No Excuse Just Produce Classic Top Performers Pt. I
On Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend, King/Drew High School played host to the first No Excuse Just Produce Classic presented by the world-famous Drew League. The event was held on Saturday, Jan. 14 and Monday Jan. 16. I was…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOn Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend, King/Drew High School played host to the first No Excuse Just Produce Classic presented by the world-famous Drew League. The event was held on Saturday, Jan. 14 and Monday Jan. 16. I was able to attend the event on Saturday Jan. 14. That day featured a few local LA-area schools and consisted of three games between LA Jordan/Fremont, Mayfair/Esperanza, and King Drew/LB Jordan. Here’s a look at some of the top standouts I saw.
1. Javon Davis – LA Jordan 2023
Davis stood out as a good wing scorer who can handle the ball an run the offense at times. He’s comfortable being a primary shot creator. He consistently attacks off the dribble and is able to finish well at the basket. He can stop and pop and hit the pull-up jumper from midrange. He uses screens well, reads the defense and can shoot the jumper if the defender goes under the screen. Pushes the pace in transition and is a finisher on the break. He can move off ball as well consistently knocking down catch and shoot threes.
2. Deacon Botts – Mayfair 2023
Botts stood out as a good ball-handling guard. He plays well in the halfcourt, quick off the dribble and aggressive in getting into the lane. He consistently was able to get to the basket where he can finish or kick the ball out to open teammates. Crafty finisher at the basket, able to finish over bigger defenders. He has a little floater that he knocks down consistently. Able to shoot from three-point range as well.
3. Jacob LaCount – King/Drew 2023
I first saw LaCount over the summer and he has improved as a ball-handler. He is the team’s point guard and is trusted to run the offense. He’s a crafty finisher at the basket. He’s an improved three-point shooter as well. What stands out about him though is his commitment on the defensive end. He has quick hands and he does a good job reading the passing lanes and forcing turnovers.
4. Uric Lamb – Fremont 2024
Lamb stood out as a shooting guard who can handle the ball. Sometimes it looked as if he isn’t quite comfortable yet as being the primary ball-handler, which is what he was for large portions of the game I saw. He can handle the ball, it’s just that his decision making and passing in the halfcourt wasn’t quite there for a player who has the ball in their hands often. That stuff can be worked on though. He does do well in transition though as a ball-handler. He pushes the pace and he does look up and make some solid passes. He has a nice floater in the lane too.
5. Jaxson Lagraffe – Esperanza 2023
LaGraffe was a shooter from distance. He got a lot of his points of catch and shoot threes and did a good job relocating after making the initial pass. He can shoot pull-up threes in transition too. He ‘s a ball-handler and he can make plays off the dribble. If defenses take away his three-point shot, he can put the ball on the floor and get closer to the basket. That was where he was able to display his passing game finding teammates around the basket for easy buckets or kicking the ball out to other shooters.