UMSL Shootout Recap (Class of 2019 Guards)
Here is a look at some of the top Class of 2019 guards from last Friday’s University of Missouri-St. Louis Shootout:
Damien Loyd 5’10” Kirkwood: The little floor general did an excellent job of running the show for the Pioneers in both games that I watch, which were both victories. He used his speed and quickness to blow by defenders off the dribble and his court vision to find open teammates and set them up for easy opportunities. He also knocked down a number of 3-pointers and scored on a floater at the buzzer to beat Parkway South by two points.
Jalen White 6’1″ Lutheran North: A strong shooting guard who was at his best when he was able to get to the rim and get tough buckets in the lane. He has the ability to go in either direction from the wing and get to the basket with strength and toughness. He also did a nice job of the defensive end where he sat down and gave a good effort. One of the more physical guards that I watched during the day.
Malek Davis 5’10” Cardinal Ritter: A quick guard who plays with a lot of control and poise on offense and with excellent intensity on the defensive end. Davis is a young guard with an old basketball soul as he did a nice job of getting to his spots on the floor and unleashing a deadly mid-range jumper off the bounce. He also displayed very good 3-point range. He is always in control of what he wants to do when he has the basketball.
Ray Adams 6’3″ Webster Groves: As usual, Adams was one of the top shooting threats in the event as he knocked down some shots from well beyond the 3-point line. He has such a quick release, which makes it tough to defenders to close out. He also did an excellent job of moving without the basketball as he scored several buckets on several impressive back cuts. His constant motion was very impressive.
Amorey Womack 6’0″ Webster Groves: The talented combo guard is new to the squad after transferring from Maplewood. He is strong and physical with a real scorer’s mentality. Womack is a tough cover because of his ability to get to the basket and finish combined with his very good mid-range jumper. He can stop on the dime, plus he gets good elevation on the jumper. He also has 3-point range as well. He will give the Statesmen another viable offensive threat as they begin their quest for a repeat Class 5 state championship in the winter.
Jaron Thames 6’4″ Trinity: A newcomer to the St. Louis scene as he transfers in from Atlanta. My first impressive of his play was very positive. He is long with a very nice skill set. He handles the ball well and can really pass the basketball. He had several no-look passes that were quite impressive. He is always under control and has a high basketball IQ. He isn’t super explosive, but he moves well and gets to where he wants to go. I also like his mid-range jumper off the dribble.
Keyyaun Batchman 6’1″ Chaminade: A strong, physical guard who really punches the clock on the defensive end, where he never takes a play off. He’s strong and he moves his feet and plays defense with great desire. On offense, he is very good when he’s able to get downhill to attack the rim off the dribble.