Prospect Spotlight: Freddy Liriano (2018)
This past season, 2018 Takoma Academy (MD) G Freddy Liriano broke into the starting lineup as a point guard. “I was the starting point guard. I wasn’t really a scoring option. I had a lot of those around me, but I…
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Continue ReadingThis past season, 2018 Takoma Academy (MD) G Freddy Liriano broke into the starting lineup as a point guard.
“I was the starting point guard. I wasn’t really a scoring option. I had a lot of those around me, but I was really just making plays for them, being a floor general,” said the guard.
Now in the summer with his AAU team, Team Hardknocks, the 5-7 guard fits well into the scoring mold as a shooting guard.
“With Hardknocks, I have more of an all-around role. I play shooting guard with them. We’re a bit more undersized, so I have more of an all-around role. I crash the glass. I facilitate more because I have to score for them,” said Liriano.
At the core of his ability at both positions is one skill that can benefit any college coach in today’s game: reading and understanding screens.
In a comparison of his play as a floor general vs. a scorer, Liriano will give a slight advantage to his scoring ability, but what he really enjoys his reading the floor while scoring.
When asked by PHM what he believes his best skills are on the court, the Takoma guard immediately went to reading screens.
“Ball-handling, coming off-screens, making plays off-screens. I love it.”
Liriano also uses strong decision-making while utilizing the screens, going with the high-percentage shot when possible.
“I don’t shoot the three much. I can, but I’d rather go to the basket to get the easy shot; just shoot when I’m wide open,” the guard said.
It is this unique ability that has garnered the player elite camp invites this summer, despite no solid interest or offers to this point.
However, Liriano sees an opportunity to step up his game as the AAU season rolls on eventually into his next season with Takoma.
“Right now, I’m just trying to get stronger. That way I’m more of a defensive threat because defense right now is one of my main problems. I’m undersized, so I have to be scrappy in a way. I’m getting better at that, but I just need more time,” said Liriano.
He’ll have plenty of time this summer to improve with Team Hardknocks alongside his trip to the Pfeiffer University elite camp in August.