#PHLive: Saturday lunch break standouts

<table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffd6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1048326" first="Jeremiah" last="Akin"]</strong> | H.I.T 2023</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="height: 21px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 21px;">6’3” F</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center; height: 21px;">Oswego East (IL) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>A compact and agile forward, Akin played the high-post for H.I.T. against Oz Elite, serving as its focal point offensively. He scored the ball typically facing up opposing defenders from the mid-range or powering his way to the rack, but his best trait may have been his passing skills. He was often a primary distributor as H.I.T.’s offensive scheme ran through him most of the time. In that role, he displayed his vision and quick wit, often dishing to baseline cutters or opposite side wings. Defensively, although Oz Elite was not playing a traditional one-through-five, there was not a player on the floor that Akin could not guard effectively.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffd6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1161947" first="Joshua" last="Ofori"]</strong> | Minnesota Chill Elite</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">6’5" C</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">Shakopee (MN) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Ofori was absolutely unstoppable in a noon match with KC Spurs. The post-scorer finished the game with 18 points while spending significant portions of the game on the bench (on account of MN Chill utilizing its full rotation in a blowout win). It was clear early that Ofori could not be contained once he caught the ball in the paint, as 16 of his total were tallies in the first half alone. He has size, power and frame, but the sophomore is also impressively nimble and, most importantly, knows how to get himself open. Defensively, it was just as much a lost cause for KC Spurs to hope to acquire easy points in the paint as it was strenuous to tame him offensively; he hosted a block party and discouraged slashers from trying their chances down the middle.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffd6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068572" first="CJ" last="Johnson"]</strong> | Tulsa Hawks 2023</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">5’11” PG</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">Mount St. Mary (OK) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>If there was a classic point guard in the gym Saturday, it was Johnson. He finished with 10 points and 10 assists in a match against Illinois Hoopstars. He was keen to making down-court plays, frequently ending up with deflections in his carriage before lofting a pinpoint dish for one of his teammates to conveniently gather and finish. Also an underrated scorer, the slithery Johnson is very capable of finding his way to the rim on angles.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffd6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1191885" first="Na’Kylan" last="Starks"]</strong> | Tulsa Hawks 2023</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">5’10” PG</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">Coweta (OK) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Starks had spurts in which he was nearly unstoppable in the Hawks’ 11 a.m. game against Illinois Hoopstars, finishing with 18 points. On one sequence of fortuitous events for the shifty sharpshooter, Starks scored 12-straight for the Hawks, including a daring, floor-stretching triple from feet beyond the arch. Starks also finished well from the mid-range, including one shot during that run that looked smooth as butter off one foot. One key to his success, athletically, is his lateral quickness that he has likely inherited on the gridiron. However, unlike many scoring guards his age, he plays at a comfortable, controlled pace in which his crossover might not be <i>quite</i> as quick, but it is certainly well-times and effective.</p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #fdffd6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1068564" first="Jadon" last="Cool"]</strong> | Tulsa Hawks 2023</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">6’3” G</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">Holland Hall (OK) ‘23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Cool had a great scoring performance, finishing with 26 points. A <i>cool</i> scorer, Cool is a smooth finisher at the rim. He often served as a sort of calming factor for Tulsa Hawks, just because he makes it look so easy. He started out hot from the arch,  which consequently prompted Illinois Hoopstars to crowd him off the line; from there, he became exceptionally aggressive in transition, seeking and executing almost every opportunity to get an easy down-court shot.</p>