PrepHoopsTN / Above The Rim Gym Fall Combine: Part XII
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Kamarie Coffey, Jakai Brooks, and Jacob Anderson enjoy the featured spotlight in this Fall Combine recapture article. Coffey is a lean, exceptionally mobile wing forward. Jakai’s game is evolving from spot-up shooter to a more well-rounded combo guard. Jason Anderson showed off punishing slashing mixed with unrelenting passion.
Take a longer look into the games of the three participants below.
Kamarie Coffey 2020 West Creek Wing Forward
Coffey (pictured above) is a Coach Tony Thompson guy who @PrepHoopsTN spent time evaluating in in 2018 spring. Coffey moves very fluidly. He has an easy manner about him. Coffey needs to begin directing his ideal mobility into production. There are games where he disappears and for a player with as much potential and size that is unforgivable.
With potential to play DI basketball Coffey can’t vanish…ever. He is blessed with the size and talent to be special. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” — Luke 12:48. Coffey needs to be a leading scorer every game in high school, or at least threaten to be that leading scorer. Teamed with Jaylen Negron and Montre Boddie, Coffey gives West Creek a dangerous, mid-range scoring option.
His strengths are mid-range shooting touch, amicable attitude, and height for the position. Kamarie Coffey reaches 8.5′ just standing and reaching up. Even if he couldn’t jump the 6-foot-5 (in shoes) Coffey could easily dunk the basketball. Instead add to that 8.5′ reach another 32 inches of vertical explosion and you have a dynamic long-armed athlete capable of destroying middle Tennessee opponents.
Coffey’s hops and length dictate he must be a 8-10 rpg player. Coffey needs to be selfish on the glass and completely overwhelm opponents with high point catches.
Kamarie can enhance his game more by adding footspeed. He has soft, easy sidesteps and the escapability is nice. What is missing somewhat is the burst from free throw line to free throw line. Taller, long-limbed players like Coffey tend to grow into their length late in high school. That may be coming. In the interim Kamarie Coffey can get slightly faster by just pumping the legs quicker in transition. Tall young men have a tendency to glide instead of churn the legs.
Kamari Coffey made the Fall Combine All-Star Game. In one more year Kamarie Coffey should be challenging for Fall Combine MVP. He is that good and should be that great.
Jakai Brooks 2021 Blackman Guard
Jakai Brooks Jakai is a versatile player that grew up as a point guard, shooting guard, and wing operator. With his height (5’8″), Brooks will be relegated to point guard at some point. Jakai’s strengths are that shooting touch. He will make most of his open shots and looks the part of a really nice catch-and-shoot guy.
The release point is pretty high, but even his top release point will be blocked occasionally. All Brooks can do to alleviate that concern is speed up the shot mechanics a little bit. This can be dangerous and sometimes efficiency drops with shot tinkering. Either way that is one option for Brooks to take advantage of shrinking shooting windows.
It will take another long look at Jakai to evaluate his handles. Brooks’ opportunities to lead an offense were too infrequent Sunday with the large guard turnout. It would be unfair to make broad, sweeping generalizations about his ball-handling without taking another afternoon watching Jakai play.
Jacob Anderson 2020 Dyer County Wing Guard
One member of the Dyer County High quintet Jacob Anderson introduced his game and name to @PrepHoopsTN.
Anderson is a bull with the basketball in his hands. He charges hard and direct into the paint daring you to stop him.
Anderson’s style of play is frightening for defenders. The 6-foot-0 (in shoes), 187 pound guard will either absorb or initiate contact. Often the initiator Jacob doesn’t bounce off gingerly. He gets the shot up regardless.
Jacob Anderson had his moments at the Fall Combine where he appeared out of control. Most high school coaches will take that kind of error. It is better to play too hard and force your coach to ask you to let off the gas then to play too timid and force your coach to demand more energy.
Anderson’s limitation is vertical explosion. Even with his +3 wingspan of 74.5″, Anderson struggled to play above the rim at all. Every level a player advances the opponents get more athletic, taller, and faster.
Improving his speed with and without the basketball is important for Jacob Anderson. His understanding of the game can use some tinkering, but again the passion and bravery is incredible.
Though Jacob Anderson might pack a sharpshooting pistol he was not finding the net often enough at the event. It is difficult to read too much into one singular day and Anderson might be that knockdown shooter. The jury is still out for PrepHoopsTN.
What is plain is that strong-shouldered Jacob Anderson is a bruising slasher with a commitment to creating contact and problems for taller defenders. He is not a player opposing guards like to defend.