5 for the Fight National Hoopfest: Day 1 storylines

Pleasant Grove, Utah – Five of the nation’s top teams with no less than 20 players ranked among the country’s best was surrounded by the snow-capped Utah Mountains for the 5 for the Fight National Hoopfest.

On3s Jamie Shaw was on site for the event, and here is what he saw on night one of the National Hoopfest.

Collin Murray Boyles produces in NIBC opening win

It is all about the production with Collin Murray Boyles. Already down 20 pounds since arriving at Mount Pleasant (UT) Wasatch Academy, the 6-foot-8 forward simply finds his way around the basketball. Murray Boyles has long arms with great hands. He has a quirky game that is left-hand dominant, around the basket, with good touch.

The forward is also a good area rebounder. He does his work early under the basket, and he understands angles very well to use his length to go get the ball. He finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting and was named the National Hoopfest game MVP in the win.

Murray Boyles is the No. 117 player in the 2023 On3 150. He is committed to South Carolina.

Cooper Flagg is a five-tool prospect

In baseball scouting, they have five-tool prospects to describe a player who does not have a glaring hole in his game. With Cooper Flagg, he does not have a glaring hole in his game. Throughout the course of a game, you rarely see make a misstep. The 6-foot-8 Flagg seems to make the right rotation or the correct read consistently. The shot he takes is what you draw up within the offense, and the space he eats up is where you want to sequence to be.

Flagg has some of the best defensive instincts I have scouted in recent memory. His ability to slide on the perimeter, rotate down to the post, and block/deflect stuff at the rim or in the passing lanes. He also has great instincts with the ball in his hands. Flagg led the game in rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals in his NIBC opener.

The Montverde (FL) Academy finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Cooper Flagg is the No. 1 player in the 2025 On3 50.

Mikel Brown impresses with the little things

It is the skill set for me with Mikel Brown. The sophomore has excellent footwork and a confident, tight handle. He reads the defense as well as any point guard in that class, taking the space they give him and then making the appropriate play in that space.

Brown is a very good shooter with range; go under the screen, and he will make you pay, stay on his hip, and he will get by you and into the paint. Brown’s thing is his size; he will need to get stronger but is only a sophomore. He is the No. 11 player in the 2025 On3 50.

Other Notes

Vyctorius Miller – Miller is a creative scorer and a willing passer. At 6-foot-5, he is able to handle the ball and initiate or finish at each level. He defended well in this one and looked the part of the No. 20 player in the 2024 On3 Consensus.

Tiger Cuff – This was my first time watching Cuff, but the 6-foot-3 junior was 3-for-4 with a team high s13 points in the American Fork (UT) High win over top 15 ranked Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian. He played poised.

Jeremiah Johnson – Watching Johnson play, you can easily foresee a blow-up close to happening. The 6-foot-4 guard is a smooth shooter, he defends the point of attack, and he has floor vision. Johnson made jump shots at each level, going both directions. Here is a lot to like here. 13 points, 4 assists, 5-of-9 FG.

Bron Roberts – He is a 6-foot-11 prospect who can knock down threes, push the break, and run the floor. He is thin, but there is a lot there to like with what he could be.