Tarkanian Classic: Thursday’s Top Performers

We stationed ourselves at the Heinrich YMCA yesterday and took in five contests.  Here are some of the top performers from Thursday!

Sean De Kovachich of Code Academy (6’3 2023).  Sean gets my master’s award for moving his defender.  Ball fakes cleared players so he could shoot.  Jab steps moved players so he could shoot.  The crossover cleared defenders so he could shoot.  The sharp cut after the pass to quickly collect and hit cleared players so he could shoot.  And this was against a very active defense that Sean hit five deep perimeter shots plus grabbed ten boards as his team isn’t very big.  

Boubacar Bamba Diatta of Veritas Prep (6’4 2023).  Keep an eye on this young man.  He’s the talent that you notice getting up the floor faster than everybody else.  The wing that you see jumping above everybody else.  And Boubacar is the player with the length that you see moving around covering more ground than others.  He bounced off the ground to board the ball fresh off the rim while others watched below helplessly.  Diatta raced back on defense or moved quickly to his help to contest attacking shots while players who thought they had a lay-up, quickly got sad as they realized their point total would be less.  Boubacar also threw down a couple nasty dunks exploding to the cup.  Athletically there is a lot to work with here especially on defense where he could be an elite menace. 

Lareon Ginnis Lareon Ginnis 5'9" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2022 State AZ of AZ Compass Green (6’0 2022).  I’m a big fan of the timing and pace of LJ.  The timing of his attack, the way he moves from one move to the next changing speeds, and his decision making on when to push, where to push, and when to step back and let the halfcourt offense work.  The way he reads the defense stands out.  Created a ton of shots for teammates.  The assist count was just five but that wasn’t on him.  Hit big foul shots down the stretch as well for his team to get the win.  

Orlando Gonzales Orlando Gonzales 6'0" | PG Leading Edge Academy | 2022 State AZ of PHH White (6’0 2022).  Leaders find different ways to lead each game to help their team win.  Orlando looks to be a leader.  Shooters find different ways to make shots to help their team win.  Orlando looks to be a shooter.  Creators find different ways to create for teammates against the different defenses they see.  Orlando looks to be a creator.  Orlando led his team to a double figure win grinding out possessions in a scrappy win.  His team was afforded six technical foul shots because of opposing miscues and Orlando’s touch made all six of them which completely took away any chance the opponents had.  And he had countless shot creations for teammates on a day that his team had a tough time making open rhythm jumpers.  High grade point average, good leader, good lead guard for teams to check on.  

Nigel Hylton of GSP Elite (6’8 2022).  This is the second time I have seen Hylton play in 2022 and putting these two performances together I can see where division one schools like the potential.  Yesterday I saw Nigel knock out perimeter jumpers as opponents moved under screens so Nigel hit over the top.  But I’ve also seen him use a dribble backdown game into touch makes, I’ve seen Hylton be a solid rebounder in the past with good defensive numbers, and each time I’ve seen him play I came away thinking he has the chance to be a nice college scorer.  Biggest reason?  There looks to be an inside-out game there.  

Nathaniel Knight Nathaniel Knight 6'6" | SF AZ Compass Prep | 2022 State AZ of AZ Compass Green (6’5 2022).  First off I love wings that rebound and Knight is a wing that boards!  Had 13 in his team’s win yesterday and looking back through earlier games this year, Knight has had big board numbers all year.  It says to me that he is willing to battle, willing to compete, and usually, willing to work as a defender and off ball mover on offense.  I liked how Knight entered the ball to his teammates around the lane, loved how active and vocal he was in the shifting zone defense, and against a zone his attacks were crucial to the hard fought win.  Has the strength to leverage a player and stay on balance to finish when he attacks. 

Evan Meyer of Top Flight Academy (6’8 2022).  If Canada was looking for their combination of Eugene Edgerson and Popeye Jones, I found him!  Evan Meyer is a low post position battler with a touch.  He’s a physical position fighter and it does cost him fouls but he gives guards the perfect target to enter to.  Once the ball is in his hands Evan does a great job of making contact and then turning off that contact leaving the defender away and grounded while he touches in shots.  Had 23 points and nine boards in my viewing yesterday and did it while in foul trouble.  Made all nine of his foul shots and really impressed me with his ability to secure a defender and offer a target.  Old school post that I really enjoyed watching.  

Micah Pierce Micah Pierce 6'7" | PF Phh Prep | 2022 State AZ of PHH White (6’7 2022).  If I am a D2 school I am keeping an eye on Pierce.  He is young for his grade with long extremities that he is still growing into.   Played the five for his team against a number of different posts and when his Canadian tried to get post touches late Pierce A) did a good job of blocking the entry angle and B) defensive rebounding ending possessions (had ten boards).  Got up and down pretty well, looks like he can be taught to perimeter defend well in terms of agility, and flashed a few different offensive moments scoring in double figures (included a key three late).  

Melo Sanchez of Veritas Prep (6’4 2022).  Melo was my player of the day for sure.  Sanchez had guys chirping in his ear all game but the expression never changed.  What did change?  He changed the game.  Sanchez hit the game winner in overtime at the buzzer giving his team a hard fight win.   Leading up to that was even more impressive.  Love the tough demeanor that I saw from Sanchez yesterday and Wednesday night.  The guys around him follow his lead and Sanchez took his team to wins.  He doesn’t waste time on the floor.  Every dribble covers positive ground with a purpose.  Every pass finds it’s mark quickly and gives his teammate a chance to do something before the defense can react.  Also looks to be a high percentage shooter.  Both games I saw him play there were a number of low major D1 west coast schools watching, they must have been impressed.