Playmaking Prospects from Striking Eagle Tournament
Tournaments are always a great place to check out players because the atmosphere is just a little bit more amped than a regular season game. This is not to say regular season games are not important, but tournament games offer…
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Continue ReadingTournaments are always a great place to check out players because the atmosphere is just a little bit more amped than a regular season game. This is not to say regular season games are not important, but tournament games offer a different dynamic because wins and losses determine your next game. Some tournaments can even be double elimination for that matter. Some are one and done meaning if you lose one game you are out of the tournament. I’m always excited to see any added motivation and tournaments can offer that. Here are
Beckett Dunlavy #24 – East Mountain Timberwolves – SF/PF
Beckett Dunlavy is a very composed player who sees the floor extremely well and can do it all. He can make 3’s with ease but also can go coast to coast on fastbreaks when needed. He has the ability to drive inside and draw fouls. When I saw him, he had some nice hesitation moves which led to some very powerful “And 1’s.” In my notes I literally wrote that he was an animal in drawing those fouls while still making buckets. Like I said earlier this kid can get hot with the threes in a hurry so watch out. He was able to make two in a row in the first quarter. Beckett put up over 20 points along with 3 steals and plenty of defensive/smart plays that just don’t show up on the stat sheet. After the game Dunlavy told me that his footwork along with his ability to see the court is what could set him apart from other prospects.
Scott Hofmann #20 – East Mountain Timberwolves – SG/SF
Scott is the son of a former college coach who taught him the fundamentals of the game that Scott feels are not taught as much these days. Scott told me these fundamentals help him with footwork, help defense and boxing out. The SG/SF has a nice wingspan and can attack the boards with that length. Along with the length, he can definitely sky up for those rebounds with a very nice vertical. When I saw him, he was consistently making correct defensive switches. This kid’s transition game is fire if you want to run and gun. I saw him sky up for a steal in transition and had no idea how he got it. I also saw him make smart decisions in the transition game as far as when to pass or when to shoot.
Dustin Bridge #22 – Cuba Rams located in Cuba, NM – SG
When I talked to Dustin at the tournament, he told me he boards well, brings leadership skills and likes to be the funny guy who keeps things loose in the locker room. When I saw Dustin play, he had some nice crisp passing along with a smooth touch when making entry passes. Dustin hustles back lightning quick on defense and I love how this kid just does not quit on loose balls/missed shots. When I saw him, I was also impressed with his great floor communication as he constantly called out defensive switches and mismatches on the floor. Dustin emphasized to me how he likes to keep things loose in the locker room. This could be an advantage in a high-pressure situation especially with younger players playing in a big game for their first time. I enjoyed watching this young man play and speaking to him after the game.
Julian Gauna-Casaus #5 – Cuba Rams located in Cuba, NM – PG
Julian is best fitted as a point guard that can provide tenacity on defense as well as the ability to protect the ball with both hands. When I saw him, he was able to protect the ball extremely well and did not commit many turnovers. Julian also has a ton of endurance and is able to stay on the floor for long periods of time. This young man plays within the flow of the game and has tons of vision. When I spoke to him, he bluntly told me he loves to play defense. He said that he loves to defend and be aggressive without fouling. Julian also said he thinks he is a very positive and athletic player. He could work very well in a patient offense running plays.