Roundball Classic Day 3: Session 2 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In it's 27th iteration the Motor City Roundball Classic produced the usual star studded field. I was fortunate to attend the first and third days of the event. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After already covering standouts from the earlier games in Day 3. Here are some standouts from the night games </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*<em>I planned on staying for the final game but a fog warning got me on the road quicker than I anticipated</em>— <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1352909' first='Jotham' last='Nweke']</strong> (Detroit Loyola) <em>and </em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223489' first='Dontez' last='Scott'] </strong>(Summit Academy North) <em>looked good In the limited time I caught them </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137837' first='Evan' last='Haroldson'] 6-6 2023 Dexter </strong>One of the favorite players from the spring/summer continued to impress Wednesday night. A tall and lanky playmaking wing. Ran the point well for Dexter. Kept the Dreadnaughts (great mascot— one of only two in the country) in the contest for three quarters against a talented Flint Carman Ainsworth squad (see below) Intelligent and durable player who played nearly the entire game through foul trouble. Standout play was a chase down block after getting his pocket picked. Showed his tenacity as most players would probably concede the point while dealing with foul trouble. Also had a highlight reel step back three early in the contest. However the skill that has always stood out most to me is next level court vision and passing. Can sling it with anyone. Not something you usually see from a 6-6 wing. Holds a preferred walk on opportunity from Lake Superior after good performance there in the summer. Is going to make some college coach happy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1437545' first='Chris' last='McLavish Jr'] 5-8 2025 Flint Carman Ainsworth </strong>Didn't have his best game shooting the ball. However that shows how far his game come. Still dominated the contest with his speed and shifty playmaking. Had defenders on skates in multiple instances. Just too fast and with too low of a center of gravity for most players to stay in front of. Like the speed the deep shooting is always going to be there. Shot looked a little quicker on the release and came from a higher point. Like a golf swing. Might still be working out the kinks. But in the long run those changes will help. As far as recruitment going forward. The question will always be size. However looks well on his way to alleviating some of those concerns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1439355' first='Donovan' last='Hamlin'] 6-4 2025 Flint Carman Ainsworth </strong>Turned in a dominating performance off the bench for the Cavs. Did virtually all of his work from the block. Notable as Dexter featured a big and older frontline. What sets the appropriately nicknamed “Hawk” apart is his elite wingspan. Doesn't need to be deep on the block to turn for a finger roll. Accordingly has quick and explosive elevation off the court. Gets it up to the rim before most defenders are ready. Runs the court quickly and with purpose. Knows how to fill lanes. Took home game MVP honors. Has the upside to be one of the better prospects statewide in the 2025 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='986247' first='Amari' last='Allen'] 6-3 2023 Hamtramck</strong> <strong>(pictured) </strong>Like Haroldson one of my favorites from this past spring and summer. Broad shouldered fullback playing the game of basketball. Don't let that paint a pigeon holed picture. He is a skilled basketball player. The definition of a power guard with his powerfully put together frame. Attacks the rim with reckless abandon. That sounds bad but he is also crafty enough to stay out of foul trouble in the process. Highlight of the game (perhaps the night) was an acrobatic finish over [player_tooltip player_id='1223513' first='Jaylan' last='Ouwinga'] who had been wreaking havoc at the rim. Sound ball handler who took control of tempo late in the game. In addition to the highlights and statistics. Also has a lot of winning intangibles you just can't teach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223513' first='Jaylan' last='Ouwinga'] 6-9 2024 Grand Rapids Christian </strong>This fast developing post prospect has come a long way in a short period of time. Continued to show his expanding game on Thursday. Is skilled with the ball in his hands. But knows what he is and doesn't try to do too much. Hamtramck is a good but not very big team. Exploited those mismatches all night. Very mobile and showed good lateral quickness. Making him a plus defender. Especially at the rim. Had a few nice blocks. Good passer out of the high post. Really has everything you want in a post except top notch explosiveness. However has time to get there as he continues to develop rapidly. Showed glimpses with a huge tip dunk that had the gym buzzing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->