YBOA Super Shootout Saturday Morning Standouts

I got up early to catch some early morning hoops and to watch some young ‘ballas’ put in work. Here are some of the Saturday morning standouts that I laid eyes on…

Everett Isaiah Swindall  (5’5/PF/’30/Cullman Chaos)

Instagram: ashtin_swindall

Everett had a sensational opening game, as he was too much for the opposing team to deal with. He dominated offensively in the paint and showed his ability to knock down the perimeter jumper. He did many things well, from scoring with put-backs off the offensive glass, running the floor, scoring in transition, and defending in the post and out in space. He competed with tremendous effort, and his play helped his squad build and sustain the lead. His value on his team is evident as his strength is scoring in the paint with touch and finishing thru contact.

Javori Jones, Jr.  (4’11/PF/’32/Lake Martin Lakers)

In the games I saw this morning, Javori was hands down the best player on the floor. His length was his biggest asset, as it helped him impact all aspects of the game for his squad. He showed a lot of promise with his ability to create his own shot, score off the bounce, facilitate, score at multiple levels, defend, and control the glass. He is young and has a good feeling for the game, and he almost single-handedly carried his team to victory. He is a young gem with a bright future in front of him.

Alec Kulbersh (4’6/CG/’32/Alabama Flyers)

Alec is a very skilled young player with all the makings of a guard that can balance scoring and facilitating. This morning he played under control and distributed the rock well, getting his teammates the rock where they could be successful. While he played under control for most of the game, he did have some moments where he seemed to question himself, his abilities, and his ability to knock down shots. He found himself with the advantage on his defender several times, got two feet in the paint, and made good decisions with the ball. He was a pass-first guard this AM that passed up several open shots, which showed that there is a level of aggressiveness that he can grow to. 

Trinton Rashad Russell (4’7/CG/’32/Lake Martin Lakers)

Trinton showcased his ability to be a lead guard and get his teammates involved. He thrived in transition as he plays well in the open court. He is shifty off the bounce and was a difficult cover. He was constantly putting pressure on the defense, creating breakdowns and hectic rotations. He has a low center of gravity, and at an age where turnovers are just part of the game, he did a pretty good job limiting the number of turnovers he committed. He did a really nice job orchestrating, and it was his play at the lead guard spot which was one of the factors in his team getting the come-from-behind win.     

Haynes Willings (4’8/CG/’32/Alabama Flyers)

Haynes is a player that can shift between the lead guard spot and the off-guard position. He is a skilled youngster who does not force action and plays within himself and within his team’s system. He made some very nice passes which pointed to his set-up ability. He sees the floor well, and on a team that likes to get up the floor quick, he is often a key piece to getting his team out and running. Haynes has good court awareness for his age and has a foundational skill set that can be built upon.