PrepHoopsTN Summer Combine Evaluations: Part XI

Andrew Force August 17, 2021 @ 05:08 PM

Dawson Arnold Dawson Arnold 6'9" | C West Ridge | 2023 State TN recorded two disparate sprint times. The 3.63 feels more accurate as it is challenging to imagine Dawson equaling the straight-line speed of 5-foot-6 Davion Evans Davion Evans 5'6" | PG McMinn County | 2023 State TN or speedster Aaron Smith Aaron Smith 5'11" | PG Cleveland | 2024 TN (Cleveland). They both clocked around 3.40 seconds and that is highly unlikely to be Dawson’s true time.

The weaknesses of Dawson Arnold Dawson Arnold 6'9" | C West Ridge | 2023 State TN are modest explosion vertically,

Shooting touch inside 12’ is better than average.

Good endurance for a forward.

Basketball is a bruising game. To compete at the highest level, Dawson needs to develop his chest and shoulders. He competes in the post, but bigger and stronger dudes could simply bull through him with a strong shoulder. In order to capably battle those bruisers the defensive-minded Dawson must invest time in the weight room prior to his junior season.

A good attitude goes a long way for a basketball team. Contagious. Inspiring. Uplifting. If the bench is engaged and thrilled, then the team is more prone to devoting everything to the win.
— Prep Hoops Tennessee (@PrepHoopsTN) August 17, 2021

Alex Bruno Alex Bruno 6'7" | PF Franklin Road Academy | 2022 State TN | 6’5” PF | Franklin Road Academy

Alex Bruno Alex Bruno 6'7" | PF Franklin Road Academy | 2022 State TN is a nimble combo forward and a solid teammate.

How did he measure against the competition?

Class of 2022
6’5"
Wingspan -- 6’1" or 73"
Standing Reach -- 7’8"
Height w/ shoes -- 6’5"
Enthusiastic and committed to improvement, [player_tooltip player_id="1235502" first="Alex" last="Bruno"] shared a great day with PrepHoopsTN Summer Combine.
Hand Span -- 9.0"
Hand Length -- 7.0"
3/4 Court Sprint -- 3.48, 3.52
Lane Agility -- 11.90, 12.87
Camp Ranking -- #40

NBA Stylistic Comparison: 2021 76ers Georges Niang

To start, Alex Bruno Alex Bruno 6'7" | PF Franklin Road Academy | 2022 State TN is a beaming, glowing person. His smile and personality radiate. Throughout the day and during every interaction since Alex injected enthusiasm and kindness. Few intangibles permeate basketball programs more deeply.

Regarding his skills, Alex can rebound or score in the mid-range, though his ability to put the ball on the hardwood and then elevate into a balanced shooting motion needs work. Bruno can dribble or shoot, but not both in smooth succession. At his height of 6-foot-5 the future looks like a small college 3/4, largely as an energy guy. His speed up the court was decent though not elite for a taller wing. He spent much of his time around the rim during the event and showed some passion for rebounding. The more players a team carries that don’t need the basketball to contribute the better. Bruno fits that characterization.

Lateral mobility was just ok. Bruno did get low in an ideal basketball stance. Quick wings did and will probably present problems for the versatile forward.

During the combine, Alex was keenly aware of both his individual and his team defensive responsibilities. On multiple plays in the open 5 vs. 5 runs, Bruno managed his man and slid down towards the paint briefly to provide cover for an out-of-place teammate. High basketball IQ.

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