Gabriel Mendez

• NBA Replay Center Employee • @PRO16League Scout • @SportsBizClass alum/draft contributor • Rutgers graduate

[Gabriel Mendez @TheCrossover0]

Excited to announce I will be working with @PRO16League as a scout this upcoming AAU season. I will be covering events in the northeast, giving live updates and writing articles on standout players!

[Rafael Barlowe @Barlowe500]

Everyone loves the 2026 NBA Draft class.

But very few people want to give American grassroots basketball credit for developing it.

After spending the last decade scouting on both sides of the Atlantic, here's why I believe the criticism of AAU and grassroots basketball has gone too far.

FREE ARTICLE ⬇️

https://t.co/lHkbDxgwHi

[JPR @Scouting_Col]

Donovan Atwell could be one of the biggest UDFA or two-way steals.

Elite shooter. 46% from deep and 54% on corner threes.

Not much else offensively, but a solid 6’5” frame and 76th percentile in steal rate.

[🐝 @comadreja_clt]

La selección española de baloncesto se está convirtiendo en una cosa muy seria:

Base: Sergio de Larrea (Drafteado este año)

Escolta: Hugo González (Jugador NBA)

Alero: Baba Miller (Drafteado este año)

Ala-Pívot: Santi Aldama (Jugador NBA)

Pívot: Aday Mara (Proyectado top 10)

[SleeperWizards @SleeperWizards]

"I've seen those guys on the same floor in person probably 8-10 times…

Not once did I come away thinking AJ Dybantsa is a better prospect than Darryn Peterson”

- @DraftExpress via the @ZachLowe_NBA show

[Ben Pfeifer @bjpf_]

just jayden quaintance seamlessly navigating spain action in high drop and containing a drive

very normal 6'10, 255 18-year-old stuff

[Ryan Hammer🔨 @ryanhammer09]

I don't think people understand how wild this is for all of us who have known him for years working for ESPN & @DraftExpress.

Insane rise through the ranks - another incredible example of carving your own untraditional path. Congrats to @Mike_Schmitz, insanely cool to see from the content world🙌

[nbadraftpoint @nbadraftpoint]

Despite what seems to be a weaker class of 2027 in the US, the international class of 2027 has some serious star power, with six guys who could genuinely be billed as 5-star caliber going into the cycle

Very excited to be covering this crop over the next cycle

[Boze Herrington, Library Owl 😴🧙‍♀️ @SketchesbyBoze]

What’s more alarming than the decline in literacy is the total passivity & indifference that you see in so many people. No passions, no hobbies, not a single ember of wonder at the unfamiliar or willingness to learn new things. Ignorance can be cured, but incuriosity is death.

[Ryan Hammer🔨 @ryanhammer09]

The Florida frontcourt was already the best in the entire country last season - national DPOY, #1 rebounding team in the nation.

And they might be even better in 2026/27. Returning their trio (likely) + added depth, craft & versatility from around the world.

Insane group🐊🐊🐊

[Evan Mazotti @EvZotti]

Everyone’s going to focus on the hand speed, but that was the most comprehensive performance of David Benavidez’s career. His defensive versatility, footwork with the stance switching, angles, and usual vicious combination punching, all blended together tonight. #BenavidezZurdo

[Pranav Sriraman @PranavSriraman]

Gobert and Mitchell did a rightful, long overdue image reversal these playoffs

[Guillou Alan @Alan_Guillou96]

Allen Graves made history in 25-26. He is the only player since 2008 to post those numbers:

- 40% from 3
- 5 3PA/100 possessions
- 4% BLK%
- 4% STL%

You had some elite rebounding numbers and low turnovers. Elite player that helps impacting winning every possessions 🐴🧐🐎

[Nathan Grubel @DraftDeeper]

The bad news: Dailyn Swain hasn't handled pressure well from Purdue as a lead playmaker.

The good news: Dailyn Swain will not be asked to do what he's doing now in the NBA, and all of this experience will only help him in a scaled-down role moving forward.

[Isaiah Taveras @IsaiahTaveras]

Top Sets From March Madness So Far

- Horns Riffle
- Loop Spain Exit
- Diamond Double Screen Slip
- Elevator Rip
- Step Ram Turn Runner
- Pistol Keep Gator
- X Spain Leak
- Loop Stagger Double Curl
- Double Chin Loop
- UCLA Empty High Runner
- Horns Chin Zoom
- Spanoulis Chest

[Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo]

The Mets' Opening Day bullpen should look like this:

1. Devin Williams (closer)
2. Luke Weaver
3. Brooks Raley
4. Luis García
5. Tobias Myers
6. Huascar Brazobán

That leaves one open spot for a group of hopefuls including Craig Kimbrel, Bryan Hudson and several others.

[Hassan @Hassanwellss]

Waking up to everybody finally realizing how great Shakur Stevenson is

[Latif Love @realLatifLove]

This will get lost in the hype of the Dybantsa vs. Peterson matchup, but I think Bill Self has coached circles around Kevin Young this afternoon.

[Monty Moss @monty_moss3]

@ruffff2 @TheCrossover0 Thank you 💙🙏🏽

[Geo Baker @Geo_Baker_1]

I’ve spent all July at AAU tournaments and I think a lot of kids have the game confused. Basketball IQ Is definitely at an all time low.

The best player on the floor will make everyone else around them better. It’s not about dropping 30 points or highlight tapes. If you’re talented, that stuff will take care of itself.

High school recruitment is at an all time low right now so it’s more important than ever to know how to play the game the right way. Drive and kicks, advancing the ball, extra passes, communication, reading screen coverages, etc…

For the kids: Ignore outside voices and trust your coaches who are preaching to you to play the right way.

[Eric Pincus @EricPincus]

There's a notion that the Lakers with the Buss family were cheap in spending on players, but that's not backed by the data. No. 7 highest net spender in tax dating back to 2017
https://t.co/hLLwlMaLwp