College Basketball Academy Tuesday Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MEMPHIS --</strong> Breaking down some of Tuesday's eye catchers from the College Basketball Academy...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1143391' first='Merritt' last='Alderink'] - 2024 - SF - Zeeland West (MI)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was the best player I saw on Tuesday. Alderink is flying way under the radar right now. An athletic, strong, and productive 6-foot-6 wing, Alderink dominated throughout the day. For starters, Alderink just plays his ass off. There are no plays off with this kid and he's involved in just about every play. Alderink has some exciting and surprising above the rim athleticism and constantly challenges opposing players at both ends. Alderink blocked everything on Tuesday, high-pointing the basketball and meeting players right at the summit. Would like his outside shot to be a little more consistent, but he's not a guy who will settle too much. Alderink has the composure and toughness to shrug off contact and stay on his path. It's a camp, so I'll take his performance for what it's worth, but I think Alderink should have high majors on him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1143391"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c06f8f26b22"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1142131' first='Jack' last='Daugherty'] - 2024 - F - Brookfield Central (WI)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a slow start, saw Daugherty really turn it on Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-8 combo forward was able to score in a multitude of ways, but was particularly effective on pick n' pop 3's. Daugherty's team puts him in the pick n' roll constantly with the problems it creates for the defense, whose primary responsibility is to stop the ball, but with Daugherty's outside shooting, it's easier said than done. Facing some good athletes, Daugherty was able to take them off the dribble at times and beat them to the offensive glass. One of the top mid-major prospects in the Midwest right now, Daugherty has done nothing but ascend since his freshman season. He'll likely do the same in college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142131"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c06f8f26b7c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braydon Hawthorne - 2025 - F - Woodrow Wilson (WV)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hawthorne was probably the most intriguing prospect I saw on Tuesday. He's listed at 6-foot-7, but Hawthorne is super long and plays closer to 6-10. There's a little point forward upside here. He gets involved in the pick n' roll and gets downhill. Hawthorne can bring the ball up the floor and was effective at getting coast-to-coast in transition. A long strider in the open floor, Hawthorne has that rare ability to slow his momentum and cover a lot of ground while still being able to change direction at the same time. Hawthorne is very raw physically, but will be a factor on the offensive glass. He timed misses well and generates second chance points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1573155"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c06f8f26bc5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1152187' first='Luke' last='Shaw'] - 2024 - SG - Valley Christian (AZ)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw is a smart, tough, and dependable prospect that plays the game the right way and makes shots. Think Shaw was at his best when he was working off the ball and hunting on-the-go shots. When he's got a look, there's no hesitation in Shaw's release. It's off his hands immediately on the catch. Think he's a kid that processes coverages and help defense quickly. When he was overplayed, Shaw had the quickness to get right to the rim and can finish at top end speed. Whether he scored or not, just thought just about everything Shaw did on Tuesday was the right play. Shaw also has some grit to him defensively. Saw him switch onto the other team's best player even if it meant giving up 4-5 inches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1152187"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c06f8f26c0d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2028631' first='Caleb' last='Steger'] - 2025 - G - Dallas Jesuit (TX)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Really like the efficient 3-point shooting ability of Steger. He's a hand-down, man-down shooter that needs very little space to get his shot off. A dangerous outside sniper with a quick trigger, Steger makes you pick him up early. After he hit a few 3's on Tuesday, saw defenders opt to give up layups rather than help off the 6-foot-4 junior. Steger has some combo guard ability too. He's an unselfish passer that doesn't take a lot of dribbles and moves the ball immediately if his look isn't there. Defensively, Steger does a great job of showing his hands, eliminating fouls while refusing to give up anything easy. He's also a leader on that end of the floor and always communicating.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2028631"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c06f8f26c52"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juan Respaud - 2024 - PG - Argentina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An international prospect that can definitely play at the Division 1 level, Respaud has some exciting qualities as a floor general. He plays with pace and pop on the ball, sees the floor, and has a knack for making that special thread-the-needle pass. Part of Argentina's U17 FIBA World Cup team, Respaud runs the pick n' roll really well. He's methodical, but decisive once he turns that corner. At 6-foot-3, Respaud has quite a bit of bounce too. Saw him generate steals and take it the other way for explosive finishes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c06f8f26c96"} /-->