Most Intriguing Prospects: Cardinal Ritter vs Guyer (TX)

<p>Day 2 of the Ozark Mountain Shootout went down Friday night from Glendale High School in Springfield.  The star-studded event had some of the regions top talent on display and there were memorable individual performances in all four games.  The first game of the evening was a match-up between a deep, talented Cardinal Ritter and an impressive Guyer (TX) squad.</p> <p>Guyer was red-hot right out of the gates, building a comfortable lead and maintaining it for the most part through the first three quarters.  They led 54-44 after 3Q.  However, Cardinal Ritter came out on fire themselves in the fourth quarter and battled back to within one, 67-66, with under a minute remaining before Guyer iced the game at the charity stripe for a hard-earned 71-66 victory.  Here are the most intriguing prospects based on their performance from this MO/TX match-up:</p> <p><em><strong>6'5 Sr Tyler Mcghie - Guyer</strong></em></p> <p>It was a treat to watch Mcghie in both games at the Ozark Mountain Shootout.  He is a gifted, high-IQ scorer that delivered again on Friday night.  Despite being without their "best player", Guyer came out of the weekend with a pair of wins and Mcghie emerged as a capable alpha-dog.  He can hit any shot at any time.  The two that stood out the most was a transition step back three that left a Ritter defender falling away into the paint and a post-up back down into a Dirk-ish turnaround jumper.  He can fill it up.</p> <p><em><strong>6'5 Sr Amaechi Chukwu - Guyer</strong></em></p> <p>Chukwu is a ton of fun to watch.  He is as strong as a bull and was a dominant force inside.  Incredibly tough on the glass.  He had the best back to the basket game in the shootout.  Very good left hand and is automatic over his left shoulder.  Feels out and reads his defender well in the post and makes his moves with quick burst and purpose.  </p> <p><em><strong>6'5 Jr Brayden Bradshaw - Guyer</strong></em></p> <p>Big time versatile wing.  He was instrumental in the win for Guyer.  Got things going early on by curling hard or turning the corner and using his combination of physicality and athleticism to finish around the basket.  He also showed that he is more than comfortable as an outside jump-shooter, as he hit some absolute dagger threes.</p> <p><em><strong>6'6 So KyeRon Lindsay - Guyer</strong></em></p> <p>This guy is a sophomore?  Really?  KyeRon is a physical specimen with scary potential.  He played a much larger role Friday night, with his team in foul trouble.  He did a nice job of protecting the rim and securing boards with Chukwu out of the game at times.  He can play back to the basket and had a very nice reverse pivot finish inside.  He was more aggressive attacking the rim and had an athletic reverse lay-up through contact.  He is next up in a line of tremendously talented prospects to come through Guyer.</p> <p><em><strong>6'0 Sr Glenn Valentine - Cardinal Ritter</strong></em></p> <p>Glenn really heated up in the second half for Ritter and nearly helped will them back to a come from behind win.  He consistently beat Guyer down the floor for transition finishes and knocked down some critical threes.  He was relentless to the rim and got to the free throw line a lot down the stretch.  He is a willing and capable defender as well, finished with 20 big points.</p> <p><em><strong>6'3 Jr Mario Fleming - Cardinal Ritter</strong></em></p> <p>Super Mario was in his bag against Guyer on Friday.  With the defense in a stingy zone, Ritter placed Fleming in the middle and essentially every time he got a touch in the high post he buried a jumper.  His efficiency as a jump shooter frustrated Guyer to the point where they collapsed their zone around him, but he was still able to burn them to the tune of a 26 point performance.</p> <p><em><strong>6'1 Jr Nyjahl Vaughn - Cardinal Ritter</strong></em></p> <p>Nyjahl didn't blow up the stat sheet but he certainly made his presence felt.  He is a big time defender (we already knew this after his summer with the Blazers).  He came up with some huge steals and deflections.  He showed his potential in a quick stretch where he buried a three pointer and then immediately followed that with a steal and lay-up that beat the buzzer.</p> <p><em><strong>6'8 Sr Brandon Ellington - Cardinal Ritter</strong></em></p> <p>I would like to see more consistency out of Brandon.  He is oozing with potential and showed flashes of being one of the better front-court prospects at the shootout.  I think he is on the verge of really busting out.  He is a long, athletic rim runner that can be very disruptive in the paint.  He is a strong dump-off finisher that can convert above the rim.  He had a very impressive chase down block.  </p>