Scouting Notes: LuHi Holiday Invitational
Live notes from LuHi vs. Sierra Canyon on Dylan Mingo, Kayden Mingo, Nigel James, Chris Nwuli, and Maxi Adams.
I was on hand to watch Long Island Lutheran take on Sierra Canyon at the UBS Arena on Dec. 13, 2024 as part of the LuHi Holiday Invitational.
The event had largely been billed as Kiyan Anthony vs. Bryce James, but neither was available for their respective team. There were still plenty of interesting prospects to go around.
Here are some scouting notes:
Dylan Mingo (2026)
Takeaway:
Dylan Mingo was the best prospect at the LuHi Holiday Invitational. He looked like a future consensus five-star still in the early stages of a full-on breakout. The LuHi junjor sold me on his positional size and length, flashes of on-ball fluidity, shooting upside, and defensive motor. If he maintains his current rate of improvement, Dylan will become an NBA player at some level.
It should also be noted that, if he keeps growing, then he will have the size of a true wing with the previous ballhandling experience of a guard. That’s very appealing. Already, he can make reads and space the floor off-ball. But he can also collapse the defense and execute the right decision on-ball, while holding enough leverage as a scorer. This versatility, which bodes very well in the long run, comes from having already played with the likes of VJ Edgecombe, Kiyan Anthony or his brother, who commanded more on-ball touches than the younger Dylan.
He is currently represented by LIFT Sports Management and has offers from Florida State, Dayton, Mizzou, Washington, Virginia Tech...
Game Notes and Context:
Made four threes. Looked very comfortable spacing the floor, even if his shot isn’t the cleanest.
Shot pocket is noticeably to the right of his head and can have a bit of a hitch. Doesn’t look broken or anything. More like he’s in the process of smoothening it out — although his brother shoots similarly.
Made a handful of spot-ups. Most appealing three-pointer was a movement three on a BOB play.
Attacked a closeout, ball reversal, generated the three for his team…
Largely played off-ball vs. Sierra Canyon, but has intriguing on-ball upside. I expect he’ll play more as a pure point guard once he’s a senior.
One-handed lefty live dribble whip to assist the three in transition!
Recently underwent a 2-3 inch growth spurt. Missed a big chunk of his sophomore high school season with a stress fracture. His arms look really long now after his latest growth spurt. Length caught my attention immediately.
Short strides while running sometimes indicate to me that he’s still growing into body, though. I’d wager that there’s probably another level of vertical athleticism for him to unlock…
Didn’t mind sticking around after the game and taking plenty of pictures with kids from his school, even when security was trying to rush. Long Island’s best prospect, so this is probably commonplace for him.
Kayden Mingo (2025)
Takeaway:
Penn State commit Kayden Mingo was the best player (not prospect) at the LuHi Holiday Invitational. The LuHi point guard is small for today’s standards at somewhere around 6-foot-1, but he’s smart at using that to his benefit. Mingo has a crafty handle that creates advantages out of ball screens. He gets lower than most bigs, and he shows solid touch at the rim. On defense, it would be easy to think of Mingo as a target, but it’s the opposite right now. He’s been a highly impressive and pesky defender in high school. That said, it’s a different ball game against bigger+longer athletes going forward. I see Kayden as a good bet to be a successful multi-year college player at the mid-to-high major level.
I prefer Kayden on the ball because getting downhill and making decisions after getting paint touches is his strength — but he can also play as more of a combo guard. He’s a willing and capable spot-up shooter. I also appreciate that he’s a quick decision maker. The ball doesn’t stick in his hands for too long, even in the pick-and-roll. LuHi does a good job at coaching its players to catch and shoot, catch and drive, or catch and pass.
He is currently represented by LIFT Sports Management.
Game Notes and Context:
Finished with 20 points to lead LuHi to the win. Got hot in the second half with some in-between finishes and catch-and-shoot threes.
Did a good job as a connective passer in transition. Always played with his head up and looking to push the tempo after Sierra Canyon misses. Steady decision maker.
Had a nice lob pass in the open court
Also a give-and-go with his brother
Game is predicated on getting downhill. Then, he’s capable of slowing down and making decisions in the midrange or getting deeper into the paint. Rare to see him play out of control or overly sped up.
Wasn’t really tested defensively. Didn’t make any glaring mistakes, though. Sierra Canyon mostly plays through its forwards unless it’s Gavin Hightower at the point, and Hightower had a poor game.
Previous history in EYBL play and elsewhere indicates that he is a plus defender at the high school level, though.
Played AAU ball for the PSA Cardinals EYBL program. Averaged 14.8/2.4/3.4 and 1.2 steals in his last Peach Jam. Named 2nd Team All-Defense and 3rd Team All-Tournament.
Was the most vocal player on his team. Good sign. Has to be as the point guard — and also as the 4-star senior headed to a D-I school. Overall good motor.
Nigel James (2025)
Takeaway:
Nigel James Jr. is around 6-feet tall, but he can overcome that with his diverse finishing package, half-court playmaking, and off-ball shooting. I expect the incoming Marquette freshman to use up his college eligibility and then pursue a professional career overseas.
Fun to watch, particularly in transition. Armed with a repertoire of scoop and flip finishes against length and size. Doesn’t necessarily play with or through contact — but his body control allows him to contort around bigs or longer defenders at the high school level.
At his size, defense is a concern. LuHi does a good job surrounding its small backcourt (James at 6-0 and Kayden Mingo at 6-1ish) with size at the wing (Dylan Mingo, 2027 prospect Moussa Kamissoko…) and at the big (7-foot-1 Ikechukwu Onyekwere). But the geometry of the court and the demands of college basketball are different. James has a good motor and attitude, though, so it’ll be about taking the time to learn. Generally, he carries out the game plan, but the margins for error at his size (especially as a freshman) are objectively very slim.
Game Notes and Context:
Body control looks really good to offset his small stature. Moves with force.
Split the defense and flipped in a tough scoop
Another double clutch finish in transition. Tough but under control
Composed and accurate passer.
Pick-and-roll, kept defender on his back, then skip pass to other side of the floor to assist the three…
Another pick-and-roll rep later in the game was also poised. Sprayed ball back out to find the open man
Also zipped a couple of passes along the baseline to create good looks for LuHi
Steady guard play, although usage isn’t very high since the ball is mostly going through the Mingos
Operated off the ball just fine in this game
Made a left wing spot-up three
Drilled a catch-and-shoot two along the right baseline
Native of Glen Head, New York. Played AAU for Expressions Elite EYBL. Was at Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, MA) before transferring to LuHi as a junior.
In 12 EYBL Scholastic League games as a junior: averaged 11.9 points and 4.3 assists.
Watches a lot of Donovan Mitchell. Trains with Jerry Powell. Dad is close with LuHi associate head coach Josh Corbin.
Chris Nwuli (2025)
Takeaway:
Rutgers commit Chris Nwuli, ranked a four-star by mainstream recruiting services, joined Sierra Canyon for his last season of high school basketball. Right now, I view him as a multi-year college player who will have a long pro career and has a chance to one day make the NBA if one of his higher-end outcomes hits.
Until now, also because of the rosters he’s played on, Nwuli has mostly stood out to me in a defensive capacity. He is long, decently athletic, plays hard, and has a frame that will keep filling out well. The Rutgers commit has previously said: “I love playing defense. Defense is my main focus. When I step on the court, I want to lock up the best player. One through five – I want to guard every position.”
On offense, he is almost exclusively a play finisher. Whether he can push towards the NBA ultimately depends on how versatile he can become within that role. I don’t see enough ball skill or creation for him to be considered a wing right now. Is he a catch-and-finish 4-man or can he take some threes and act as the screener while adding defensive value?
Game Notes and Context:
Looks around 6-foot-7 with a plus-wingspan. First jump is solid. Affected a number of shots and drives at the rim with verticality. Mostly played with discipline as a rim protector.
Stayed down on an upfake and blocked a shot in the paint
Rotated on a drive and stayed vertical without fouling
He’s at his best when at his most simple. He is ultimately not a shot creator for himself or others.
Tip dunk after offensive rebounding a missed free throw
Rim-runs and dunks
Left corner catch-and-shoot three
Missed trailer three
Too much asked from him in this game. Doesn’t have the skillset or in-game understanding to be getting a lot of on-ball reps right now. I see him strictly as a play finisher vs. high-level competition.
Missed some pull-up twos. Has face-up flashes, but I don’t think they’re consistent
Received a few ballscreens while acting as the ballhandler and didn’t create advantages
Turnover on self-created drive
Turnover on grab-and-go. Had a nice no-look pass in transition later
Even-keeled demeanor. Same as when I’ve evaluated him in the past with Bishop Gorman and the Oakland Soldiers. Quiet on the court, though. Wish he’d speak up more. Will have the chance at Sierra to be more of a leader since he’s one of their 1-2 best players.
This is his third high school. Previously at Wasatch Academy (UT) and Bishop Gorman (NV).
Rutgers recruitment was led by assistant coach Marlon Wiliamson. School originally wasn’t in his top 6. Some believe Rutgers got him after a “healthy NIL offer.”
Maxi Adams (2026)
Takeaway:
6-foot-7 Maxi Adams is Sierra Canyon’s most intriguing prospect. The American-Argentinian forward is a good athlete with strong positional size and a track record of production and improvement while always being one of the most highly-touted players in the Los Angeles area. I first evaluated him when he was a freshman at Narbonne High School. He’s gotten better every time I’ve watched him and I believe he can make the NBA.
The most important thing for Adams will be. He can do a bit of everything: shooting, finishing, posting, passing, dribbling, and defending. But what is he going to do the most? What will he be best at? I think the means are there for him to become a face-up 4 who can also play off-the-ball with how he spots-up and cuts.
Right now, still plays a bit too soft in the paint for my liking. He’s a high school junior, though. Good footwork (on both ends) and touch, but uses those tools mostly to avoid contact. Has the frame and athleticism, but needs to embrace physicality on both ends more often.
Game Notes and Context:
Struggled to finish against contact and length early in the game. Grew into the contest a bit more in the second half.
Couldn’t finish through contact in transition
Got blocked at the rim after rejecting a ball screen to drive right
Couldn’t finish going right
Moves well and fluidly for a still-growing, strong 16 y/o. Footwork stands out. Can change up the length of his steps on both ends.
Sierra used him curling and out of screens. Made a few threes, as well as a catch-and-shoot two
Footwork-wise, technique on short closeouts looks disciplined
Seems to me like he’s going to get bigger - but didn’t look hitchy or awkward running the floor. Capable of changing directions on defense
Used at the 4 and the 5 in this game. Long term, I think he’s a 3 and a 4 — but he’ll play the center at times in high school since he’s big, tall, and skilled.
Not sure he has rim protection instincts. I prefer him defending the perimeter (or maybe the post), rather than having him patrolling the paint.
Long arms with broad shoulders. But impossible to tell how defined he is since he was wearing a baggy long-sleeve under his jersey.
Unsurprisingly, sometimes looked like a high school kid who had just transferred and hadn’t played in too many games with his new squad yet. Looked a little lost at times, but got coached up and took the advice.
Brother is Marcus Adams Jr., who transferred to CSUN from BYU this season. Father is Marcus Sr., a former UNLV college player and pro in Argentina who passed away earlier this year. Mother is Delfina, from Argentina.
Eligible to play for Argentina national team and was previously called up for a training camp.
Holds 15+ Division I college offers, including USC, Texas, Syracuse, BYU, Kansas, Oregon…
Well-known in the LA high school scene. Averaged 10.7 points per game as a freshman at Narbonne, 18.2 ppg as a sophomore at Gardena Serra…