Formula Zero was held at the Facility in Phoenix, Arizona from August 7-9, 2025 with roughly 30 top high school and college players in attendance. With a heavy emphasis on shooting, the camp really drilled down the importance of consistency. With a slogan of “Consistency Kills” relayed to the campers. A heavy emphasis on shooting drills and 4-on-4 play with requirements of avoiding pick-and-roll and DHO (dribble handoff) play brought a different wrinkle to the camp. With that said, here are some of the standouts and notes from the 2025 Formula Zero Elite Camp.
Matt Able 6’5 SG NC State Frosh
The incoming freshman is a well-rounded basketball player who did a little bit of everything at the Formula Zero Camp and has a real chance to have an immediate impact at NC State and in the ACC. On the Friday morning session of shooting drills he really impressed scouts with his consistency and form. In games he was able to mix it up. A selfless player and quick decision maker, he made the right play over and over again, helping lead his young teammates to the finals. On fast breaks he ran the lanes well either finishing at the rim or diving to the wing or corner for delayed transition threes. Playing off his strong shot, he caught defenses off guard with his pump fakes getting downhill. On defense he has active hands and moves his feet well laterally. An interesting tidbit is that over these past few months Matt Able and Tounde Yessoufou have played and defended each other regularly which has become a bit of a friendly rivalry over the course of the summer.
Javon Bardwell 6’7 Wing OTE Diamond Doves Class of 2027
No one helped himself more than Javon Bardwell at this camp. He competed ferociously despite nursing an ankle sprain that he kept re-aggravating throughout the camp. In scrimmages he was one of the better scorers and self-creators. He finished games off with pull-up mid-range jumpers, was proficient in catch-and-shoot long-distance threes, and seems to be quite lengthy as he finished plays with strong two-handed dunks on quick cuts or just off one-step flat-footed catches in the paint. Defensively he was an effective help-side shot blocker when guards tried to get downhill and finish plays. Also displayed strong rebounding tendencies and a very alpha confidence in himself and his abilities. But was also a very willing passer as his team (Cameron Williams, Matt Able, and Luke Ertel) shared the rock and played off each other well throughout the camp. A bit old for his class, there’s a possibility that he could reclassify to 2026. Note: Javon received an offer from Kansas a couple days after the camp concluded.
Bruce Branch 6’7 SF Prolific Prep Class of 2027
Branch is a talented forward that some staffers coined as the most talented player in camp. A true wing, he has the handles and fluid shooting stroke to end up being the top player in his high school class. However, after a long summer he was running a little bit on fumes and dealing with a minor injury at Formula Zero. This led to some inconsistent moments in shooting drills and game play. But with all that being said, he led his team to the finals and was voted co-MVP of the high school players attending camp. There was one instance in a scrimmage that showcased his tantalizing potential. He caught the ball on the left wing, took one dribble to his left, crossed over back middle to the right, and his first step was so quick that no opponent had time to stop him before he finished the play at the rim. That quick, athletic, fluid burst was a flash of what could be as he grows into his body.
Jalen Davis 6’3 PG Class of 2027
Davis in game play, despite being one of the younger players in the group, stood out as a self-creator. On ball he has the rock on a string and finds ways to get downhill and find openings around the rim. Crafty around the basket, he uses the rim effectively to shield defenders from blocking his shot and is very adept at using strong English off the backboard on reverse layups or regular layups. A shooter with unlimited range, he is effective moving without the ball and finding openings for catch-and-shoot opportunities or creating 3-point shots off the dribble. In a camp of shooters, he was labeled as the shooter from opponents in scrimmages. He ended up as the co-MVP of the high school class.
Luke Ertel 6’1 PG Mt Vernon HS Class of 2026 Purdue
It was the first time I’ve seen the southpaw in person and he stood out at this camp. Leading his team to the championship game and shooting the leather off the basketball. He went 142/175 over 3 days in catch-and-shoot NBA combine-like 3-point shooting drills, demonstrating a quick release and extended range. His shooting accuracy translated in games as a secondary catch-and-shoot option, making shots in key moments of the scrimmages. Solid defensively, he has excellent strength for his size and a competitive, feisty spirit.
Elyjah Freeman 6’8 Forward Auburn Sophomore
Freeman is a versatile forward who showcased his ability running the lanes on the fast break and finishing plays. A shooter with some touch, he’s better in catch-and-shoot situations than off the dribble. Demonstrated some ability as a defender moving well laterally and getting deflections. Played particularly strong on Friday. Did not play in the Saturday evening session.
Ian Jackson 6’4 SG St. John’s Sophomore
Jackson started the camp slow and ended the camp with a bang. He was best in scrimmages pushing the ball up court as fast as he could. Explosive, he had a very direct approach to get downhill. He ended up having a top 5 score in shooting drills in this camp despite starting off the week slowly.
Tyrone Jamison Jr 6’2 PG Calvary Baptist Academy Class of 2027 Tyrone Jamison is a blur on the court and uses his quickness to his advantage both on defense and offense. Defensively he was the most likely player to pick up an opponent full court and was always looking to get deflections and steals in scrimmages. On offense he has both a strong first step and some wiggle that allows him to get to the rim. A 3-level scorer here, he was able to score at the rim, with a floater, and from long distance. He ended up being a top 5 scorer in shooting drills going 138/175 from long distance.
Colben Landrew 6’5 Wing Wheeler Class of 2026
Landrew’s ability to defend players bigger and stronger stood out at this camp. Often tasked to guard the opponent’s biggest player, he more than held his own. Offensively he was proficient from the wing and the corner from long distance. He ended up in the top 10 in shooting drills in camp.
Acaden Lewis 6’2 PG Villanova Frosh
The southpaw was particularly strong the first few sessions in camp as he was particularly hot from long distance. His combination of strength and speed made it difficult to prevent him from getting downhill. In this camp he played both as the lead guard and as a combo but was best with the ball in his hands as an offensive creator and initiator. With his strength he took the challenge of guarding taller opponents and had some success with his quick hands and natural strength.
Mackenzie Mgbako 6’8 Forward Texas A&M Junior
Mackenzie was one of the more seasoned campers and it showed in his physicality in games and his focus in the shooting drills where he had the second highest amount of makes in camp and best of all the collegians (143/175). His intensity in scrimmages led to more competitive games which was great for the NBA scouts on hand.
Babatunde Oladotun 6’10 Forward Blake HS Class of 2026
The recently reclassified Baba is a special talent. His combination of handles and quick release at 6’9″/6’10” is what makes NBA scouts salivate. The emphasis on shooting here helped him display one of his strengths and likely helped him create the moment of the camp at Formula Zero. On the last session of the camp, Saturday evening to be exact, in the quarterfinals game he shined and separated himself from everyone in this group. He was simply put en fuego. Making long-distance shot after long-distance shot. Pump faking, putting the ball on the floor for a side-step three on one side, then on the next play from the wing dribbling towards the baseline, spin dribbling back towards the middle, gathering the ball, pump faking as the defender jumps to his left, avoiding the contact, and making the long-range jumper—he must have had over half of his team’s points in that game. One of the bigger players in camp, he was able to be a difference maker on the offensive glass and had several strong finishes on fast break opportunities.
Tyrone Riley IV 6’6 Wing San Francisco Sophomore
The lefty did not participate in scrimmages due to a minor injury. The lefty ended up being in the top 10 in shooting drills in the camp and displayed strong athletic tendencies finishing with highlight-reel dunks on backlit drills. Tyrone has a great intangible—always seems to carry a smile—he has a noteworthy positive demeanor that was infectious when other teammates were around him. In addition, he was a sponge for information having long conversations during warm-ups and breaks with coaches, for example with former NBA player Wesley Matthews on the nuances of using his arm bar and shoulder while being an on-ball defender.
Anthony Thompson 6’7 Power Forward Western Reserve Class of 2026
Thompson is a difficult player to categorize. At 6’7″ he has a reportedly 7’3″ wingspan making him ideal size as a post player. A fluid athlete, he runs the floor well, has loose hips, and good vertical power. In addition, he was the best player in shooting drills in camp going 145/175 in catch-and-shoot three-pointers. Yet there are some holes to his game as well. He needs work with his handles and the outside shooting didn’t necessarily translate at the same level in scrimmages. Which was either due to his shot selection or inconsistent release in movement. However, his length and athleticism as a defender was a problem for opponents. He was able to both protect the rim and get steals and deflections when guarding the perimeter. Offensively he was strong off the boards and finishes strong around the basket. With time and space he is excellent from long distance which allows him from time to time to pump fake and get downhill and finish plays strong.
Cameron Williams 6’11 St Mary’s HS Class of 2026
Williams was the tallest player at the camp by a wide margin. As a result, in scrimmages it was hard to keep him off the offensive glass. But in a camp littered with elite shooters, he more than held his own. Showing good touch in catch-and-shoot situations particularly from the corners and the top of the key and showcasing some solid handles for a player his size. In his semifinal matchup against Baba, he scored the first 5 points of the game (winner was first to 31), starting the game with a three and then following up the next time down the court with an offensive rebound put-back dunk and leading his team to a finals appearance. And while he does not possess the quick-release shot or guard-like handles that makes Baba’s scoring potential at another level, he is a much more effective two-way player and was an effective shot blocker and defender in scrimmages throughout the camp.
Tounde Yessoufou 6’5 Wing Baylor Frosh
Yessoufou showcased a very repeatable outside shooting stroke finishing just outside of the top 10 in shooting drills, which is a massive win given where his long-distance shot was as a sophomore in high school. The work he has put into the development of his game is noteworthy. Blessed with broad shoulders and an athletic body, once he gets a first step on a defender it’s nearly impossible to recover. He has an uncanny ability to create and absorb contact and still finish plays. He still maintains the makings of a top-level 3-and-D wing.
Some Other Participants
Davion Adkins 6’9 PF/C Prolific Prep Class of 2026
Amari Allen 6’8 Forward Alabama Frosh
Ikenna Alozie 6’1 CG Dream City Christian Class of 2026
Tarris Bouie 6’6 Wing Sire Academy Class of 2026
Sadiq White 6’9 PF Syracuse Frosh
