The spring basketball market is becoming saturated across the country. With shoe-sponsored circuits, independent tournaments, and potential college visits regularly scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, the “off-season” really doesn’t offer much free time to high school players, so they have to be selective about what events to attend. Playing in team events virtually every weekend since the high school season concluded, some players needed an opportunity to showcase their talents in a different setting.
Enter the Stellar Hoops Elite 60.
Held at Charlotte’s Harding High School over the weekend, director Wayne Davis puts on two separate one-day, invite-only events just after the school year ends. Focusing largely on underclassmen and players who are flying under the radar, the Elite 60 2026 spring event brought both to the table.
Players such as Michigan State swingman Coen Carr (who shut down the 2023 Ballislife All-American Game dunk contest), future first-round pick/Duke swingman Isaiah Evans, top-5 2027 DeMarcus Henry, Miami physical monster Somto Cyril, and top-10 2027 LJ Smith are just a few to have graced the court before they blew up.
With players from 35 different states over the weekend, there was no shortage of players who exhibited the potential to be in that next wave as well, as we recently saw in Charlotte.
Stock Risers
Five-star West Charlotte star 2028 Kaharri Coleman and the 2030 Schoolhouse Prep (Flor.) duo of 6’1″ Eddie Rios III and 6’8″ Gabriel Gates all looked like potential All-Americans at the camp. Guys such as Jaleel Smith, Bray McNear, and others paced the top group of underclassmen. For our final piece on the Stellar Hoops Elite 60, here are six under-the-radar players who showed they belonged in Charlotte:
Diego Vitta, 6’3″, SG, Huntington Prep (West Vir.), 2027
The most electric shooter that the event had to offer was Diego Vitta, a walking bucket at the Stellar Hoops Elite 60. He was able to get his jumper off in a hurry with limited dribbles, had effortless 3-point range, and could make you pay with a pull-up jumper. Already holding offers from Holy Cross and Fresno State, the Canadian combo guard is bound for a big year at Huntington Prep.
Sean Johnson, 6’5″, SF, West Charlotte HS (North Car.), 2028
A player who has made serious strides in the past year, Sean Johnson, left a lasting impression at the Stellar Hoops Elite 60. The two-way wing defended virtually every position, was an elite finisher in transition, and exhibited an improved skill set from the perimeter. Johnson is as clutch as you can get as well, as seen by his buzzer-beating game-winner to give West Charlotte an NCHSAA 8A state title this past season.
DJ Caviness, 5’9″, PG, Harding HS (North Car.), 2029
Despite just being a freshman, there weren’t many lead guards better than DJ Caviness at the Stellar Hoops Elite 60. He showed a great change of pace, had quick hands on the defensive end, and had a super soft touch as a finisher in the paint. Running the show for Team United 15U in the EYBL, DJ will have no shortage of opportunities for exposure against elite competition throughout the summer.
Brady McGee, 6’7″, PF, Lassiter HS (Geor.), 2027
A high-upside forward that is still flying under the radar, Brady McGee is just scratching the surface of what he could become down the road. The long-armed forward changed the game on both ends with his length, showed promise as a developing shooter, and was completely comfortable facing the basket. All of the tools are present for McGee to develop into an intriguing forward in today’s modern game.
Max Leung, 5’11”, PG, Oak Hill Academy (Virg.), 2027
A glue guy in every sense of the word, Max Leung is the type of player that every coach wants on their team. Leung brings infectious energy, can hit open threes, and lets the game come to him within the flow of the offense. Running with Team Thad on the AAU circuit, the product of Hong Kong definitely shows the intangibles that you hope for out of a locker room guy.
Aree Branch, 6’0″, PG, Butler HS (North Car.), 2027
A two-way guard, Aree Branch, brought energy to the Stellar Hoops Elite 60. He was in attack mode any time that he had the ball, showed that he could guard either backcourt spot, and embraced the challenge of going up against players with stars next to their names. It was my first time seeing Branch, but it certainly won’t be my last.
