled combo-forward with natural scoring skills that includes range extending to the 3-point arc. Byrd’s signature game here was 23 points (6/11 FG; 2/5 3FG; 9/11 FT). 6-11 2027 Milton Phinnessee III (Liberty/Peoria AZ) is a long and agile rim-protector as well as a very efficient scorer – shot 79.1% FG (19/24) in his 3 games here. 6-0 2026 TJ Harris (Liberty/Peoria AZ) and 6-10 2026 Emmanuel Angok (Apollo/Glendale AZ) are quality unsigned seniors worthy of a long looks from college coaches.
* Phoenix United EYCL is New Squad On Arizona AAU Scene
A new program in the Phoenix Metro area is Phoenix United who will debut on the Nike EYCL level this Spring. Well-organized club on the 17u, 16u and 15u levels has a solid nucleus of talent including 2027s 6-4 Carsyn Dean (Ironwood/Phoenix AZ), 5-10 Micah Andrews (Deer Valley/Phoenix AZ), 6-10 Ashton Musser (St. Mary’s/Phoenix AZ), 2028s 6-5 Kyle Speed Jr. (Gilbert/AZ), 6-8 Drew Jolley (Prescott/AZ) and 6-1 Dewey Henry (Ironwood/Phoenix AZ) and 2029s 6-0 Jalen Knighton (Arcadia/Phoenix AZ), 6-2 Corey Roberts (Bella Vista Prep/Phoenix AZ), 6-5 SJ Bailou (Bella Vista Prep/Phoenix AZ), 6-5 Giovanni Nielsen (Deer Valley/Phoenix AZ) and 5-10 Kamdon Edwards (Canyon View/Phoenix AZ).
* New England Sleeper Trio
Connecticut-based Set the Pace Academy traveled the furthest to this event and it was their trio of 6-3 2027 Owen Stearns (SVHS/East Hartford CT), 6-10 2028 Herjok Jongroor (SVHS/East Hartford CT) and 6-6 2028 Reese Nicol (Ellington/CT) that stood out. Stearns is a very underrated New England area WG with a strong body, toughness and dangerous 3-point stroke. Owen was on fire with 32 points (six 3s) in buzzer-beating loss to Belmont Shore. Jongroor is a long PF that is very agile and active on both ends of the floor and showed a nice propensity to score from distance. Herjok was impressive against Compton Magic Elite 17u: 28 points (4/8 3FG) and 8 rebounds. Nicol is a very rangy and versatile wing with length and quickness as well as high basketball IQ.
Other Notes:
* We talked about the huge and talented Compton Magic Elite 17 frontline above. What is also worth mentioning is their bunch of talented perimeter players that include 6-7 2027 Javon Bardwell (OTE/Atlanta GA), 6-5 2027 Josh Lowery (Sierra Canyon/Chatsworth CA), 6-4 2027 Baron Sabir (Sheldon/Sacramento CA) and 6-0 2027 Jayden Yim (Centennial/Corona). The Kansas-bound Bardwell is a very long and bouncy swingman that is a terror in transition. Lowery is an already highly acclaimed rangy lead guard with nice size and poise. Sabir is a NorCal junior sleeper that can knock-down jumpers all the way to the 3 point line and Yim was one of the best long-range flame-throwers at this event (made 4/6 3FG versus CIA Bella Vista).
* One of the very top lead guards here was AZ Unity EYBL 17 standout 5-10 2027 PG Delton Prescott (Sunnyslope/Phoenix AZ). Small but impactful playmaker is excellent at finding ways to score as well as finding open teammates. Delton had 21 points (9/12 FG) and 7 assists versus Set The Pace Academy/CT. Arizona among schools showing interest.
* Two CIA Bella Vista Prep seniors that stood out in a hard-fought game versus Compton Magic Elite 17 was Northern Arizona signee 6-3 2026 Noah George and 6-3 2026 Gage Bartlett. Noah is a poised floor general that has a very good command of his team and can both score and facilitate (18 points/3 assists in this game). Bartlett can really dial from deep – on fire in this game with 24 points (9/12 FG; 4/6 3FG).
* One of the top unsigned senior Bigs here was 6-8 2026 Elijah Summers (AZ Compass Grind/Chandler AZ). Summers has a great physique, moves well baseline to baseline and has the strength to score in traffic. Elijah had a double/double (12 points/13 boards) against Belmont Shore 17/CA.
* One of the junior sleepers here was 6-1 2027 Ladell White (PHH Prep/Phoenix AZ). White erupted for 32 points (three 3s), 3 assts and 5 steals in I-10 Celtics’ 79-78 win over Compton Magic Elite 16s. High-scoring combo has impressive burst off the bounce and nice finishing ability at rim.
* Compton Magic 16s and 15s have several intriguing future stars. I really the potential of 6-10 2028 Marcus Isaac (Mountain Pointe/Phoenix AZ), 6-4 2028 Isaiah Williamson (Los Alamitos/CA), 6-10 2029 Herman Kone (St. Francis/La Canada CA), 6-4 2029 Juleeyan Williams (Monterey Trails/Elk Grove CA), 6-8 2028 Donovan Palmer (Chandler/AZ) and 6-1 2029 Linus Turner (Sunnyslope/Phoenix AZ)
