Sportradar Show Down: Best Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LAS VEGAS — Basketball analytics company Sportradar threw its inaugural grassroots event this weekend at Coronado high school in Las Vegas. The three-day event featured matchups between some of the top programs from the Adidas 3SSB and Under Armour Association circuits. Below is a breakdown of the top big men I saw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1089573' first='Derik' last='Queen'], Team Thrill</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Queen was one of the more skilled big men in the gym Saturday. His combination of soft hands, good feet and touch allows him to be an inside-out scoring threat who can hit face-up set shots out to 15-feet. The 6-foot-10 center also flashed some high IQ passing skills as he found back cutters out of the high post and from the top of the key. Queen possesses the ball skills to operate in dribble hand-off action in addition to his traditional screen/roll skill-set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1858970' first='Ethan' last='Lathan'], [program_tooltip program_id='2076347' first='SOH' last='Elite']</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lathan is a pogo stick level athlete whose ability to rim-run, catch and finish above the rim in transition was the biggest difference-maker for him on the day. The 6-foot-11 center is quick and explosive off the floor, elevates and finishes above contact in the lane and is a high motor offensive rebounder who creates second-chance opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'], Indiana Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no comparison when it comes to defensive instincts and fundamentals: Bidguna is one of the best all-around defensive players in the country regardless of class. The 6-foot-9 center was blocking the three's and mid-range jumpers of his assignment and cleaned the glass with efficiency. Offensively, Bidunga still has a ways to go with his development but he's a big time lob threat, offensive rebounder and showed improvement is his post feel and touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1114374' first='Malick' last='Diallo'], Utah Prospects</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diallo is in the mold of a traditional big man where the majority of his offensive damage is done in the painted area or when freeing his guards on high ball screens. The 6-foot-9 rising senior is still raw from a skill-set standpoint but can hit a right hand jump hook over his left shoulder. Diallo is an impactful offensive and defensive rebounder who can also protect the rim with his length and shot-blocking instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1879501' first='Moustapha' last='Thiam'], Austin Rivers Southeast Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thiam is long, wiry and bouncy 7-footer whose best qualities are his hands and quick leaping ability off the floor. The class of 2025 big man out of Florida is great at relocating to open space on drives from his guards and catching dump-off passes for easy buckets at the rim. Thiam is also an elite rim-runner and finisher due to his mobility, footwork, hands and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1478395' first='Nicolas' last='Codie'], Southern Assault</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Codie is an intriguing long-term prospect due to his combination of size and modern forward skill-set. The 6-foot-8 rising senior has all the physical and athletic tools to be an impact high major four-man and adds to that the ability to step out and hit pick and pop set shots or take a defender off the bounce for straight line drive finishes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1807978' first='Reid' last='Cason'], Team Trae Young</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-feet-9 with a strong frame and good mobility, Cason impacted various aspect of the game in the two games we saw him play. The rising senior isn't afraid to get physical inside and acts as a solid positional defender and defensive rebounder. Offensively, Cason has some back to the basket feel and touch and is currently hearing from a number of high academic schools due to him being a high GPA prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->