Pick-and-Roll Specialists in VA (Part 1)

Jack Herron

August 30, 2021 @ 02:40 PM

While we’ve been updating our rankings and breaking down content on those, we decided to take a look at some of the best specialists in different areas of the state. Today, we take a look at part one of some of the top pick-and-roll specialists in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="815578" first="Knasir" last="McDaniel"] | 5’9” PG | Paul VI ’22 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201614" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> There may not be anyone in the country in the 2022 class that runs the pick-and-roll better than McDaniel, who is deadly coming off of ball screens because he can both score it and make plays for others. He has great burst allowing him to turn the corner when someone goes over, he can pull up and make shots when guys go under and he makes great reads on rolls and rotations. George Cutler | 5’11” PG | Cape Henry ’22 Cutler is a super dynamic and shifty guard who thrives in pick-and-rolls because he can make plays for others and also can exploit mismatches on switches. He can turn the corner and get downhill where he can shoot the floater or make plays for others, he can split with his quickness and handle and if he gets a big on a switch he’s going to kill them with his handle and shift. [player_tooltip player_id="1217449" first="Gray" last="Proffitt"] | 6’5” CG | Douglas Freeman ’22 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Proffitt-Gray.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1164781" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Proffitt-Gray-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Proffitt isn’t as quick as most guys on this list, but he has great size to see over the top and make passes on the pick-and-roll and he reads rotations and makes great passes in it. He plays with good pace and has great patience, he can make almost every pass out of it and he has the size and athleticism to get downhill and finish at the rim if they don’t play it right. [player_tooltip player_id="815623" first="Kyle" last="Honore"] | 5’10” PG | Potomac ’22 Honore is the perfect old school pick-and-roll player with his pass first mentality and patience letting the play develop and making the right read. He’s so good at changing pace and changing directions, he works well getting his defender low and coming off the screen tight and when guys go under or don’t show he can make shots from deep off the bounce. [player_tooltip player_id="815616" first="Ethan" last="Millirons"] | 6’0” PG | Auburn ’22 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Millirons-Ethan-Premier.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1162482" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Millirons-Ethan-Premier-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Millirons is one of the most under control and well rounded offensive guards on this list, and it makes him very dangerous in pick-and-roll situations because he can do whatever the defense gives him. He’s excellent coming off and getting his feet set and letting it fly from deep, he can get in the lane with a hesitation and either make a read or finish in the midrange and he trusts his teammates and puts them in situations to succeed. [player_tooltip player_id="992530" first="Trevor" last="Smith"] | 5’11” PG | Woodside ’23 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1187190" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Smith is a multifaceted guard who can make plays for others on the ball and he can make shots when he’s moved off the ball, but his ability to run the pick-and-roll is one of the first things I noticed about him as a young guard. He works guys down and comes off screens hard, he can separate off the screen and knock down shots, he can deny it and get in the lane and he makes good reads when he gets in the paint.