Geico Nationals: Oak Hill Acad. vs Link Acad. (Part 1)

Joel Francisco

April 2, 2022 @ 01:41 PM

Geico Nationals: Oak Hill Acad. vs Link Acad. (Part 1) FORT MEYERS, FL—It’s hard to believe but Geico Nationals is in its thirteenth year of existence and its been quite a ride with a staggering amount of players that have ended up in the NBA, including Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jaylen Brown to name a few. This year is no different as there are a plethora of highly-talented ballers in [player_tooltip player_id="889560" first="Jordan" last="Walsh"], [player_tooltip player_id="1041394" first="Chris" last="Livingston"], Dariq Whitehead, Keyonte George, and Gatorade National POY Gradey Dick. MVP [player_tooltip player_id="889560" first="Jordan" last="Walsh"] (Link Academy) 2022, F, 6-foot-7, 195 pounds Joel’s Take: From the opening tip Walsh had his fingertips all over this one. The Arkansas-bound wing impacts the game in a variety of ways. He is relentless in transition where he attacks the rim with a vengeance—as witnessed in this game where he had a handful of rim-rattling dunks through traffic. His first step is legit and he utilizes the up-fake to get defenders off balance. Defensively, his length and active hands cause havoc for opposing teams. On the Rise [player_tooltip player_id="1387023" first="Devin" last="Ree"] (Oak Hill Academy) 2022, F, 6-foot-8, 185 pounds Joel’s Take: One of the more intriguing prospects is the lengthy wing-type Ree. He has long arms and a frame that should fill out nicely once it’s introduced to a college weight program. The willowy prospect has a smooth touch off the catch, but consistency at both ends will be the key for him going forward. His ball skills are on the come and he displayed the ability to take defendrs off the bounce. If he is patient, Ree has a bright future in this game. The Nest Step Omaha Biliew (Link Academy) 2023, F, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds Joel’s Take: Biliew is just scratching the surface of his potential. He has a high-level frame with long arms and broad shoulders, and he has an evolving skillset. He can face-up his defender and take him to rack or drop a 3-pointer. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and he slides his feet well. Smooth Lefty [player_tooltip player_id="934025" first="Jordan" last="Ross"] (Link Academy) 2023, G, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds Joel’s Take: Ross has a rangy frame with very long arms and his skill set is solid. He needs to get stronger, but the skills and savvy are evident. He can rip passes in the half-court set, runs the pick and roll with aplomb, and he can stick the 3-point shot as well. Syracuse-bound [player_tooltip player_id="1173210" first="Judah" last="Mintz"] (Oak Hill Academy) 2022, G, 6-foot-3, 170 pounds Joel’s Take: The recently committed Mintz is all about winning. His energy level is the same at the beginning of the game as it is at the end. The gifted combo-guard impacts the game with his scoring and facilitating. He can break down the defense, deliver the nifty dump-off pass in the paint or deliver an on-the-money skip pass. Defensively, he has a nose for the ball and has active hands. Mr. Motor [player_tooltip player_id="984503" first="Damien" last="Mayo"] (Link Academy) 2022, G/F, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds Joel’s Take: When Mayo comes into the game he knows how to put his stamp on it immediately. The strong lefty can play inside and out and is a tremendous rebounder for his size. He has the strength to finish through contact and overall his game is about production. At the next level, he will be that ultimate glue-type that wins you games.