#MidwestGrindSession: Sunday morning 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="1080170" first="Kobe" last="Smith"]</strong> | OZ Elite</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">6’2” SG</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">Wichita Southeast (KS) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>In a stellar matchup between OZ Elite and Tulsa Hawks, Smith scored the ball exceptionally in the second half for his team. He enacted a vital scoring run during that period to keep his team practically deadlocked with the Hawks as he nearly equalized the opposition by hisself. A self-starter, Smith primarily showcased his ability to score out of the dribble, manufacturing shots for himself at the mid-range and close-up. He used a variety of methods, a couple times attacking with force, other times hop-stepping his way around defenders and avoiding contest.</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="981285" first="Diante" last="Palmer"]</strong> | Tulsa Hawks</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">6’1” PG</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">Mount St. Mary (OK) ’23</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Palmer looked like his best self, in spurts, against OZ Elite on Sunday morning. The shifty and athletic guard has the skill to go with his downhill quickness, but he often elects to force the ball into the lane rather than use a careful maneuver; however, he has lately integrated his skill into his overall scoring package, and it came to fruition during that game. He penetrated the lane and found his way <i>around</i> defenders with his quickness rather than <i>through</i>, showcasing his crossover, his euro and his elevated finish at the rim. This also led to fortuitous calls in Palmer’s favor, which led to successful trips to the charity stripe and sent his team into the bonus before Oz, which ultimately gave the Hawks the edge late in a narrow match.</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</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>Already putting together a n award-worthy passing portfolio, Johnson’s campaign for best passer in the 405 area code stopped through Wichita this weekend. Sunday morning against OZ Elite, Johnson finished with 9 assists<span class="Apple-converted-space"> but had more dimes that resulted in a teammate shooting free throws.</span></p> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #ffd6d6;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="745381" first="Keyshon" last="Spotwood"]</strong> | Team Buddy Buckets OKC</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #f2f0f0;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;">6’1” PG</td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: center;"> Edmond Memorial ’21</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Spotwood was just embarrassing peoples’ kids Sunday morning. A show-stopping defender, and cerebral transition playmaker, Spotwood tormented opposing ball-handlers in their own half-court, typically following a TBB score by using his lateral quickness, reach, elevation and sometimes ball-hawking. After that, Spotwood created scoring opportunities either for himself or others, using his unrivaled down-hill speed or playing at a more comfortable pace as passing lanes developed. He also threw down a couple vivacious jams on those plays. All things considered, Spotwood’s play often led to TBB scoring runs in which the opposing team was hardly able to even cross half-court.</p>