2020 Hardwood Classic: standout wings (KS)

<p><em><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The players listed below were among players I was able to watch, exclusively from Kansas at the 2020 Hardwood Classic in Kansas City.</span></em></p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="599759" first="Joe" last="Berry"] | YOBO SG | Washburn Rural ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Berry, a gifted athlete with a feel for the game, was a potent scorer for YOBO last weekend. He shot the ball really well out of the catch and could swiftly put opposing teams in a deficit with repetitive or consecutive strikes from distance. Also in his off-ball role, Berry had a knack for trailing fellow slashers, boarding and elevating to return shots near the rim. A true hustle presence on the floor, he was starkly aggressive on both ends of the floor and could even play above the rim with the ball in his hands.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="730622" first="Jack" last="Johnson"] | Team Buddy Buckets Kansas CG | Andover ’21 <em>(pictured above)</em></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Johnson’s speed, ball-handling skills and shooting talents were on display at the showcase. With the ball in his hands, Johnson worked his magic; splitting double-teams, catching teammates in moving windows with pinpoint accuracy or taking it for himself and forcing perfect rotation off the glass. An aware scorer with great vision in the half-court, Johnson was able to put the ball in the hole even from the toughest angles on the glass. As an off-ball shooter, his ability to catch the ball and land true to the goal with magnet-like efficiency aided him in knocking down shots at a high percentage from the wings and corners. Johnson’s bag was full of tricks last weekend, and he rarely slowed.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="730629" first="Jacob" last="Hanna"] | Team Buddy Buckets Kansas SG | Maize ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Hanna fit into a utility role with TBBK, Hannah’s athletic tools proved valuable on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the 6-foot-4-inch slashing guard took the ball to the rim fervently and elevated with great power, regularly drawing fouls or converting the try. Also displaying his awareness, Hanna did a good job of concentrating defenders near the rim, either from the catch in the paint or on the drive, before kicking out to a shooter. When he caught the ball in the open floor, there was hardly a body in the gym who could do much to limit him from throwing down a voracious dunk. Defensively, Hanna was able to limit paint scorers and scoring guards alike, a trait that could prove valuable for him.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="530376" first="Jordan" last="Vincent"] | Team Buddy Buckets KS SG/SF | Sunrise Christian ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>If you were looking for the most versatile player from the tournament, your search stops here. Playing his inside-out game all weekend, Vincent’s talents translated to on-court production for TBBK in Kansas City. In an off-ball role, Vincent went to <em>work, </em>combing by easy buckets by virtue of his awareness, making great cuts to get the rock. He was brilliant in analyzing the integrities of opposing defenses before slipping into cracks and scoring. He could also receive the ball in the post and hit face-up shots with competence. As an on-ball scorer, however, Vincent’s skills were the most salient. He has good handles, down-hill acceleration to the rim and could hit shots from tough angles off the glass.</p>