GrindSZNKickoff Day 1 Solid Rock Standouts: Big Men

<p>The big men was the best group from Day 1 at the GrindSZNKickoff. There were plenty of interesting matchups as big men went after each other, patrolled the paint and showed off their size all night. A few of the big men emerged as the top players on the day, here are my five players from Friday. </p> <p><strong>Johnathan Aku -- Texas Impact 4:13</strong></p> <p>Aku is a player that you gravitate towards as he is very skilled with his 6'10 frame. He was one of the biggest players in the gym and it showed as he showed off his strength and inside presence. He outmuscled the opposing big man and rebounded well in the game. He sets strong screens, ran the break well with a high motor and had the edge in the game as he had three dunks that got the team going. He has a high ceiling but appears very raw, especially with his back to the basket and once he gets it in the post but showed that he can affect the game in other ways as he is a rim protector that controlled everything down low.His athleticism and willingness to dunk everything separates him. </p> <p><strong>Preston Aymond -- Texas Impact 4:13</strong></p> <p>Aymond was one of the most versatile players on the day as he is a 6'7 big man that moves as a win and also is able to open things up. He played alongside Aku and that is one of the best big man duos at the tournament as Aymond provides everything that Aku does not. He is a player that is capable of playing inside out with soft touch around the rim, he sees the floor well from a big man spot and makes the extra pass and is very strong. He did not allow many guys to get the rebound over him, made big men work down low, patrolled the paint and made things difficult for the offensive player. Aymond is a player that teams need as he is a matchup nightmare with intangibles that you cannot teach. </p> <p><strong>Jtayvion Johnson -- Memphis Showtime </strong></p> <p>This Memphis team is scary good as they completely dominated in their first game. They have so many players that are so athletic and fast and they play a brand of basketball that they attack at the same time and swarm defensively and from there it is on their big men to carve you up. Johnson definitely had his big moments as there was nothing the big man could not do. He had multiple blocks and deflections, stole the ball down low and got out on the break and showed off his athleticism with dunks. He uses his strength to open things up for himself and get himself going and his teammates makes sure to find him. He played bully-ball and he is an excellent rebounder that goes straight up with the ball. I am excited to see this team against another good team to really see how good they are as I am sold as of right now and Johnson is a really big reason why. </p> <p><strong>Jaylin Lucas -- Memphis Showtime </strong></p> <p>Another solid player for this Memphis team is Lucas. The game was over early and it was behind Lucas that the team rallied. he was too much inside as there were no answers for him once he got the game in the post. He has good footwork, does not shy away from contact, goes through defenders and is very athletic. His combination of size, strength and quickness will allow him to be a mismatch down low offensively and on defense he is able to take chances and still not allow the offensive player to get comfortable. He was unstoppable offensively and also showed that he is willing to make the open pass down low which is a lost trait. Get a look at this team if you can as they have a full team of players that can go get it but this team goes as far as Lucas takes them as he is the engine. </p> <p><strong>Sekou Gassama -- Gateway</strong></p> <p>For a player to be legit 6'10 it was entertaining to see a player demand attention without even getting the ball. Once he did get the ball he finished it over the rim. It was not a great game for him offensively as he did not get much going but he is a player that has pretty good footwork and is very strong. He sets perfect screens as it opens things up and also creates for himself. In the game he went in the post and demanded the ball and made smart plays once he did. He has a solid frame that really gets things going on the defensive end and he was one of the days best rebounders as he not only boxes out but soars and corals big rebounds. He is strong and pushes guys out of their comfort spots, protects the paint and everything that goes up and is highly skilled for a player so big. Saturday will be a bigger game for him and a player to watch for the weekend as he will get his own sooner than later. </p>