Our Independent Hoops Staff finally got to set our eyes on a young man we have been hearing great things about. Son of former NBA great Erick Dampier, Erick Jr of 601 Heat / Alabama Fusion 2028 was in Jackson, MS competing in the NYBL Deep South Classic. The basketball family genes are definitely visible when watching this young man.

In only the 6th grade (headed into 7th grade), Dampier, is already standing at an impressive 6’5”. He is regarded by some of the rankings services as one of the top players in the class of 2028. Dampier Jr has a solid frame that fills out his tall stature – he has HUGE hands and does a good job of catching the ball and using touch around the basket. He was an imposing factor on glass this weekend, using his height and motor to track down numerous rebounds. He ran well in transition, and showed some low-post skill with his back to the basket.

With his size and agility alone, it’s easy to see why people are already getting excited about this young phenom. When you factor in the skill set he possesses with how hard he plays, it’s scary to think of how good he could he end up being. He led his team to a final four loss to the Madison County Landsharks this past weekend. You can see him live in action July 20th-24th in Augusta, GA at the Jr Peach State hosted by the NYBL. Follow Erick on IG to keep up with his progress in the years coming forward: @edampjr2028