2019 Mayhem in the Plex: D1 Prospects (TX) versus Tulsa Hawks Blue (OK)
GAME: D1 Prospects defeated Tulsa Hawks (Blue) 64-58 in the first game of the Saturday morning session of the Mayhem in the Plex 16U bracket. Tulsa Hawks found itself staring an early 20-9 deficit in the face after quick strikes from D1 Prospects…
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D1 Prospects defeated Tulsa Hawks (Blue) 64-58 in the first game of the Saturday morning session of the Mayhem in the Plex 16U bracket. Tulsa Hawks found itself staring an early 20-9 deficit in the face after quick strikes from D1 Prospects in the half-court. D1 Prospects held a hefty lead of 10-14 points for most of the remainder of the game before Tulsa Hawks animated a late run, finding themselves trailing by as few as 6 in the closing minutes of the game. D1 Prospects’ late free-throw efficiency however, allowed it to secure the win.
TEAM EVALUATIONS:
D1 Prospects:
The most apparent takeaway from this team is that it plays like a high school team. For its individuals, the sum of their talents would likely not be as productive as what they accomplish on-court. Constructed with a few smart scorers with the capacity to beat defenders purely and several role-players who mostly bite into the game with a selfless approach, D1 Prospects’s roster is pretty ideal for success in scoring the ball. Additionally, its free-throw shooting was instrumental in the win as D1 Prospects out-dueled Tulsa Hawks 89 percent to 56 percent. This team’s best potential improvements could come by its individual shot-selection, which was questionable at times.
Tulsa Hawks (Blue):
Though sloppy at times, Tulsa Hawks Blue’s scoring attack showed signs of individual talent. Multiple players at the bottom and top levels beat their defenders independently on various occasions. Converse to its adversary, however, altruism was not its best quality in the matchup. Missed assist opportunities, due in part to a lack of down-floor vision, were a blemish on its performance. A high point for Tulsa Hawks was its reluctance to get swallowed by D1 Prospects’s full-court press.
PROSPECT REPORT:
Most intriguing prospect: Antonio Reynolds 2021 D1 Prospects/Dickinson HS guard (pictured above)
- On-ball playmaker
- Streaker
- Explosive, tall guard
- Spot-up shooter
Reynolds finished with 12 points to lead D1 Prospects to the win. Reynolds, a 6-foot-5-inch point guard, scored first on a wing 3-pointer from the catch, establishing his shot early and narrowing close-outs from opposing defenders. After this, Reynolds was able to expose these defenders on the dribble and get to the rim to score. His ball-handling talents are non-typical for his height. Reynolds also rebounded the ball and threw down a dunk in the second half on the put-back over an opposing defender, inaugurating some swagger to his game. He converted another dunk in the contest, ensuing from a teammate’s down-floor assist with spacing.
Best player in a loss: Eli Wallace 2021 Tulsa Hawks Blue/Bishop Kelley point guard
- Shooter
- Rebounding guard
- Floor general
Eli Wallace was the greatest highlight of the game for Tulsa hawks with 20 points to lead all scorers; 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The first observation of Wallace’s game was his passing. As an on-ball guard, he distributed the ball extraordinarily-well from the top of the key. Helping his teammates early led to greater ease in finding open shots from the perimeter, which he promptly took advantage of. Wallace hit four 3-pointers in the contest, including a couple long-balls to stretch the defense.
MVP: Maurice Pinnock 2021 D1 Prospects/Clear Creek HS guard
- Scoring guard
- Slasher
- Great footwork
Possessing a fair share of the ball on the perimeter, Pinnock showcased the ability to creatively produce his own scoring opportunities on several instances and, most impressively, was able to score the ball at the rim in spite of his shorter, 5-foot-10-inch frame. Pinnock finished with 14 points to lead D1 Prospects in scoring. Pinnock’s success in the scoring game can be attributed both to his trained ball-handling skills and his natural lateral quickness.
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