Film Room Heroes: Upside Forwards

Game Watched: ASAK Elite

Fresh off a pair of Division One offers, the growth in Terrell’s game over the last two months was evident. He’s developing into quite the impressive shot blocker in help situations. He picked up his first rim protection in the first half, then had a good stretch of hunting and changing shots at the rim in the second half. With his combination of height, long wingspan and lightness on his feet, it’s natural that he would start to develop into more of a rim protector.

One area of the improvement for Terrell on the defensive end comes when defending post ups. There were a couple instances where the same eagerness and bounce that allows him to protect the rim against drivers, backfired against pumpfakes. He’d bite on the pumpfake, leading to fouls or an easy score. A little more experience and feel in this situations, and the eastern Oklahoma prospect could develop into a game changer on the defensive end and as a rebounder.

Game Watched: Iso Joe

This spring, Mason has been one of the prospects with the most buzz in the region.  The physically gifted wing-forward prospect has a sky high ceiling as an offensive chess piece.  Not only does he have a physically strong frame, he’s quick with his movements. When he gets down hill, he can finish with power and explosion, as evident by a great baseline drive slam in the second half. Mason operated well in the mid-range with a mix off jumpers and face ups. And late in the game, got inside and finished very well to secure the win.

The question that will help settle what level Mason plays college basketball revolves on his impact on the defensive end. There are flashes of improvement there with the occasional contested rebound or attempt a weakside block. But around those promising moves, were some lapses. One example came early on when he had a lethargic front when covering a taller post player. Allowing for an easy pass over the top and two points given up. Eliminating small mistakes like that and attacking the defensive glass harder are the next step in his evolution.

Mason’s arrow has steadily pointed up for the next month, with strong building blocks being placed regarding his collegiate potential.

Game Watched: Iso Joe

Brown continued his pattern of being a rock steady producer around the rim, on both ends of the court. He runs the floor, crashes the glasses on both ends and simply “makes it happen”.  He’s a basketball example of the quote “”In the long run luck is given only to the efficient”. To the untrained eye, it may look like “luck” when he’s the trailer who scores in transition, or an offensive rebound falls to his hands. But it’s the hard work he’s putting end that is creating those opportunities, and Brown makes the most of them.

Game Watched: Pro16 Tulsa Hawks

A very intriguing prospect, Gunter has a great combination of size, soft hands and mobility. He kept the ball high on finishes and had moments with a good back to the basket game. Smart tap outs to keep possessions alive on offense and great mobility as a rim protector were also ways he impacted the game. The potential for the lanky 7 footer to be a game changer at the rim is exceptional high, with a mix helpside and on the ball shot blocks.

Game Watched: KC Run GMC

An in person evaluation from last Friday, Tollestrup was a tenacious rebounder at the 15U level. To go along with his motor on the glass, he had the look of a modern stretch 4 type, with his ease at popping out to the three point line as a shooter. The Utah prospect even flashed some intriguing upside off the dribble, after a close out he had a good drive and spin move finish at the rim.