Open Gym/Workout Report: Roosevelt Roughriders

<p>Head coach Yusuf Leary has been building his program at Roosevelt and this season may be the year when things really come together. The Roughriders finally have experience to match with the talent, and in terms of sheer numbers Leary has one of the deepest rosters in 6A. A number of guys were sitting out the action at open gym when we watched - notably Malik Kelley (2020), Tyjuan Overton (2020), and Brandon Hopson (2021) - but there were plenty of guys who made an impression.</p> <p><strong>Donatello Tupper (2022)</strong> - Tupper was the best player on the floor in this open gym session. The 6-foot-4 sophomore was slicing through the defense to the cup and finished more than once with a slam. The lefty is super smooth and at times it looks like he's gliding to the hoop. There's no question he'll have a much-increased role this year.</p> <p><strong>Jonah Williams (2020)</strong> - Williams is a quick ball-handler and passer and exhibited some pure point guard skills. The 6-foot junior looked to pass first but also converted some nice drives into the lane. Defensively, he showed some good motor.</p> <p><strong>Jayoni Moore (2020)</strong> - It was definitely not the greatest offensive day for Moore as he simply couldn't buy a bucket from the outside. But there's no question the 6-foot senior will be a player the Roughriders will depend on heavily for his scoring, and to Moore's credit when the shot wasn't falling, he started looking for his teammates.</p> <p><strong>Keanu Lorton (2021)</strong> - Lorton is projected to Roosevelt's "3 and D" guy - a lockdown defender who can also spot up and hit some perimeter shots. The 5-foot-10 junior was a physical defender and while he couldn't quite get it going from the outside, he did convert some tough moves in the key.</p> <p><strong>Jonathan Claxton (2020)</strong> - Claxton looks to have grown a couple more inches to 6-foot-8 and his length made a difference especially on the defensive end. The senior is still a work in progress on the offensive side of the floor but he was able to score a little inside.</p> <p><strong>Antonio Jimenez (2022)</strong> - There's one thing Jimenez does and he does it well - knock down threes. The 6-foot-1 sophomore wasn't shy about putting them up and the lefty was hitting them. Jimenez also showed the ability to create off the dribble a little, so he's not just a standstill shooter.</p> <p><strong>Chris Turner-Ping (2020)</strong> - Turner-Ping wasn't quite hitting his perimeter shots but made some nice cutting moves to the basket where he finished near the rim. As usual, the 6-foot-3 senior ran the floor really well.</p> <p><strong>Cole Tindall (2020)</strong> - He didn't get many looks on offense, other than finishing one drive to the hoop, but Tindall was rock-solid on the defensive glass. The 6-foot-3 senior simply understands positioning and blocking out.</p> <p><strong>Nywaun Campbell (2023)</strong> - One thing that immediately stood about the incoming freshman was his build - he's already built like a grown man and has the type of frame that could support even more weight/muscle. He was powerful getting to the basket and finishing and while we didn't get to see it on this day, the word is he can shoot it a little too. Leary has a roster that's very deep in upperclassmen, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Campbell get worked in here and there his first year of high school basketball.</p>