Las Vegas Classic with the Nevada Ballers
One of the most unsung aspects about the game of basketball is the brotherhood and the ability to lay it all on the line for the person playing next to you. I once heard a quote “Coaching doesn’t start with X’s and O’s it starts with believing that players win games and coaches win players.” That idea certainty stands true for the Nevada Ballers Club, this group of young men certainty laid it all on the line for their Head Coach Adrian Youngblood this week at the Las Vegas Classic.
Their development going forward will be a great story as Coach Youngblood continues to build this program. Over the course of this weekends tournament I saw a lot of positive things they could build off of. One of the strengths I noticed was very solid team defense and their ability to communicate on the floor. The Nevada Ballers has a lot of good height on their front line so rebounding seemed to come natural for a lot of their young big’s on the floor.
Their guard play was fast and furious. A great word to describe their backcourt was tenacious. They showed a lot of speed on the ball but really made their money on the court by establishing strong defense. If they as a collective group realize they are a good enough team to compete with anybody and continue believe in themselves the sky is the limit for this group of young men.
Kaveon Perry Durango 2020 – The guard play is what set the tone for this team. The 5’10 Perry’s ability to squat on the opposing team’s best offensive player and shadow him and have active hands in the passing lane sets up his team for easy transition buckets. He is a good shooter that is comfortable in catch and shoot situations. Often times in the draft we hear the term 3 and D. That my friend is Kaveon Perry’s game. He mentions his biggest encouragement was Coach Youngblood challenging him day in and day out to be a better player.
Jerimiah Beckwood 2020 Durango – Beckwood is a physically imposing guard who has a lethal hop step. Standing in at 6’5 he was able to setup shop around the rim. Every time I looked up #0 was at the FT line. Also for a guard he showed a nice baby hook reminiscent of yester years. Slashing, is one of his better attributes. He’d be unstoppable if he showed more confidence in his jump shot. As a guard he understands the importance of team rebounding and as a coach you can’t ask for more than that.
Syian Sweat Democracy Prep 2020- Sweat wore #9 which is fitting because his game was so reminiscent of Rajon Rondo too me. At 5’9 he had grown man calves and those are just something you gotta deal with. He was a pogo stick able to rise up and dunk. That was not Rondo esque. However, his ability to be a floor general and play with speed was. On the defensive end he was a dog. He got after the opposing team’s back court. At the end of the game body language is everything. Syian Sweat’s man knew he had a long day at the office. Sweat would have followed him and locked him down in the bathroom if he had too. He is a throwback PG realizing that defense is important first and than setting up teammates for greatness is the next mission.