KSR's Adidas 3SSB Session One Standouts

The opening weekend of the 2022 grassroots season has come and gone, with talent of all ages spread across the Nike EYBL, Adidas 3SSB and Under Armour Association (UAA) circuits. EYBL took place in Orlando, with 3SSB and UAA taking place in the greater Indianapolis area.

KSR had its boots on the ground in Noblesville, IN to take in 3SSB Session 1, an event loaded with current and potential Kentucky targets. Between current blue-chip prospects and up-and-coming stock risers, the list of names to keep an eye on moving forward grew exponentially.

Who were the biggest standouts from the opening weekend?

Ian Jackson (2024, Wiz Kids 17U)

Ian Jackson is a name to keep a very close eye on for Kentucky fans. Previously calling UK his “dream school” and singling out John Calipari as “someone (he’s) always wanted to play for,” the interest is clear on his end, but so is the talent. Standing 6-5, 185 pounds, he’s long and aggressive on the defensive end, but he’s also got a deep bag offensively. He’s growing more consistent with his 3-point shot, but he thrives most in transition and when attacking the basket. An athletic, wiry guard, Jackson dazzles with dribble moves and gets to his spots. He gets a bit out of control and tries to do too much at times, but the reward almost always outweighs the risk.

A visit is in the works for late July.

Reed Sheppard (2023, Midwest Basketball Club 17U)

Kentucky pledge Reed Sheppard had a strong all-around weekend, one that highlighted his playmaking and defensive potential more often than scoring. Typically a superstar against lesser competition at North Laurel, Sheppard tends to play within the system in settings like this one, which makes him difficult to evaluate at times. He tends to play it safe as a scorer, primarily looking to set up and defer to his teammates rather than taking games over himself.

Then there come the moments when his team is desperate for scoring help and lean on Sheppard, like we saw in his 28-point effort in a triple-overtime loss to the Compton Magic. Tightly guarded and pressed, Sheppard exploded late, rallying his team through the extended periods. He was brilliant as an initiator and three-level scorer, including several clutch makes.

Then Sunday morning, Sheppard again played within the system and barely made an impact in the scoring column, instead looking to defer. His team still won and he played fine, but didn’t separate himself as a clear five-star guard the way he did late Saturday.

All in all, though, still a solid opening weekend for the future Wildcat.

Baye Fall (2023, Colorado Hawks 17U)

Five-star center Baye Fall has been a bit of a polarizing prospect in recent months, seeing rises and falls in his production and effectiveness at various stops. This time around, the 6-9 big man impressed on both ends, with his endless motor and versatility standing out. He dominated his head-to-head matchup against five-star center Somto Cyril, slowing him down defensively and outpacing him in the open floor, leading to easy buckets in transition. Fall showed off some polished footwork on fadeaway jumpers and post moves with the ball in his hands.

He’s bounced around a bit in the rankings, coming in as high as No. 1 and as low as the mid-teens since last summer. During the opening weekend of 3SSB, he clearly looked the part of a top-ten prospect.

Ja’Kobe Walter (2023, Team Trae Young 17U)

A 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of McKinney, TX, Ja’Kobe Walter put on a shooting clinic throughout the weekend, exploding for multiple 30-point performances in front of high-major college coaches. He’d regularly go on runs taking games over by himself, knocking down mid-range and 3-point jumpers with ease. His size stood out among his peers, using that to his advantage when getting to his spots.

Kaden Cooper (2023, Team Trae Young 17U)

Known as a high-flying athlete out of Oklahoma, Kaden Cooper showed off an improved jumper and defensive intensity, drawing comparisons to Kentucky signee Cason Wallace. Listed as a three-star largely due to his explosiveness, the 6-foot-5 wing was a do-it-all threat that impacted winning in Noblesville. Previously holding offers from the likes of DePaul, Elon, Jacksonville State and Oral Roberts, Cooper added offers from Oklahoma, Illinois, Wake Forest, Kansas State and St. John’s immediately following the event.

Flory Bidunga (2024, Indiana Elite 16U)

Arguably the best big at the event, Flory Bidunga shined for Indiana Elite (16U) throughout the weekend. Standing 6-10, 215 pounds, the 2024 center is an athletic, powerful and efficient finisher around the rim. He also showed off an impressive jump hook, one he converted at a high rate and with touch. Defensively, he’s a two-hand shot-blocker, rarely allowing buckets at the rim. His energy is also second-to-none on the floor, a high-motor player and aggressive rebounder on both ends.

He’s still raw and learning the game, dominating simply with his size and instincts at this stage. As he continues to develop and play against high-level competition on the 3SSB circuit, his stock is expected to skyrocket.

AJ Johnson (2023, Jalen Green Elite 17U)

Speaking of stock risers, junior point guard AJ Johnson was the talk of the weekend among backcourt prospects. Growing six inches over the last 20 months, the four-star prospect now stands 6-6, but runs the show at the one. The quickness, wiggle and burst stayed as he grew, as did the ball-handling and shot-making. His length has also allowed for improvement on the defensive end and as a finisher around the basket.

All of those traits were on full display in Noblesville, with coaches flocking to watch the underrated guard with their own eyes. He thrived in transition, scored at all three levels, finished in traffic, created for his teammates and was disruptive on the defensive end. It was an effort that resulted in new offers from LSU, Creighton, Missouri and Texas.

Barely a top-100 prospect now, don’t be surprised if Johnson jumps into the top 25 when it’s all said and done.

Freddie Dilione (2023, Team Loaded 17U)

A unique combination of size and skill, Freddie Dilione showed off his shiftiness and finishing ability in traffic, while also knocking down jumpers. He’s confident and patient as a ball-handler, breaking down defenders with diverse dribble moves. He added a new offer from Tennessee following the event.