Nexxt Level U/Drill 4 Skill National Prep Showcase

<p>The last weekend of October brought some high-level basketball players to the Pittsburgh area for the Nexxt Level U/Drill 4 Skill Prep Showcase. This collection of talent was organized by legendary coach John Miller (Blackhawk) from Drill 4 Skill and Tyler Bardo (Central Mountain) of Nexxt Level U. The event was located at the Cool Springs venue, which is always an awesome place to conduct basketball games.</p> <p>With this collection of talent, I spoke with some area coaches on the high school and AAU levels about their ideas of who the standouts were throughout the afternoon. After compiling the data, I created a Top 5 list of the players that impressed a variety of coaches at the showcase. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="990964" first="Brayden" last="Reynolds"] - Chartiers Valley</strong></p> <p>6’3" Senior, Guard</p> <p>A division 1 recruited player that continues to impress coaches at every event. He is a crafty ball-handler, who has a "lights out" shooting range. Brayden’s athletic ability helps him on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. He is a talkative leader who you always hear "picking up" his teammates during the game. Also, Brayden has distinct court awareness and has the ability to make other players better on his team. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="990962" first="Dante" last="Spadafora"] - OLSH</strong></p> <p>6’0" Senior, Guard</p> <p>A division 2 recruit who is definitely a proven leader on the court. When you talk to coaches about him the first thing they mention is his all-out hustle. Dante’s high motor separates him from many other players who don’t have the type of conditioning level he portrays. He is a terror on the fast break and gets to the basket. Dante is a strong finisher despite his size. Also, his desire to win is unmatched and he will always give you one hundred percent effort.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="976076" first="Terrance" last="Pankey Jr."] - Youngstown</strong></p> <p>6’2" Sophomore, Guard</p> <p>Despite being only a sophomore, he is already on the radar of some colleges. Coaches will tell you that Terrance has the ability to "take over" games. His quick hands and athletic ability on the defensive end matched with his explosive first-step and finishing skills on offense make Terrance a talented all-around player. When it is "crunch time" he always wants the ball in his hands. This makes him a leader on the court that his teammates can trust when the game is on the line. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991350" first="Damon" last="Astorino"] - Ambridge</strong></p> <p>6’2" Sophomore, Guard/Forward</p> <p>As only a sophomore he has garnered the attention of a variety of colleges. What impresses coaches the most is his ability to be multi-dimensional. Damon can successfully play four positions on the floor. He possesses an extremely high basketball IQ, which helps him earn the trust and respect of his teammates during practice and games. Damon is a relentless penetrator to the basket who can finish consistently with either hand. Also, he is an outstanding free throw shooter.</p> <p><strong>Caleb Palumbo - Laurel Highlands</strong></p> <p>6’0" Senior, Guard</p> <p>An under-rated player who impressed coaches at the showcase, which has led to division 3 recruitment. He plays on the defending 5A champion Laurel Highlands team. Despite having a few other talented players on his high school team, Caleb will bring his best effort night in and night out. Hopefully, this season will give him more opportunities to showcase his talents, which he definitely deserves. He has above average ball-handling skills which lead to quality assists to his teammates. Caleb is a good defender who can create offensive opportunities with his defense.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Make sure you keep a "look-out" for these talented basketball players on the high school scene. As the season moves forward, it will be quite interesting to watch the development of these student-athletes. We anticipate an excellent year for all of these fine young men. </p>