Holiday Hoops Classic Standouts
From the top team in the nation to small town phenoms, the Holiday Hoops Classic had it all. Here are five of the event's top performers:
The Holiday Hoops Classic is a yearly high school basketball showcase held in Hopkinsville, KY which normally features local schools going head-to-head over the course of three days. This year’s event was slightly different, featuring three high-level prep schools in addition to the usual cast of characters. One of those additional prep schools just happened to be Prolific Prep, the top ranked high school team in the nation. Of course, these new faces added to the event’s overall draw, but they weren’t the only solid programs in attendance. Let’s go over a few of the standout players from this event and break down what their outlook as future college (and perhaps professional) contributors may look like.
Disclaimer: I’m not going to cover players like Darryn Peterson, Niko Bundalo, Winters Grady, or Arafan Diane in this piece, mostly because I’ve covered them all relatively recently. I’d rather take this opportunity to write about a few names I haven’t gotten the chance to extensively cover yet. That said, those players all had excellent weekends.
Mazi Mosley | Prolific Prep
6'5” | 165lbs | Shooting Guard | 2025
A team like Prolific Prep rarely needs an offensive spark off the bench considering their starting lineup tends to outclass their opponents early. That said, four-star LSU commit Mazi Mosley is the closest thing they have to that type of player, someone who comes off the bench and immediately looks like the most dangerous offensive player on the floor. His primary strength is his elite outside shooting, but his fluid style of play also opens the floor for him to apply rim pressure and support his teammates with his passing. He’s thin, lanky, and moves relatively slowly for the most part, but is a surprisingly explosive athlete once he gets near the basket. This was my fourth time watching him play, and I’d say it was his best showing so far in that sample.
It’s easy to see why Mosley garnered offers from schools such as Kansas, UCLA, Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, Washington, Xavier, and several more before eventually deciding on LSU. Not only is his offensive arsenal incredibly intriguing, but his physical frame is also an interesting long-term project from a developmental standpoint. He’s quick in the open court on fast break opportunities, but for the most part he plays with a calm and controlled pace that allows him to initiate offensive possessions despite not being a traditional floor general. Therefore, it’s not overly paramount for him to maintain his slight frame considering he doesn’t rely on a hastened pace of play. If he can add muscle throughout his time in college, he could become a very good three-level scorer, using some newfound strength to enhance his soft touch shot making at the rim. His ability to transition into playing the point on occasion will also be a point of emphasis for him going forward. All in all, he has all the skills necessary to be an elite offensive contributor at the next level, he just needs to slightly catch up physically.
Mosley doesn’t play a major role for Prolific Prep on the defensive end but based on what I’ve seen from him through the four games I’ve watched, I see some upside here as well. Most of that upside is derived from his athletic prowess, but his ability to dictate pace is also a very useful trait if he can learn how to utilize it on this end. His overall basketball IQ and feel for the game should translate to the defensive end as well. I say should because so far, he hasn’t stood out as a defender in any of the games I’ve watched of him. That said, he hasn’t been a negative defensively or made any head scratching decisions that would lead me to believe he holds his team back in any substantial way defensively. Apart from his weight and clear strength disadvantage, I see no reason why he shouldn’t be considered at least an average defender at the moment.
As I’ve mentioned several times, Mosley doesn’t have many flaws from a skill perspective, but he does have a way to go from a physical perspective before he’s ready for higher levels of the sport. I have no doubt that he’s prepared to score the ball at the collegiate level, that’s why he’s a top 60 talent in the nation, but there are a few things he needs to work on. His in-between game is just okay. He does a decent job of getting to his spots in the mid-range but doesn’t look as comfortable taking these shots as he does taking the outside shot or finishing at the rim. He’s also just a decent passer and overall playmaker. His ability to find teammates for good shots appears to be mostly a product of Prolific’s…well, prolific system. If he can get better at these aspects of his game as his body develops, there’s no reason why he can’t be a professional level scorer at some point in the future.
Caleb Cameron | Wilson Academy
6'5” | 180lbs | Shooting Guard | 2025
I’ve had the pleasure of watching Wilson Academy and Caleb Cameron a handful of times so far this season. Every time I watch them a new player seems to emerge as their top contributor on the evening, but one player has been a constant every time he steps on the court. Caleb Cameron is the team’s leader on the court both vocally and with his level of play. He’s a hyper-athletic shooting guard who does a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor, making his money attacking the rim and finishing above and around the hoop. Everything I’ve seen from him tells me he’ll be solid at the collegiate level, but despite that, he’s still very under-recruited. At the moment, he only holds offers from NC A&T, Barry University, Mars Hill, and FAMU. Absolutely nothing against those programs, but Cameron is capable of playing at a higher level than is currently being offered to him.
Offensively, Cameron is an on-ball driver who uses his elite athleticism and snappy handle to create efficient offense at the rim. He’s a capable outside and mid-range shooter but isn’t a volume shooter at either spot. When he has the ball and is asked to create his own offense, he sets his sight on the hoop and plays accordingly. His outside shots are primarily generated on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and he has looked solid taking and making those shots. He’s an okay passer, but he’s definitely a score-first guard who may have some upside as a secondary playmaker down the road. He may not have the most complex offensive game in the world, but as long as he continues to apply efficient rim pressure and knock down his shots from beyond the arc, he will contribute on the offensive end for whatever program he decides to take his talents to.
Cameron may be more valuable on the defensive end than he is on the offensive end, as his elite athletic profile allows him to make a major impact as a defender. He’s able to defend ones and twos at the point of attack, switch onto bigger wings, and even protect the rim on the help side. His frame is the only thing holding him back from being a legitimate lock-down defender ready for the next level. He’s still somewhat thin and lanky, and until he adds some muscle to that frame, he will struggle with a strength disadvantage against wings and frontcourt players. He makes up for that disadvantage with his pure leaping ability, but that can only get you so far. If he lands at a school with a real developmental program, he has the athletic profile necessary to be an elite defender at the college level.
Despite his show stopping athleticism, Cameron is still a very raw product, which is probably why he hasn’t gotten the recruitment traction he probably deserves. He struggles to create offense off-the-ball when he’s not being set up for catch-and-shoot threes. You would expect a player like Cameron to be an elite off-ball slasher and lob threat, but I haven’t really seen that from him in the games I’ve watched. I wish he would actively think about his off-ball movement, because that’s likely the role he’ll be asked to play in college. He’s also, like I said, just an okay shooter from beyond the arc and from the mid-range. When he’s not attacking the rim, he’s a below average scorer overall. I like the shots he creates, but he’s not a fantastic shot maker at the moment. He really needs to focus on building strength and becoming a legitimate defender as he transitions his offensive game to an off-ball role. If he can do that, he will match the textbook definition of one of the most desired archetypes in the sport.
Rajan Roberts | Prolific Prep
6'1” | 170lbs | Point Guard | 2026
I’ve now watched Rajan Roberts suit up for Prolific Prep in two events, and while he has impressed me in both, it was the Holiday Hoops Classic where he really stood out. He saw extended minutes off the bench in this event as Prolific didn’t have to heavily lean on their starters to defeat their two opponents. Roberts took full advantage of this increase in minutes and responsibilities, and he cemented himself as a player who deserves far more attention in recruiting circles. He’s an explosive athlete who attacks the rim with ferocity, causing a ton of issues for weaker defenders at the point of attack. He can also step out and knock down the three. On top of that, his defensive impact may be his most valuable trait. College programs are falling behind on the recruiting trail if they aren’t seriously looking at Roberts, and as of right now he only holds offers from Xavier, Cal, Bryant, NIU, UIC, and EIU.
Roberts really is a joy to watch on the offensive end. He utilizes lethal first step acceleration and a tight handle to get to the rim, where he’s able to showcase his elite finishing and athleticism. He’s also a solid outside shooter, knocking down attempts from beyond the arc both off-the-dribble and on catch-and-shoot looks. He has smooth shooting mechanics, using his vertical pop to get good lift on his shots. At the moment, he’s more of a two-level scorer than three, but he excels at both of those levels. Despite playing the point, he’s not necessarily a floor general, but does initiate the offense and play a connective passing role within Prolific’s system. He doesn’t deal with turnover concerns and handles the ball with composure, suggesting that if he didn’t play for such a stacked team, he could very well look more like a true point guard. Overall, he’s a dynamic and electrifying scorer who has shown flashes of being a legitimate table setter.
I doubt it will come as a shock when I say that Roberts, a hyper athletic and well-built player, is very good on the defensive end. The argument could be made that he is the second-best perimeter defender on this Prolific Prep team, after only Seven Spurlock. Having a claim to that title on this team is incredibly impressive, and if it weren’t for Spurlock, he would probably start at the point for Prolific to provide defensive support. He’s an incredibly pesky point-of-attack defender, giving opposing backcourts trouble with his elite lateral movement and speed. When switched on to bigger guards and wings, he’s able to hold his own using his strength and sturdy frame. Finally, his leaping ability allows him to be an above-average help side rim protector for a guard, providing support at the basket when he finds himself in a position to do so. His high defensive floor will take him far in his basketball career and give his offensive game more time to develop.
Roberts is definitely still a raw product who needs to polish a few vital aspects of his game. For example, in the games that I’ve watched from him, he doesn’t look super comfortable scoring in the mid-range. To be fair, this is the least important scoring level, but for a guy who makes his money at the rim, the mid-range shot is very important to maintain unpredictability and ease of offense at the hoop. He also has a long way to go as a passer and overall playmaker. When he’s not making an effort to drive to the rim, he is probably better playing away from the ball as of today. At his height, that isn’t going to work at higher levels of the sport. Throughout his collegiate career he will need to develop as a primary on-ball scorer and better overall playmaker. I don’t have any negatives to say about his defensive game, which says a lot considering he is only 6’1”. With all of that said, I do think that if he goes about his offensive development in the right way, he has the athletic profile and defensive floor necessary to make a professional leap.
Matthew Langhi | Marshall County
6'6” | Wing | 2027
The only local player on this list, Marshall County’s Matthew Langhi was clearly the most impressive local product at this event. Playing on the wing at 6’6” is a rare sight to see in this area of the state, and it only happens when a player is skilled enough to break out of playing at the five spot. It was easy to see from the get-go that Langhi possesses a skill level that isn’t typically seen from sophomores in Western Kentucky, dominating his competition on both ends of the floor. He was one of the better two-way players at the event, clearly looking like the best player on both ends of the court when he played. If he remains in this part of the state for the remainder of his high school career, he will likely end up being under-recruited, but here’s why that would be a big mistake for college programs.
Langhi isn’t some sort of dynamic volume scorer, but he is very efficient and effective on the offensive end. He’s at his best finishing around the rim, showing off his elite tough shot making and an uncanny ability to absorb contact and draw fouls. Despite his thin frame, he plays bigger than he is near the hoop. He uses a herky-jerky first step to disrupt opponents’ timing and open up driving lanes. He can also step into the mid-range and knock down the pull-up jumper. Being the biggest player on the floor in most of his games results in him posting up quite a bit. I’m not the biggest fan of this playstyle considering that’s not how he will play at the next level, but I do think it has resulted in him being a better interior scorer than most thin sophomore wings. He didn’t look super willing to take the outside shot when I watched him play (also probably a result of him being forced to play the four and five more than he should), but based on his mid-range and free-throw shooting I think he will end up being a good outside shooter. Finally, I was very impressed with his unselfishness, passing, and quick decision making on the wing.
Going into this event, I wasn’t aware of just how good of a defender Langhi looks to be. Take some of this with a grain of salt considering he wasn’t playing the best competition, but the defensive instincts were clearly present. He utilizes his lengthy frame and solid athleticism to alter shots and disrupt passing lanes for steals. He’s not an overly physical defender, but he’s a smart one who’s able to match up against multiple different positions. Langhi is an effective rim protector at this level, but of course, he won’t be a primary rim protector in the future. That said, I’m glad he’s getting reps altering shots around the basket now, because I think it will improve his overall defensive feel in the future. Down the road, I expect him to be a solid help side rim protector because of this. If he continues to grow, I think he has what it takes to be a very good defender at the college level.
Most of my questions surrounding Langhi are the result of where he plays and the competition-level he plays against. I have nothing against college prospects playing for their hometown school, but it’s important that his coaches allow him to grow as a backcourt player and not a frontcourt player. Let’s say he ends up growing to 6’9” and is able to play the two, that would be incredibly valuable for him as a player and prospect. With that being the case, I would like to see him take more outside shots and create more shots off-the-dribble. I would also like to see him switch onto guards more often on defense to strengthen his lateral movement. All of that to say that he’s an actively developing player who could have a very high ceiling, and it’s cool to see a player like him suiting up for a small-town high school in Kentucky. I’m excited to see what his recruitment looks like over the next few seasons.
Obinna Ekezie Jr | Prolific Prep
7'0” | 220lbs | Center | 2027
Just in case you needed me to break down another Prolific Prep player, I want to talk about sophomore big man Obinna Ekezie Jr. He’s the defensive anchor for this Prolific Prep team, but it’s obvious when you watch him play that he’s capable of far more than what’s asked of him on this team. He’s light on his feet and moves incredibly well for a 7-footer, raising his ceiling on both ends of the court. Ekezie is an elite rim protector on the defensive end and an elite lob threat on offense. What makes him truly interesting from a long-term perspective are the flashes that he’s shown which suggest he could be more than just a traditional five-man. That’s why he already holds offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Houston, UCLA, Texas A&M, USC, Cal, Stanford, and Arizona State. As a sophomore in high school, he has already cemented himself as a blue blood talent, here’s how.
As I mentioned, Ekezie’s current offensive role is to be a play-finishing lob threat surrounded by several excellent lob-passers. He has real vertical pop and good hands in addition to his 7-foot frame, making him an incredibly effective lob finisher. He also has solid shot-making skills near the hoop with his back to the basket. His shot diet doesn’t consist of any mid-range or outside attempts, but this Prolific team doesn’t exactly need him to operate as a floor spacer considering he shares the floor with Niko Bundalo. He’s an excellent screener, creating a ton of space for the elite guards he shares the floor with. Where he really intrigues me is with his passing. He’s not an elite passing big man by any means, but he clearly has above average feel and is able to use it to expand his passing game. He flows within the offense, stepping out to the perimeter to set screens and offer support with his connective passing abilities. Considering he is only a sophomore; there’s a world where he develops into a very talented passing big in addition to his around-the-rim scoring capabilities.
Where Ekezie really stood out at this event in particular was on the defensive end of the floor. In Prolific’s first game on the weekend they matched up against Iowa United, and Ekezie matched up against Arafan Diane. Diane is a hefty 7-footer with excellent touch around the basket who I thought was going to give Ekezie a lot of trouble...I couldn’t have been more wrong. Ekezie shut him down in that game, resulting in Diane finishing with only 12 points and being in foul trouble throughout the game. Ekezie showed off his elite ability to contest shots with verticality to avoid foul trouble, allowing him to stay on the floor and give Iowa United trouble from beginning to end. His performance in that game was probably the most valuable performance from any player in the event. He has very real instinctual timing around the rim, and I think this could end up being his calling card at the next level. If I had to guess, by the time he transitions from high school to college, he will be one of the better defensive prospects in the sport.
I briefly covered his weaknesses throughout the past few paragraphs, but let’s look over them a little closer. He’s a very limited scorer, offering no scoring output from the mid-range or from beyond the arc. I understand that he’s a center, but in the modern basketball landscape some semblance of a jump shot is still important for big men. If he ends up on a team without an elite passer, he could look very limited on the offensive end (perhaps like how Dereck Lively looked at Duke). He’s not a super switchable defender, seemingly losing some of his vertical pop when he’s drawn away from the basket. That said, rim protection remains the most valuable defensive element of the sport, and he offers a ton of it. I fully believe in Ekezie’s long-term outlook, and if he can maintain his movement fluidity as he likely grows a couple more inches over the next few seasons, he will emerge as a top-tier NBA prospect. I’m even more curious to see how he looks next season as he’s given a bigger role for this Prolific Prep team.
Honorable Mentions:
Winters Grady – Prolific Prep – 6'5” 185lbs – Shooting Guard – 2025
Kennedy Okpara – Wilson Academy – 6'7” 200lbs – Wing – 2025
Arafan Diane – Iowa United – 7'0” 280lbs – Center – 2026
Darryn Peterson – Prolific Prep – 6'5” 195lbs – Combo Guard – 2025
Elijah Suggs – Henderson County – 6'6” - Forward – 2025
Niko Bundalo – Prolific Prep – 6'10” 215lbs – Power Forward – 2025
Kaleel Sutton-White – Iowa United – 5'11” - Point Guard – 2025
Elijah Walton – University Heights Academy – 6'5” - Wing – 2025
Seven Spurlock – Prolific Prep – 6'5” 200lbs – Guard/Wing - 2026
Jeremiah Ruffin – Wilson Academy – 6'3” 190lbs – Combo Guard – 2025
Tylin George – University Heights Academy – 6'4” - Combo Guard – 2026
Maxandre Calixte – Iowa United – 6'6” - Small Forward – 2026
Gabe Nesmith – Prolific Prep – 6’5” 180lbs – Shooting Guard 2027