Maryland Top 250 Expo: Top Shooters
Prep Hoops made its way to the state of Maryland yesterday to hold their Top 250 Expo. The result was more than 70 high school players from in and around the state showing up to showcase their talents in front of evaluators and college coaches.
The event was a huge success and gave a number of players to shine. For this article, we’ll focus on the top shooters who were knocking down three’s with efficiency throughout the afternoon.
Will Miller | Mt. Carmel | 2018
If you had to evaluate each player’s shot, Miller would have the best in terms of mechanics, quickness and results. The six-foot guard is known for his ability to knock down the long ball. With hopes to play collegiately, he knows he will be primarily a point guard, so he focused much of yesterday as the ball handler and set up guy, but also picked his spots to let it fly. The good thing about Miller is he can shoot it off the dribble, off the catch from a kick out pass or coming off of a screen.
Gates Cook | Dundalk | 2018
Cook caught a lot of coach’s attention yesterday with his shooting. The 6’4 guard has always been known as a sniper, but this summer has been big for him in terms of improving his ability to do so off the dribble and creating his own shot. Cook had a number of three’s where he would rock his defender to sleep and rise up a couple feet behind the arc. The result was nothing but net.
Ziggy Reid | St. Paul’s | 2019
Reid came into the Top 250 Expo as one of the top players listed. Since dropping more than 20 pounds over the past few months, his game has transformed and become much more intriguing. It isn’t often that you see Reid shoot a bad shot. The 6’5 wing is always sure to be in rythym when he lets one fly. Yesterday he was scoring from all three levels, but kept finding the open space around the perimeter in the halfcourt and trailing in transition for open shots.
Raphe Ayres | Maret | 2019
Ayres is one of the gems that have great height and ability to shoot. At 6’5 and a quick release, it isn’t often that you see him get his shot blocked after a catch. On top of that, he’s a smart player that understands the flow of the game. In yesterday’s expo, he made a living off setting a ball screen and fading to the three-point line. Whether it was one or two passes, the ball would eventually find his hands with enough time for him to launch it.
Matt Rogers | Goretti | 2020
Rogers was the best rising sophomore at the expo. He’s a very skilled 6’6 forward that can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot or feast off of kick-out three’s. While he did a mixture of both yesterday, seeing him knock down three’s with the efficiency that he does catches your eye right away.
Brandon Held | Marriots Ridge | 2019
Held isn’t a player that’s going to stand out in lay up lines per say, but once the game starts, he’ll make you pay every time he’s left open from deep. The 6’2 guard isn’t going to break his man down off the dribble, but he knows how to move without the ball and find the open space to get his shot off. If he can develop a little game off the dribble and have more of a killer mentality, he’s going to be an intriguing Division III prospect.