2022 Day 1 Standouts in the Freedom Classic
Basketball is back in Colorado! Well, kind of. The Freedom Classic brought in some in-state teams for their first piece of action this summer. I watched some of the earlier games on Thursday, and there were a couple of standouts…
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Continue ReadingBasketball is back in Colorado! Well, kind of. The Freedom Classic brought in some in-state teams for their first piece of action this summer. I watched some of the earlier games on Thursday, and there were a couple of standouts on the day. Here is who stood out for 16U.
JJ Williams JJ Williams 6'5" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO – Pro Skills
Williams is playing a year up but is undoubtedly a game-changer. Williams is one of the top-ranked freshman in the state and with good reason. He adds a variety to the team as he can shoot it with a beautiful stroke, bang inside with his size and also score in bunches. What was great to see, however, was his ability to be the team’s playmaker. Williams was the best passer on the day, and that is something new that I got to see. He was whipping passes around the court for wild outlets, getting everyone involved, and having fun as well as scoring with ease. Williams had himself a good day.
Joey Bilello Joey Bilello 6'8" | SF Thunderridge | 2022 State CO – Pro Skills
Bilello was one of my favorite players to watch on the entire day, and every single time I watch him, the more anxious I get for bigger tournaments/start of the season. Bilello can do it all at 6’7 and showcased the ability to also play out on the wing and as a stretch-four, which he will likely play in college. Bilello knocked down a couple of 3-pointers but used his size as he was one of the taller players on the day. He cut for easy finishes, got out on the break, and finished and also showed off a nice feel under the rim as he spun off of defenders and had his way inside. Bilello also made his presence be felt on defense with multiple blocks. With how great the others around him played, he still managed to stand out. I’ll say it again – he is one of my picks for the state’s biggest sleepers. Won’t be able to say that for long.
Caleb Wilcox – Colorado Magic
The Magic team was a scrappy team that was outmatched with the opponents that they were up against, but played extremely hard and pushed the opposing team when they could. Their best player was a smooth lefty that somehow managed to make the right plays. Wilcox was great at finding the open man, and when he could not, he made a move that freed himself up for a couple of easy finishes. Wilcox has a great basketball IQ and also an understanding of where to be. He rebounded and went straight up, competed on defense, and also showed that he will play hard even when down. I liked what I saw from him and now have him on my radar.
Said Mobasher Said Mobasher 6'1" | CG Thomas Jefferson | 2022 CA-S – 5280 Athletics
Albeit in a loss, Mobasher is another player that impresses me every time that I have seen him. Mobasher makes you gravitate towards him on the court. Mobasher picks up all 94 feet and makes it difficult for the opposing teams’ best ball-handler to get anything going. He uses his body and turns defense to offense, creates chaos, and he also can knock down open shots while being a creative finisher. Mobasher is the player that stood out for 5280 and will be rising with his play.
Bryson Linder – Colorado Hoops Academy
Linder was the surprise standout on the day for me, as I did not know who he was going into the day. Well, he made his presence known from the opening tip as he played well in both games. Linder is a scrappy and aggressive guard that used his speed to get to where he wanted. He blew by defenders for easy lay-ins, went coast to coast for finishes and scored in bunches. The Colorado Hoops Academy team won both games with their size, but the guard that separated himself was Linder as he got the team in their sets and was the scoring options, especially in the second game.