Bigs Watch: PH Easter Classic

<p>A growing trend over the past decade has been the steady rise of frontcourt athletes having more guard or wing skills while being able to guard multiple positions. This is the necessity for anyone looking to play in college, ultimately being the most versatile basketball player within your role.</p> <p>Jackson Seale - Top Achievers - 2023 (pictured above)</p> <p>Seale should be someone to look towards going forward as a 6'9 frontcourt big, proving to be a matchup problem down low while showcasing some spot up shooting. Seale easily has the best interior touch of anyone 6'8 or taller inside the arc. He displayed crafty turnaround hook shots going either direction, paired with an aggressive mindset, he was difficult to contain. Seale also has a bit of range, proving to not only be consistent free throw shooter but a dependable shooter out to the three point line when given space. The forward also enjoyed crashing the offensive glass, where he was just too imposing for the opponents. Continuing to improve full court endurance will be a key for Seale down the road.</p> <p>Tim Okojie - Athletic Elite - 2023<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4409-rotated-e1650323966415.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1433138 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4409-rotated-e1650323966415-300x216.jpg" alt="" width="192" height="138" /></a></p> <p>Likely the tallest prospect in the building, Okojie stands right around seven feet tall and was easily one of the better at-rim deterrents this tournament. He does well staying mobile when switching screens and keeps his hands high against most opponents. At-times he does bail out opponents but dropping an arm to grab the ball, however with more reps he should iron this out. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4264-rotated.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-1433130 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4264-rotated-e1650323658995-300x260.jpg" alt="" width="192" height="166" /></a>Daniel Jacobsen - New Mexico D1 - 2024</p> <p>Standing at 6'11, the 15 year old was quite a surprise given his length, mobility, and spot-up shooting touch in the mid-range. The biggest takeaway from Jacobsen was his ability to slide onto quicker wings and guards, where he contained drives on multiple occasions. As his footspeed improves, the big guy should be a legitimate defensive talent. On multiple occasions, he displayed shooting from the mid-range off the catch or from a face up, which will be a big deal for his offensive skillset.</p> <p>Pascal Crosby - 405 Bad Boyz - 2022<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4316-rotated.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-1433047 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4316-rotated-e1650318802197-300x270.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="180" /></a></p> <p>The Crosby brothers were another surprise, both standing roughly around 6'8 although Caleb appeared to have a slight advantage. Pascal did really well noticing his teammates whether they were open on the win or cutting to the rack. His awareness as a whole stood out, which is an area not often mentioned for frontcourt athletes. This passing vision was especially evident alongside his brother Caleb, both of which did well finding each other for lobs and backdoor cuts. Pascal and Caleb tend to play off each other very well, Pascal in particular playing below the rim using his footwork to a high degree.</p> <p>Caleb Crosby - 405 Bad Boyz - 2022</p> <p>The next Crosby brother, Caleb Crosby showcased his athleticism protecting the rim in conjunction with displaying some confidence defending on the perimeter. The forward anchored their defense thanks to his consistency staying down while maximizing his long arms to deter opponents. Caleb truly is the perfect complement to his brother Pascal, the duo have mastered each others tendencies in the half court thanks to their longstanding history.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4314-rotated-e1650318896979.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1433048 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/IMG-4314-rotated-e1650318896979-300x248.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="178" /></a></p>