Plenty of players had breakout grassroots seasons. Here are five that did and need to be on college coaches’ radars.
Josh Bowers – 2027 – F/C – Indiana Elite Team Central
There was plenty of personal and team success for Bowers with Indiana Elite Team Central. This included an undefeated record during the May live period at the NY2LA Next Level Invitational and then making it to the championship game of the NY2LA Platinum Elite at Summer Jam. Bowers has great size at 6’10” but also showed plenty of translatable tools. He is a versatile big man with his ability to consistently shoot the three as well as moving well at his size defending on the perimeter. The junior has such tremendous upside and needs to be on scholarship coaches’ radars.
Zahir Haqq – 2026 – PG – The Academy
What a breakout grassroots season it was for Haqq as he was phenomenal tournament after tournament highlighted by his scoring. In April he averaged 20.3 points at the NY2LA Spring Extravaganza, then 20.5 points at the NY2LA Next Level Invitational in May, and 18.5 points in July at the NY2LA Final Chapter. He saved his best performance to finish the season off at the NY2LA Summer Jam while leading his team to the elite eight. In this tournament, he had himself a 31 point game as well to multiple other with 20 or more points. Haqq has such a good ability to create for himself and beat defenders in a variety of ways. The guard is a consistent three-point shooter but can also get to the rim with his quickness as well as physicality.
Will Johnson – 2026 – SG – Hoops4Health
There were few players as versatile as Johnson this season on the NY2LA circuit this season. He has all the tools of a traditional guard but can do much more. Listed at 6’2”, Johnson showed the ability to play so much bigger being able to defend players with several inches on him as well as rebound at a high rate. At the Final Chapter tournament, he was one of the top rebounders regardless of size grabbing 7.3 per game. Though he also shined with his defensive play with 3.5 steals per game at the Spring Extravaganza. He also had several twenty plus point games throughout the season with his strong finishing inside as well as outside shooting.
Aiden Sweeney – 2026 – PG – Wisconsin Blizzard
Throughout the entire grassroots season, Sweeney only continued to get better. He averaged 6.4 points during his junior season at Hortonville but showed much greater ability with the Blizzard. He was one of the top point guards during the two July tournaments including averaging 11.8 points on 51.4% shooting along with 4.3 assists at the Final Chapter tournament. Not only is he a high IQ, pure point guard but has also grown his outside shooting ability and is a high energy defender. Sweeney should be on plenty of division three programs’ radars.
Kayden Travis – 2026 – PG – CBA South
Throughout the grassroots season, Travis was a standout in multiple areas. He is a true floor general who is a real playmaker on both ends of the floor. While he is a winning player in so many ways, Travis excelled the most this season with CBA South with his distributing ability. At each of the three grassroots live period tournaments this season, Travis averaged over 4 assists per game. He plays quick on the attack and is such a skilled passer on the move while being able to see the whole floor so well.