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A top AEW heel subtly paid tribute to WWE legend John Cena at WrestleDream.

WWE legend John Cena is retiring at the end of the year and has been going around paying tribute to a lot of his past rivals and current peers. The star has previously paid tribute to AEW’s Adam Copeland (Edge) and a few other stars. The Cena vs AJ Styles match was filled with such tributes, with The GOAT even doing the Tombstone to honor The Undertaker. Now, AEW heel Samoa Joe paid tribute to Cena at WrestleDream.

During his match against Hangman Page, the former WWE star locked in an STF on the world champion. While the STF, Cena’s submission move, is a part of Joe’s arsenal as well, the star rarely uses it. Now, however, he decided to bring it out.

SAMOA JOE WITH AN STF #AEWWrestleDreampic.twitter.com/kCAiQjtW6n

— Joey ðŸâœ¨ (@wrestlin_wasabi) October 19, 2025

AEW Star Samoa Joe Turned Heel Right After The WrestleDream Match, Where He Paid Tribute To John Cena

Immediately after losing to Hangman Page, Samoa Joe turned heel and attacked the world champion. Joe, a former champion in WWE, was accompanied by his Opps teammates, who also turned heel in the process.

It was a surreal moment to see the star go to the dark side, while also paying tribute to a babyface legend like Cena.

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20. Tennessee (5-2, Previous Rank: 10)

Week 8 Result:Loss at Alabama (20-37)
Next Week:at Kentucky

The Volunteers allowed 16 unanswered points in the final eight minutes of the first half, including a safety and an interception returned for a touchdown, and they were unable to dig out of that early hole against the Crimson Tide defense. DeSean Bishop had a good individual game out of the backfield, tallying 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee will need to win out to have a chance at a playoff spot, with Oklahoma and Vanderbilt their toughest remaining games.

19. Cincinnati (6-1, Previous Rank: 21)

Week 8 Result:Win at Oklahoma State (49-17)
Next Week:vs. Baylor

The Bearcats cruised to victory against arguably the worst Power Four team in the nation, building a 28-10 lead at halftime behind three second quarter touchdowns. Brendan Sorsby completed 20-of-29 pass attempts for 270 yards and three touchdowns while adding a fourth score on the ground, and he has quietly emerged as one of the more consistent quarterbacks in the nation in his second year under center at Cincinnati.

18. South Florida (6-1, Previous Rank: 20)

Week 8 Result:Win vs. Florida Atlantic (48-13)
Next Week:at Memphis

After previously undefeated Memphis lost earlier in the day, South Florida took care of business against Florida Atlantic to cement their status as the top Group of Five team in the nation midway through the season. Dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown had another big game, logging 256 passing yards, 111 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and the Bulls piled up 522 total yards of offense while recording their fourth straight game with at least 200 rushing yards.

17. Notre Dame (5-2, Previous Rank: 23)

Week 8 Result:Win vs. USC (34-24)
Next Week:BYE

On the strength of a career night from running back Jeremiyah Love, the Fighting Irish took another significant step toward putting their 0-2 start in the rearview mirror as they try to win out and make their case for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Love had 228 rushing yards on 24 carries while also recording one of Notre Dame’s three rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the defense shut down the USC running game, picked off Jayden Maiava twice and held standout wide receiver Makai Lemon to four catches for 76 yards.

16. Louisville (5-1, Previous Rank: NR)

Week 8 Result:Win at Miami (24-21)
Next Week:vs. Boston College

Miller Moss (23-of-37, 248 yards, 2 TD), Isaac Brown (15 carries, 113 yards) and Chris Bell (9 catches, 132 yards, 2 TD) all had strong games, but it was Louisville’s defense that shined in a huge win against previously undefeated Miami. After jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, they locked down the victory by picking off Carson Beck four times and allowing just 2.6 yards per carry.

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Bound For Glorywas a time of celebration for the entire TNA Wrestling roster. For McKenzie Mitchell, it was a time to reflect on the companyâ€s rollercoaster journey. Her start into the business came through a three-year stint with the company. Earlier this year she returned home back in the role of ring announcer. Certainly, things like introducing the Hardy Boyz and Team 3D in their “One Final Table†will be a career highlight.

“Standing in the ring at Bound For Glory in Boston with nearly 8,000 people. Sometimes you donâ€t take the moment to stop and truly look around and look at what is happening before your eyes. For me, it was a moment to soak everything in,†Mitchell said. “You talk about the ‘One Final Table†match with the Hardyz and Dudleys. That is the last time those two iconic tag teams will be in the ring together.

“I was lucky to be a smart part of that. I told Bubba this the other day that I wanted to really do them justice of their careers and everything theyâ€ve done putting their bodies on the line year after year. For me, I was very lucky. I was very honored to be a part of that. Again, in wrestling because it moves so quickly…For Bound For Glory, before I did the announcement for the Dudleys and the Hardyz, I just stopped and looked around and saw everyone on their feet for this moment. It was really an opportunity to pay respect to them. It was so cool I was just a small part.â€

Itâ€s a great time to be a pro wrestling fan in this landscape of collaboration. Among those partnerships has been an unheard of one between TNA and WWEâ€s NXT brand. The two sides have been sharing talent, meshing, and overall working together. So much so that Mitchell was able to go back to her old stomping grounds at the WWE Performance Center where she helped ring announce for the NXT x TNA ‘Showdown†special. An added bonus was getting to see her husband, voice of NXT Vic Joseph, at work.

“Obviously, I started my career at TNA for three or four years of my life. I remember back then, in my resume reel I was submitting to WWE to get hired by WWE, it was almost this feeling that Iâ€m this TNA girl,†Mitchell recalled. “I think back then…I applied on the website, WWECareers.com. I also made a new resume reel that was things that were outside of professional wrestling, that wasnâ€t just TNA wrestling. I didnâ€t know that for a fact, but it kind of felt like it was hurting my chances of being able to make the transition to WWE. I went out and filmed other things to show my versatility and what I could do as a broadcaster.

“Now you fast forward to this partnership, something we thought would never happen because they were separate brands. You were either TNA or WWE. Now to see this seamless blend of this partnership. I think itâ€s something the fans can appreciate. True TNA diehard fans are getting their feel. WWE fans are getting their feel. These are matches you would never have thought would happen. Jeâ€Von Evans and Leon Slater, what in the world? The talent these two have in the ring is really cool. Whatâ€s really awesome, to put it in a one-word way, but itâ€s awesome to see the growth that has been had and is still to come. Talking about working with my husband, itâ€s almost like this full-circle moment. Starting in TNA, going to WWE, and going back to TNA and still doing this handshake moment is really awesome for me.â€

Mitchell loves wearing many hats. Her skillset has taken her from ring announcing to broadcasting to interviewing. However, one part of the pro wrestling show we havenâ€t seen is an actual in-ring performer. Will that ever happen?

“I have never taken a bump,†Mitchell answered. “In all of my years in professional wrestling, Iâ€ve been in wrestling for 10 years, Iâ€ve never taken a bump. Now something you say in wrestling is never say never. I always have to say never say never. I would like to take one kind of bump, whether itâ€s in a match or just behind the scenes just so when I have kids one day I can say, ‘your mom did that one time and it hurt really, really bad.†I think I would want to because I would then be able to relate what these athletes do week in and week out, putting their body on the line.

“I have been approached several times about having the match. For me it’s a matter of, I think Iâ€m a better talker than I am wrestler or would-be wrestler. I did grow up an athlete. I was a cheerleader. I was a dancer. I played volleyball, so I was athletic growing up. If the right opportunity would present itself, maybe I would have my Michael Cole moment at WrestleMania. We all remember that moment. Never say never, but it would have to be the right opportunity for me.â€

Though she might be a little too busy these days to buckle down for training. After all Mitchell is a mogul in the making. Not only does she have her commitments to TNA, but she is a business owner and brand boss within the jewelry industry.  The entrepreneur owns a Headline by MM online store, as well as a formal store in Nashville. For Mitchell, the business venture follows in the footsteps of her family, which spans more than 75 years in the jewelry business. Her Drippin collection took off thanks to those who have worn custom pieces from Seth Rollins to Trick Williams. Jeff Hardy even sported a piece of Mitchellâ€s collection during Bound For Glory.She also has some of country musicâ€s biggest names like Sarah Evans and Lainey Wilson wearing her jewelry.

“I wanted it to be the perfect blend within my professional life and personal life kind of creating this moment coming together,†she said. “…It has snowballed, and Iâ€m so excited to see where we go with this and how we can build this dream.â€

One person who has yet to be a customer is her own husband. Joseph does support the wife, including the promotion of her upcoming book “Threads of Triumph Professional Wrestling’s Most Iconic Looks.â€However, McKenzie admits he owns zero Headline by MM products.

“I say this to my husband all the time. I know a thing or two about fashion, why do you not want to just listen to me,†she explained. “Put on a necklace, a lapel pin, there are so many things we can do. My husband is very set in his ways, and so weâ€re working on it. The other day we were at Disney with the Garganos, and Johnny was wearing a nice bracelet. I said, ‘See, Johnny is wearing a bracelet. Why canâ€t you wear a bracelet?†Shawn Michaels was wearing a nice watch the other day. I said, ‘See, Shawn is wearing a nice watch.â€

“This is how it goes. Maybe, maybe heâ€ll start wearing something. But to keep it simple, he owns zero pieces. It is one of those things too when you’re growing up and your mom says you should wear this. And you think, ‘mom thatâ€s a dumb idea.†Itâ€s similar. The fact he still doesn’t believe I know what I’m talking about. Maybe one day heâ€ll realize, ‘hey, maybe my wife does know what she is talking about.â€â€

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WWE wrapped its mini-tour of Japan today with another big show at the legendary Sumo Hall. After an eventful opening, today’s show featured an emotional farewell for an all-time great.

AJ Styles has said he plans to retire in 2026. The veteran Superstar has legendary ties to Japan, and he always receives a warm welcome when returning to the country. The two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion defeated El Grande Americano and Ivar in a Triple Threat at Friday’s live event, and defeated Kofi Kingston at today’s show.

CM Punk had a big moment to close Friday’s live event in Tokyo. Today’s show was headlined by Punk and Shinsuke Nakamura defeating Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. After the match, Punk introduced Styles, noting that he likely just wrestled his final match in The Land of The Rising Sun.

The Phenomenal One then addressed the Tokyo crowd, responding to their chants with immense appreciation. He also asked Nakamura to read a note to the local crowd.

“It should be me thanking you for everything youâ€ve done for AJ Styles. So thank you for everything youâ€ve done for me. I donâ€t know where I would be without you. Iâ€m pretty sure I wouldnâ€t be here in the WWE if it wasnâ€t for you, coming and wrestling in Japan. But I wrote something and I had it translated in Japanese because I want to make sure itâ€s said in your language so you can know how much that I love and appreciate you. So Nakamura, if you wouldnâ€t mind, would you mind reading what I wrote?,” AJ Styles wrote.

The WWE Roster Celebrates AJ Styles

The King of Strong Style then read AJ’s note to the crowd at Sumo Hall. A rough translation of that note is below.

“Everyone, as you all know, when I first came to Japan, to be honest, I didnâ€t know what people expected from me or if someone like me would even be accepted here. But from the very first day, you welcomed me with respect and passion. Every time I passed through the curtain to the ring in Japan, I gave everything I had because I felt you all were worthy of it. In return, you gave me something I will never forget: trust, energy, and love for professional wrestling. Maybe one day Iâ€ll leave this ring, but a part of my heart will always remain here, in the hearts of the Japanese people and in each and every one of you. Thank you,” Shinsuke Nakamura said on behalf of AJ Styles.

The WWE roster then came out to celebrate AJ in a wholesome moment for the live crowd. The in-ring celebration included LA Knight, Ivar, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, Roxanne Perez, Jey Uso, Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Penta, and others.

Pro Wrestling NOAH legend Naomichi Marufuji was at ringside, and had a moment with his rival and friend. WWE allowed AJ to return to Japan last year to defeat Marufuji at NOAH Destination.

AJ‘s letter for Japanese fans
#WWESuperShowJapanpic.twitter.com/NV9V8bEcxM

— ç´„æŸâ„ï¸åŒ—æ¡åŠ è“®ã‚ã‚ŠãŒã¨ã† (@SLC_YUIxAZU) October 18, 2025

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Egor Shilov’s power-play goal at 17:26 of the third period snapped a 3-3 deadlock and lifted the visiting Victoriaville Tigres to a 5-3 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League victory over the Moncton Wildcats on Friday.

Alexis Bourque scored twice for the Tigres (5-5-0-0), while Thomas Paquet had a goal and two assists and Shilov added an empty-net goal with 16 seconds left in the game at the Avenir Centre.

Niko Tournas scored twice for the Wildcats (5-3-2-0), while Simon Binkley netted a single.

The Tigers led 1-0 after the first period and 3-2 heading into the third.

The Wildcats outshot the Tigres 48-23 but couldn’t solve netminder Anthony Catanzariti, who stopped 45 of 48 shots.

The Tigres went 3-for-4 on the power play, while the Wildcats were 0-for-4.

Elsewhere in the QMJHL on Friday:

FOREURS 5 ISLANDERS 4 (SO)

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Evan Sercerchi scored in the seventh round of a shootout to lift the visiting Val-d’Or Foreurs to a 5-4 win over the Charlottetown Islanders.

Maxime Coursol, Mathias Bourque, Hemrick Carbonneau and Benjamin Olivier scored in regulation time for the Foreurs (4-5-1-1). Eduard Bondar chipped in with two assists.

William Shields scored three times for the Islanders (9-1-1-2), while Antoine Provencher netted a single. Matthew Butler chipped in with two assists.

The Foreurs led 2-1 after the first period and 3-2 after the second.

The Foreurs outshot the Islanders 35-22.

Foreurs’ goalie Emile Beaunoyer stopped 18 of 22 shots, while Islanders netminder Donald Hickey stopped 31 of 35 shots.

RIMOUSKI, Que. — Evan Depatie had two goals and an assist as the Rimouski Oceanic beat the visiting Sherbrooke Phoenix 5-2.

Liam Lefebvre and Mathys Dube had a goal and two assists each for the Oceanic (5-4-0-1), while Jack Martin netted a single.

Florent Houle and Mavrick Lachance scored for the Phoenix (6-3-0-0), who were outshot 34-31.

The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period and the Oceanic led 3-1 heading into the third.

HALIFAX, N.S. — Nicolas Gillham-Cirka stopped 32 shots to earn the shutout as the Halifax Mooseheads blanked the Newfoundland Regiment 3-0.

Daniel Walters, Caylen Blake and Antoine Fontaine scored for the Mooseheads (7-3-0-0).

Goaltender Antoine Proulx stopped 28 of 30 shots for the Regiment (5-6-0-0-).

CHICOUTIMI, Que. — Raphael Précourt stopped 19 shots to earn the shutout and lead the Chicoutimi Sagueneens to a 3-0 win over the visiting Quebec Remparts.

Emile Guite, Christophe Berthelot and Alonso Gosselin scored for the Sagueneens (6-2-0-1).

Goaltender Benjamin Lelievre stopped 28 of 31 shots for the Remparts (4-6-1-0).

BAIE-COMEAU, Que. — The visiting Cape Breton Eagles defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-3 via the shootout.

Samuel Rocca, Maxime Sauthier and Lucas Romeo all scored once the Eagles (4-3-1-2) in regulation time.

Eagles netminder Connor Towle stopped 24 of 27 shots.

Alexis Mathieu, Kyle Powers and Drew Allison scored for the winless Drakkar (0-8-2-2).

Drakkar netminder Lucas Beckman kicked out 40 of 43 shots.

OLYMPIQUES 3 CATARACTES 2 (SO)

GATINEAU, Que. — Simon-Xavier Cyr scored the winning goal in the fourth round of a shootout as the Gatineau Olympiques edged the visiting Shawinigan Cataractes 3-2.

Gabriel Seguin and Alex Dagenais scored in regulation for the Olympiques (7-5-0-0), who were outshot 29-28.

Mathieu Plante and Jacob Lachance scored for the Cataractes (4-2-1-2).

BOISBRIAND, Que. — Justin Carbonneau scored three times, Xavier Villeneuve had a goal and three assists, and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada shelled the visiting Drummondville Voltigeurs 8-2.

Olivier Filaj, Mateo Nobert, Olivier Lemieux and Zackary Plamondon also scored for the Armada (8-0-2-0).

William Dumont and Dylan Dumont scored for the Voltigeurs (4-4-1-1), who were outshot 41-37.

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Nearly everyone wrote Aleksei Kolosov off after a season that was disastrous for all Philadelphia Flyers goalies, but he’s just firmly put himself back on the prospect radar.

Kolosov, 23, was never going to make the Flyers’ NHL roster outright this season after Philadelphia went out and signed veteran Dan Vladar to a two-year deal this summer, but the fact that Kolosov returned to the organization at all shows a renewed commitment to the goal of becoming a full-time NHLer.

That said, through two AHL games, the Belarusian has backed it up with his play.

On Friday night, playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms against Ivan Fedotov and the Cleveland Monsters, Kolosov posted a remarkable 35-save shutout – his first as a member of the Flyers organization and first on North American soil.

For those curious, this was Kolosov’s first professional shutout since Feb. 4, 2024, when the 23-year-old made 23 saves for Dinamo Minsk in a 4-0 win over Admiral Vladivostok in the KHL.

Aleksei Kolosov Must Change Attitude Towards NHL, Legendary Coach SaysThe Philadelphia Flyers haven’t fully given up on Aleksei Kolosov yet, but has Aleksei Kolosov given up on the Flyers?

Last weekend, on Oct. 11, Kolosov earned his first win of the season for the Baby Flyers, stopping 27 of 29 (.931%) in a 5-2 thrashing of the Belleville Senators.

Overall, the forgotten Flyers goalie prospect is quietly 2-0-0 on the year with a 1.00 GAA and .969 save percentage after the shutout over Fedotov and Co., stopping 62 of the first 64 shots he’s faced this year.

Again, the Flyers still have Vladar and Sam Ersson, but Kolosov, like Ersson, is in a contract year.

If, for example, Ersson can’t take the next step, and Kolosov even remotely maintains this level of play throughout the season, what do the Flyers do then?

Flyers Brass Not Giving Up On Aleksei KolosovThe Philadelphia Flyers may appear set at the goalie position at the NHL level this year, but anything can happen, and the book isn’t closed on prospect Aleksei Kolosov yet.

As it always has been, the talent is there with Kolosov, and the next step is a matter of consistency.

Clearly, he’s the Phantoms’ starter over first-year pro Carson Bjarnason, and the Flyers won’t be seeing Egor Zavragin for a little while longer yet.

Don’t count Kolosov out just yet.

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Oct 17, 2025, 09:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored for the first time this season, Dylan Strome added a pair of goals and the Washington Capitals beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory.

Ovechkin’s third-period shot pinged off the left post and in, and the crowd roared its approval when the counter above one corner of the ice was flipped over to 898, his new career total. The NHL’s career leader in goals also had an assist as part of a dominant showing at home for Washington.

Logan Thompson allowed only ex-Capital Marcus Johansson’s tally in the second. That tied it at 1, but Aliaksei Protas answered 31 seconds later.

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Minnesota entered the game with the league’s top power play, having scored on 10 of 21 opportunities. But the Capitals only took two penalties and were able to kill them off. Washington finished with a 45-15 edge in shots.

Ovechkin passed up a good shooting opportunity from the right side, instead finding Strome for an easy tap-in to open the scoring in the first. Washington failed to score on a double-minor penalty on Minnesota’s Jake Middleton in the second. Then Johansson beat Thompson with wrist shot with 3:13 to play in that period.

That snapped a streak in which the last nine Minnesota goals had come on the power play, and it was just the third 5-on-5 score allowed by Washington on the season.

The Capitals answered quickly with Protas’ fourth goal of 2025-26. The 6-foot-6 forward was left open to the left of the goal. With teammate Connor McMichael on the opposite side of the crease, Protas sent the puck toward the net and it slipped past goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Ovechkin’s goal in the third came immediately after Strome won a faceoff to him in the offensive zone. Then Strome knocked in a rebound to make it 4-1. Tom Wilson added a power-play goal with 1:57 remaining.

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Morgan Whittaker scored his first Middlesbrough goal as Rob Edwards†side returned to the top of the Championship with an action-packed 2-1 win against Ipswich. Victory ended a three-game winless run for the home side, who had made their intent plain by pummelling the visitors†goal after a forgettable first 30 minutes.

Whittaker doubled Boroâ€s lead in the 55th minute after Cédric Kipréâ€s own goal in first-half added time had given them the advantage, shortly after the home goalkeeper Sol Brynn saved a George Hirst penalty.

Ipswich, who had their own goalkeeper Alex Palmer to thank for keeping them level with a series of important saves around the half-hour mark, reduced the deficit through Dara Oâ€Sheaâ€s header with 14 minutes to go but scarcely threatened to claim the draw that would have extended their five-match unbeaten run.

Ipswich, stewing over a penalty appeal that was turned down after Hirstâ€s rising shot struck the arm of Alfie Jones, were saved three times in quick succession by Palmer. The former West Brom goalkeeper first stopped a low drive from Tommy Conway, then flipped Hayden Hackneyâ€s deflected effort over the crossbar before tipping away Alan Browneâ€s drive from the resulting corner.

The visitors almost snatched the lead at the other end after an effort from Sam Szmodics. Then Middlesbrough broke swiftly, with Delano Burgzorgâ€s low effort parried by Palmer into the path of David Strelec, who somehow spooned wide from point-blank range.

The hosts looked set to pay the price when Callum Brittainâ€s shirt-tug on Davis won the visitors a 42nd-minute penalty, but this time it was Brynn who rose to the occasion, diving to his right to tip Hirstâ€s spot-kick around a post. A breathless end to the first period was complete in added time when Burgzorg wriggled around the left edge of the Ipswich defence and delivered a harmless looking cross that took a slight deflection and dribbled into the net off the unfortunate Kipré.

George Hirst shows his dismay after missing a penalty that would have put Ipswich in front at Middlesbrough. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Middlesbrough seized the momentum at the start of the second half and, after Burgzorg fired a speculative effort over the bar, they doubled their lead in the 55th minute. Strelecâ€s low cross from the right was palmed away by Palmer under pressure from Conway and fell to Whittaker, who lashed home his first Boro goal to put Edwards†side in full control.

Whittaker drove another effort wide at the end of Burgzorgâ€s swift counterattack as Boro looked likely to add to their tally. But instead it was Ipswich who reduced the deficit when Oâ€Shea glanced home a 76th-minute header from a corner.

However, that goal did not ignite the expected spell of Ipswich pressure, with Brynn saving well from the substitute Jack Clarke in an otherwise relatively comfortable concluding spell for Middlesbrough.

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Edwards paid tribute to Whittaker after the striker broke his Riverside Stadium duck. Whittaker has come in for criticism since signing from Plymouth in January but Edwards believes his confidence will grow after his coolly taken strike.

“Iâ€m really pleased. Thereâ€s high expectations on him because heâ€s a really good player and he understands that,†said Edwards. “What Iâ€d really like to celebrate is that heâ€s working very hard to get through it. Itâ€s his night, itâ€s big for him and hopefully weâ€ll build on that.â€

The Ipswich manager, Kieran McKenna, bemoaned his sideâ€s inability to take their chances as they extended their winless record this season away from Portman Road. Hirstâ€s penalty gave them a golden opportunity to take a half-time advantage but instead they went in behind and extended their poor form on their travels.

“I donâ€t think we can have too many complaints about the result because we made too many mistakes,†said McKenna. “We had a big moment with the penalty to go 1-0 up and it could have been really different, but you canâ€t go in 1-0 down from that situation. We need to be stronger. We didnâ€t stay together defensively when it was really tough. I think the game changes completely at 1-0 and thatâ€s been the story of our away games so far.â€

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The Perfect Game WWBA World Championship is one of the best—if not the best—high school baseball showcases on the circuit each year. The annual event gives scouts one last look at a plethora of top prospects all under the same roof, so to speak, before winter and the heart of the offseason.

As with our previous two pieces, please note that our list is alphabetized and not a ranking. Also, not every player listed is draft eligible this July.

Griffin Boesen, 1B

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Uncommitted

From a sheer statistical standpoint, itâ€s hard to argue against Boesen being one of the top performers in the entire event. Across Canes Midwest Nationalâ€s run to the semifinals, Boesen went a video game-like 13-for-18 (.722) with a double, 10 RBIs and five walks against a pair of strikeouts.

A 6-foot-4, 190-pound lefthanded hitter, Boesen has a potential middle-of-the-order frame. He can impact the baseball now, but itâ€s not hard to envision Boesen adding more strength.

For someone of his size, Boesen does a nice job of staying synced up throughout his swing. Heâ€s shown the ability to create leverage by dropping his back knee, and this summer he flashed above-average bat-to-ball skills. Boesenâ€s power is geared more towards extra-base hits than home runs at this point, but look for him to start to put more balls over the fence as he continues to mature physically.

Connor Comeau, INF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Texas A&M

A member of the loaded USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team, Comeau collected four hits—including a double and three-run home run in consecutive games—and drove in eight runs. He has a long, lanky frame—with particular length in his lower half—and plenty of physical projection remaining.

Comeau stands fairly tall in the box with a slightly-open front side and shoulder-high handset. He has a simple operation without a whole lot of moving parts, and he deploys a small leg lift that gives way to a normal stride. Though he’s a bit lacking in the physicality department, he still has solid bat speed and is able to generate quality contact on a regular basis.

Comeau put good swings on the ball all week. As I alluded to earlier, he hammered a backside double in one of my looks and belted a home run a game later. He has present power, but itâ€s not all that difficult to envision him growing into above-average or plus game power down the line.

While his power upside is tantalizing, Comeau also has a feel to hit. He flashed a good feel for the strike zone with polished swing decisions. The swing that perhaps stood out to me the most was a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Comeau let the ball travel, got his barrel to it and shot a hard-hit ground ball through a vacated six hole.

Comeauâ€s defensive profile is somewhat murky. He played both corner infield spots last week and got some run at shortstop over the summer, but I think his overall defensive skill set will profile best in a corner outfield spot when all is said and done. His movement profile and level of athleticism likely fit better on the grass than it does on the dirt.

Comeau will still be 17 years old at the draft, and he has an exciting blend of a body to dream on, “now†tools and plenty of upside.

Trevor Condon, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

Condon was one of my favorite position players I saw last week in Jupiter. A sparkplug in every sense of the word, he scattered seven hits—including a double—and four RBIs across five games.

At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Condon has an athletic frame with strength and impact, particularly to the pull side. A prototypical top-of-the-order tablesetter with an explosive and twitchy operation in the box, he shows no-doubt plus bat speed to go along with a feel for the barrel and high-level bat-to-ball skills. Condon controlled the zone well and demonstrated advanced swing decisions in my looks last week.

While he tends to hit the ball on the ground—Iâ€d like to see him turn some of his ground balls into line drives—Condon gets out of the box unbelievably quick and regularly turned in double-plus run times. He projects as a hit-over-power profile whose vast majority of home run power will likely come to the pull side.

Defensively, Condonâ€s tantalizing combination of speed and athleticism translates well to center field. He has plenty of gap-to-gap range and can really go and get the baseball. If he can shore up his routes by taking a more efficient and crisp path to the baseball, he has a chance to become an impact defender.

As a nice cherry on top, Condonâ€s on-field makeup is outstanding. His baseball sense is advanced, and he plays the game with his hair on fire. A prime example of this last week came when he stole second on a great dirt ball read and later swiped third on a well-executed shuffle lead. He has an unbelievably high motor and does not take a single pitch off. It feels like heâ€s always involved in some capacity and, like the Energizer bunny, is always ready to go, go, go. Condonâ€s love for the game is evident, and itâ€s a quality that rubs off on those with whom he shares a dugout.

If youâ€re looking for a couple of players with a similar archetype as Condon, think along the lines of Sal Frelick and Slater de Brun. De Brun was a better defender at this stage with more of a physical, barrel-chested look, but there are still some similarities.

RJ Cope, 1B/LHP

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Cope enjoyed one of the best performances of any player in the tournament, going 12-for-20 (.600) with a pair of doubles, a home run, five RBIs and seven walks to three strikeouts. He was a key reason why his East Cobb/San Diego Padres Scout Team club made a run to the championship game, and Cope took his play to another level in bracket play.

A 6-foot-8, 250-pound mountain of a human being, itâ€s hard to miss Cope on the diamond. He has an extra-large, high-waisted frame with plenty of physicality throughout. Cope used to devote most of his time to pitching—and will still toe the rubber—so heâ€s still learning how to hit. You can see it in his swing, as itâ€s not the most rhythmic or aesthetically pleasing operation in the world, but it clearly worked last week. Cope gets a little bar-armed at times and his bat will lag, but last week he was an auto-barrel.

Copeâ€s power upside is immense. He flashes big-time juice already, but there’s a chance he grows into double-plus power if he can clean up his operation and get more into his legs. In what is the case for most players of similar size, it will be important for Cope to keep his long levers connected and in-sync throughout his swing. Defensively, Cope is relegated to first base. Undoubtedly a power-over-hit profile, you are betting on Copeâ€s power upside.Â

All week, Cope brought the juice. He was a vocal leader both on the field and in the dugout, and after every big play you could set your watch to Cope being fired up for his teammates. This is a cold take, but without him, there is zero chance East Cobb would have been playing on Championship Monday.

Sean Dunlap, C

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Tennessee

Of Dunlapâ€s six hits last week, five went for extra bases. Across five games, the 6-foot-3 backstop tallied a pair of doubles, a pair of triples and one home run.

Thereâ€s plenty to like with Dunlap. He has a lean, athletic frame with some length in his lower half to go along with present strength and physical projection remaining. Dunlap moves well in the batterâ€s box and has a minimal load with big-time bat and hand speed. His swing can get long at times, which leaves him susceptible to swing-and-miss, so making enough contact to tap into his power on a regular basis will be key. Dunlap steps in the box with the intent to do damage and does not get cheated.

Though heâ€s slightly tall for the position, Dunlap has a solid defensive skill set behind the dish thatâ€s headlined by his athleticism and arm strength.

Dylan Fairchild, SS

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Cincinnati

Fairchild was the best hitter on the SmarTense/ZT National Prospects team, and he parlayed his solid showing at East Coast Pro into a strong week in Jupiter.

The “how he does it†with Fairchild is unorthodox. He drops his hands a considerable amount in his load and sits a bit deeper in his base, but he was able to make it work and collected a trio of extra-base hits with five RBIs. Fairchild moves well both in the box and on the dirt, and heâ€s a Midwest name on which to keep tabs this spring.Â

Matthew Mansbery, SS

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Michigan

Mansbery was on the barrel all week for Canes Midwest and laced three doubles, a pair of triples and drove in six runs.

A name to follow closely throughout this yearâ€s draft cycle, Mansbery has an athletic frame with room to fill out further. He has a simple setup in the batterâ€s box and an easy, almost effortless, operation featuring minimal load, a small stride and a level head throughout his swing. Mansbery has quickness in his hands with budding power he flashed last week in Jupiter.

Mansbery isnâ€t the twitchiest or most explosive player in the world, but heâ€s shown sound actions on the dirt with arm strength on the left side of the infield. Mansbery is very much an unfinished product physically, and itâ€s exciting to think about what his ceiling might be. He is a potential top five-round pick this July.

Winston Pennant, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Ole Miss

Pennant fits the mold of someone who is more likely to end up on a college campus than not, but Iâ€d be remiss if I didnâ€t highlight his performance in Jupiter. Pennantâ€s 10 RBIs were tied for the most in the tournament, and he also blasted a pair of long balls and tripled.

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Pennant is plenty physical with strength throughout his frame. He flashed all-fields impact last week and was consistently on the barrel. He has a bit of a noisy load and there are some hit tool questions, but thereâ€s no questioning his raw power.Â

Noah Wilson, OF

• Draft Class: 2026
• College Commitment: Vanderbilt

Wilson impressed all week and was one of the more productive hitters in the event. Across four games, he amassed six hits with a triple, a home run and eight RBIs.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Wilson has a pro body with present strength and some projection remaining. He possesses an enticing tool set that was on full display in Jupiter. He has a simple, yet explosive operation in the box, showing plenty of bat speed and taking a direct path to the baseball.

Wilson has an all-fields approach and has shown the ability to drive the baseball to either gap, as evidenced last week by his home run going out to left-center field. On top of the quality contact he was able to generate, Wilson demonstrated a feel for the barrel. While he stayed within the strike zone for the most part, Wilson this summer struggled with swing-and-miss—especially as it pertained to picking up secondaries out of the hand—which is something to monitor.

A plus runner, Wilsonâ€s speed translates well, both on the basepaths and on the grass. His arm is a little light, but his legs and athleticism will give him a chance to prove himself in center field professionally.

An intriguing blend of tools and upside, Wilson has a chance to be a top-three round pick this summer.

Sebastian “Sushi†Wilson, OF

• Draft Class: 2027
• College Commitment: Tennessee

With no relation to Noah, “Sushi†was one of the better underclass hitters in the event. He served as the straw that stirred the drink for Wow Factorâ€s 17U National Team and notched 10 hits with a pair of doubles and four RBIs.

Wilson has strength baked into his 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He has a hitterish look in the box with a fairly upright stance, a slightly-open front side and a medium-high handset. There’s a slight barrel tip in his load and quickness in his hands

Wilson was a high-level performer throughout the summer circuit. According to Synergy Sports, this summer he hit .340/.444/.420 across all major events.

Wilson runs well and has also flashed an above-average arm in center field. With a smattering of tools, Wilson is a high-priority follow in the 2027 class.Â

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The latest season of Netflix’s “Starting 5” was released Thursday, offering new perspectives on memorable moments from the 2024-25 campaign.

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The series followed Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, then-Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, LA Clippers guard James Harden and Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown.

Each star had his own challenges last season, all revealed by Netflix’s behind-the-scenes access.

“The Netflix people are driving me nuts,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said at one point. “They’re everywhere, you know, and it’s a pain in the ass.”

Durant dealt with injuries and trade talk that nearly sent him to the Golden State Warriors. Haliburton fought through a midseason slump after limited action at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Brown’s knee injury was a setback for the Celtics in their pursuit of winning back-to-back titles. Harden embarked on another season seeking a championship, while Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency fueled the Thunder’s NBA title aspirations.

The outcome brought two of the season’s stars to the biggest stage: Game 7 of the Finals.

Here are the top takeaways from Season 2 of “Starting 5.”

Trade to Houston still hurts Harden, Durant

The early days of the Oklahoma City Thunder paired two of the game’s top scorers on one team: Durant and Harden. They were teammates for three seasons before the Thunder dealt Harden to the Houston Rockets in 2012, propelling the guard to All-Star and MVP heights.

Even though the trade happened over a decade ago, emotions are still raw for Durant and Harden, who won Sixth Man of the Year that season. Alongside Russell Westbrook, the Thunder were coming off a Finals run in which they lost in five games to the Miami Heat.

Unable to reach a contract extension, Oklahoma City traded Harden. He explained that it “wasn’t about no real money. It was a couple million dollars.”

Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook played together in Oklahoma City for three seasons. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Durant admitted he didn’t know what was going on with Harden’s contract negotiations until the very end and “never thought there was a possibility he was leaving.” He also expressed anger about the reaction leaguewide, with players posting congratulatory messages for Harden on social media.

“I was like, ‘Shut the f— up. Y’all just was f—ing scared. Y’all knew we was on the way.” Durant said.

Harden echoed a similar sentiment.

“Overall, I was mad as hell, too,” he said. “Cause I got the call, and it’s like, then there was loss. These are my dawgs, like you see what we just did these last three years? It was like, ‘we’re gonna win a championship next year.’ … I was hurt. It was sad, for real.”

Durant said he liked playing with Harden and he misses it. However, he pointed out that he, Harden and Westbrook all maximized their potential, which is most important.

Haliburton considered taking a break from Pacers

Prior to leading the Pacers on a surprising NBA Finals run, Haliburton found himself in a dark place early in the 2024-25 season. His confidence took a hit after he played in just three games for Team USA in the Paris Olympics.

The All-Star guard struggled in November and December, averaging 18.1 points and nine assists on 44% shooting from the field as Indiana entered 2025 with a 16-18 record.

“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt as negative about myself as I did in November and December,” Haliburton said. “Yeah, I was definitely in a dark time.”

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His fiancée, Jade Jones, could tell Haliburton was feeling pressure from his play and was struggling to identify the root cause of his slump.

The highest-paid player on the Pacers, Haliburton said players such as himself are only evaluated on whether they can impact their respective team to win games. If they don’t, it’s next man up.

“It got to the point where I was like, ‘Should I kind of step away for a little bit just for our group? Would that be more beneficial?'” Haliburton said. “I know that if I’m not right, that our team isn’t gonna be right.”

A conversion with his trainer, renowned NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen, aided Haliburton’s turnaround. He also returned to Paris in late January with the Pacers facing the San Antonio Spurs.

This time, Haliburton performed. He dropped 28 points in Indiana’s 136-98 win, and the rest was history.

SGA, Chris Paul brotherhood on full display

Gilgeous-Alexander and Paul developed a strong bond in the one season they spent as teammates with the Thunder in 2019-20. The 2025 MVP called Paul a mentor and friend, and he leaned on him for advice.

After Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon nailed a game winner against the Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, Gilgeous-Alexander FaceTimed Paul when he got home. The two reviewed moments from the game.

Paul also attended Game 2 of Oklahoma City’s Western Conference finals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gilgeous-Alexander received his MVP award that night as Paul sat courtside next to Gilgeous-Alexander’s wife.

The Thunder guard playfully put Paul in a chokehold after the game, saying, “Now you stuck. Now you don’t know what to do. Now what?”

“Ima just chop your wrist off. It’s gonna be with me,” Paul replied, and the 12-time All-Star went to Gilgeous-Alexander’s house for dinner afterward.

The wild NBA Finals Game 1 ending told by the players

Haliburton and the Pacers’ shocking comebacks were a huge storyline of the postseason, and “Starting 5.” There may not have been a single comeback with larger ramifications than Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Thunder seemed to be in cruise control, holding a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. However, Indiana was in a position it had seen before that postseason and slowly walked Oklahoma City down — something Haliburton said the Pacers tried to do in each of their other comeback wins.

Indiana, down one with less than 10 seconds remaining, had the ball after Gilgeous-Alexander missed a jumper.

“They get the rebound come down, don’t call a timeout. [Haliburton] gets it to his right hand. He loves his right hand. That’s where he goes,” Gilgeous-Alexander explained.

Haliburton then dribbled toward the right wing and rose up for a go-ahead jumper.

“It felt like slow motion. Like the ball’s in the air forever. I’m just like, ‘It’s going in,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“I didn’t even know how to react, so I just yell,” Haliburton said, as the Pacers stole Game 1.

Raw reactions after Haliburton tears Achilles in Game 7

The improbable Game 1 comeback set up the best two words in a playoff series: Game 7.

Unfortunately, Haliburton’s outing ended prematurely due to a torn Achilles just halfway through the first quarter. Netflix mic’d Haliburton up during the game and followed him to the locker room.

The Pacers star — who had nine points before exiting — explained he wanted to heat check a 3-pointer, but didn’t like the opportunity. Therefore, he swung the ball, knowing it would rotate back to him with the intention of attacking his defender, Gilgeous-Alexander. However, when he went to drive to the basket, the injury occurred.

“I knew what it was,” Haliburton said.

“I turn around and look to see who’s on the floor, I was like, ‘Oh s—, no way.’ And then I seen him screaming,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

The first five minutes of Starting 5 Season 2? Absolute CINEMA ðŸ¿

Premiering on Netflix in 10 HOURS. pic.twitter.com/FWv797eBRl

— Netflix (@netflix) October 15, 2025

Haliburton revealed that he wanted to walk off, recalling that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant walked off when he tore his Achilles.

“I can walk off. Like, it’s possible. So I was like, ‘Get me up, I’m gonna walk off.’ It felt like just dead weight at the end of my leg,” he said. “I think that’s when I became overcome with emotion just because that’s when the reality really set in.”

Haliburton broke down in tears in the locker room with Jones, his father and his mother by his side. He got his ankle wrapped in ice and watched the rest of the game in the trainer’s room, saying to the TV: “Make it worth it, at least.”

With Indiana leading at halftime, Haliburton revealed that his biggest regret was not giving a halftime speech to the team. Oklahoma City ended up winning 103-91 to claim the championship.

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