NPC Series Player Breakdowns Vol. 1
As the 2024-25 edition of the National Prep Championship nears the end in a couple weeks, we took some time to go through and do some player breakdowns on a few long-time participants in the winter series. All four of these players were listed in the most recent 247Sports Top 150 for the class of 2025, and have built national reputations for themsleves.
Let's break it down.
Keyshuan Tillery 6’1 Guard New Hampton - Cincinnati Commit
Tillery’s incredible speed and tight handles paired with his ability to attack angles allows him to get into the lane at will. At the rim he can finish with a variety of floaters or tough layups with either hand, even occasionally sneakily rising up to throw down a dunk in the halfcourt as well. These skills allow him to operate at an elite level in the pick-and-roll, playing at his own pace and using the snake dribble to get to his spots. His passing ability when he gets downhill is something any program would love to have from their lead guard. Tillery’s athleticism translates onto the defensive end as well, where he pesters opposing guards and hounds the passing lanes, racking up a lot of steals and deflections. Tillery also possesses the ability to knock down jumpers from deep off the bounce or catch, making him that much harder to contain.
Tillery averaged 15.6 points per game along with 5.6 assists at Peach Jam last year.
Ben Ahmed 6’10 Center Putnam Science - Recently reopened commitment from Miami
At 230 pounds with a 7’3 wingspan, Ahmed is overwhelmingly physically imposing on the court. In the post he uses his size paired with his footwork to overpower defenders, and demands the other team send help when he has position down low. His size allows him to grab a plethora of rebounds, enough to be the leading rebounder in program-history for Putnam Science. He understands how to find his man when shots go up, and seal them off allowing him to snatch down rebounds. As a screener Ahmed is also able to free up the guards on his team, using his frame to set powerful brick-wall screens. Ahmed is primarily used on defense in drop coverage in the pick-and-roll, and mostly stays in the paint, rarely rotating out to the perimeter.
Chris Jeffrey 6’3 Guard Mt. Zion Prep - Maryland Commit
Jeffrey is a combo guard with a wide frame that lets him play up a position occasionally. His lateral quickness and strength allows him to be an elite defender, beating offensive players to spots, and contesting with great verticality. He is great at getting downhill and when at the basket is comfortable absorbing contact and finishing with either hand. In the middle of the floor he is great from the mid range and uses soft touch on his floaters. Jeffrey has great feel in the halfcourt, making smart and decisive decisions specifically in the pick-and-roll. When handling in transition he often looks to push the pace to get his teammates easy baskets. Jeffrey is the type of player you could plug into any system, and see a positive impact from his play.
Jeffrey has recently been scoring at an incredible rate, including a 37-point outburst against Massanutten Military Academy on Jan. 12.
KJ Cochran 6’4 Guard Perkiomen - Santa Clara Commit
Cochran is a lengthy and athletic player who is one of the most versatile guards in the class. He has a high feel for the game and this shows with the quick passes he is able to fire off after reading where the help defense is coming from. His basketball instincts also shine through on defense, where he is able to combine that with his quick hands to get steals in the passing lanes and block rim attempts from the weak side. Cochran has great jumping ability and utilizes it to get up for dunks, and even occasionally surprise opponents by snatching down an offensive rebound. He is comfortable attacking downhill while dribbling with either hand, and can knock down mid range and three-point jumpers when the defense sags off. His catch-and-shoot jumper is super consistent, and his release is quick enough to make defenders pay for helping off of him.
Cochran recently tallied his 1,000th point at Perkiomen, eclipsing that mark in just 57 games as a Panther.
Ben Ahmed
Keyshuan Tillery