SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The first-ever E.A.T. (Elite Athletic Training) Utah Showcase demonstrated oh-so-succinctly on Sept. 22 why there should definitely be a second-ever Utah Showcase a year from now.
Many of the state’s top players – from eighth to 12th grades – were on display during the five games that were played in the spacious and spiffy West High gymnasium.
The action wrapped up early on that Saturday evening when the Red squad – led by forward Jalen Moore of Sky View High in Salt Lake City – held off the White, 62-58, in the game for members of the Class of 2013.
The 6-foot-7 Moore committed to Utah State University (in Logan) more than a year ago. His father (Jimmy) was one of the Aggies’ best-ever players during his 1972-75 playing career and is now the athletic program’s compliance director.
He scored 29 points and dominated play under both backboards and had the day’s most spectacular play with a soaring, one-handed dunk after beating 6-10 Nate Pollard (Kaysville Davis) on the dribble.
The Red was holding onto a two-point advantage when Moore picked off a pass in the lane, was fouled with five seconds remaining and knocked in a couple of insurance free throws.
The game involving players in the class of 2014 was even tighter.
But the Red prevailed in that one, too, 70-66 in overtime, behind the play of 6-8 lefthander Brekkott Chapman (Roy High).
Chapman scored an event-high 31 points on a variety of mid- to deep-range jump shots and turn-around left-handed attempts in and around the lane.
Before the game he said he has scholarship offers from in-state programs BYU, Utah and Utah State, as well as Colorado and Arizona State of the Pac-12 and the University of San Francisco of the West Coast Conference.
By the time he signs a national letter of intent in November of next year, it’s likely that he will have been among the most heavily recruited players in the West.
Little (5-8ish) left-handed Brandon Sly (Riverton) added 13 points for the Red while 6-3 Jordan Evans (South Jordan Bingham) paced a balanced attack with 11 points for the White.
The 2015 game was highlighted by the most dynamic individual performance of the event.
Six-foot point guard Jesse Wade (Kaysville Davis) tallied 29 points in about every way imaginable (minus a dunk, although he did have a couple of buckets that were dropped in right at the rim for the Red in its 71-63 victory.
It’s not exaggeration to suggest that he is among the very best point guard prospects in the West’s sophomore class.
Six-two Garrett Grant (Woods Cross) scored 20 points for the White while 6-4 Brock Miller (Salt Lake Brighton) added 15.
In the freshmen (2016) game, 6-3 Daison Spotted Elk (Salt Lake City East) scored 13 of his game-high 17 points as the Red cruised to a 60-37 victory.
A handful of eighth graders were impressive in the eighth grade (2017) game in which the White, led by Chris Popoola Jr. (Las Vegas) and Marcus Draney (Lehi ), each an explosive and skilled guard with both playing and scoring skills galore, handled the Red, 62-45.
Trevor Knell (Woods Cross) paced the Red with 21 points (including seven jump shots).
