USAB Junior Minicamp Scouting Notebook | Oct ‘24
This past weekend, 80 of the top high school players from the classes of 2025 through 2028 traveled to Colorado Springs for USA Basketball’s Junior National Team Minicamp. Executives and scouts from nearly all 30 NBA teams were in attendance, a yearly fixture on their calendar to track the next generation of talent. The USAB setting offers top-notch infrastructure, elite coaching, and high-level competition. Here’s who stood out:
Chris Cenac Jr. | 6-10 forward | 17 years old | New Orleans, LA
Cenac’s rise has been meteoric, going from an under-the-radar recruit to a clear top prospect in the 2025 class, with a final seven schools, including LSU, Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Houston, Arkansas, and Baylor. But he’s far from satisfied, telling me:
“Man, I want it real bad. I want to make it to the NBA. I want to make a lot of money playing the game I love. I'm motivated.”
Cenac’s versatility stood out each day in Colorado Springs, both in drills and live action. He’s the real deal. At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he’s long, fluid, mobile, and has a solid frame. He showed his defensive range, was active on the glass, and flashed some intriguing offensive potential, making decisions out of DHOs, attacking slower bigs off the dribble, and showing some playmaking vision on backdoor passes and outlets. He was vocal and communicated well on both ends. Looked the part of the best pro prospect in the building.
Brandon McCoy Jr. | 6-4 guard | 16 years old | Oakland, CA
At just 16, McCoy is already a two-time gold medalist and a USAB veteran, having attended every minicamp over the past couple of years. Unsurprisingly, he shows impressive maturity both on and off the floor. He’s skilled, poised, and remarkably well-rounded for a guard his age. Defensively, he’s special—quick, tenacious, and aggressive with sharp instincts. In our interview below, he discussed his commitment to defense, taking cues from players like Jrue Holiday. The next step for him will be expanding his offensive attack.
Christian Collins | 6-8 wing | 17 years old | Playa del Rey, CA
Teammate of McCoy at Don Bosco Prep, Collins has grown a foot in the past year, now standing at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan. He’s long, fluid, and skilled on the wing –– fitting a coveted archetype sought by all 30 NBA teams. He’s comfortable handling the ball, has smooth mechanics on his jumper, and boasts versatile tools on defense. Though his offensive production wasn’t prominent in this live setting, his size, fluidity, offensive skill, and defensive range position him as one of the top long-term prospects in his class.
Darius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 guard | 17 years old | Detroit, MI
At this stage, Acuff can navigate anywhere on the floor with his sharp handle, quick burst, and physical strength. He carries a distinct, unshakeable confidence and was the most productive player in the gym, consistently collapsing defenses on drives, finishing smoothly with both hands, and operating effectively out of ball screens while delivering precise passes to shooters. He also confidently stepped into catch-and-shoot threes. His team won most of their games in live action, and he looks more than ready to contribute to Coach Calipari and Arkansas in 2025-26.
Caleb Holt | 6-4 guard | 16 years old | Hunstville, AL
The two-time gold medalist is a Swiss Army knife with a mature frame for a 16-year-old, standing 6-foot-4 with a nearly 6-foot-9 wingspan. A fierce competitor, he’s comfortable both with and without the ball, capable of knocking down shots, slashing to the basket, and making smart passes while taking on significant defensive responsibilities. While not the flashiest scorer or creator at this stage, he checks many boxes. He carries a calm, steady demeanor, plays within himself, minimizes mistakes, and consistently raises the competition level on the floor.
Underclassmen Spotlight
CJ Rosser | 6-8 forward | 15 years old | Rocky Mount, NC
Rosser’s physical gifts stand out at this early stage. He’s long and skilled with impressive fluidity and smooth shot mechanics.
Marcus Spears Jr. | 6-7 wing | 15 years old | Plano, TX
The son of nine-year NFL veteran Marcus Spears and former Washington Mystics forward Aiysha Smith, it’s no surprise that 15-year-old Marcus Spears Jr. boasts strong physical attributes and maturity for his age. He’s long, athletic, and fluid, showcasing his potential at minicamp by grabbing rebounds, pushing the ball in transition, finishing explosively at the rim, and racking up deflections on the other end.
Babatunde Oladotun | 6-9 wing | 15 years old | Silver Spring, MD
The slender 6-foot-9 wing has quickly garnered national attention for his shotmaking. Scouts will be closely watching how the rest of his game develops.
Adan Diggs | 6-4 guard | 15 years old | Gilbert, AZ
Diggs consistently stood out in drills and live action. At 6-foot-4, he has excellent positional size in the backcourt at just 15 years old and shows natural playmaking ability, with impressive pace and rhythm. We look forward to tracking his development throughout high school.
Erick Dampier Jr | 6-9 forward | 14 years old | Ridgeland, MS
Son of 16-year NBA veteran Erick Dampier, he has notable physical tools at just 14, standing 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan. We’re interested to see how he develops in the coming years. He was productive at minicamp, being active on the glass, blocking shots, and showing a strong motor. He had a few eye-catching finishes and demonstrated solid stretches of post-play during breakdown drills.