Underrated Players for the 2024 Class Part II
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With so many talented players in the 2024 class, there will be players who will fly under the radar and may not get the full recognition and spotlight that players deserve. In part II of My Underrated Players, we will…
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Continue ReadingWith so many talented players in the 2024 class, there will be players who will fly under the radar and may not get the full recognition and spotlight that players deserve. In part II of My Underrated Players, we will look at players who have as much of an impact on their team as some of the top players and how I see these players climbing up the rankings into the season.
Cervino is a smart player who knows exactly what type of shot he wants before he even gets the ball. His shot release is quick and easy to get off no matter who is guarding him. He likes to come off of off-ball screens to get open shots on the perimeter. Cervino can even run the fastbreak well finishing strong at the rim and looking to get that extra contact from a defender for the foul. Overall Cervino is turning into a complete player the more playing time and experience he gets.
Highlights
Benowitz does a lot of great things for his team on both sides of the ball and has expanded his game every year. He is sneaky quick with the ball in his hands especially on the fastbreak as he can make some highly contested finishes around the rim. When it comes to three-point shooting Benowitz can knock them down in a hurry. His shot is high and quick and with his 6’2″ frame it can make it tough to get a contest. He is also great at using his pump fake in the midrange game to get more open shots.
Highlights
Narducci is a straight scorer at the point guard position and can do some creative things with the basketball. The lefty has a smooth shot from downtown and excellent footwork that allows him to create space with his step-back and turnaround shots. Narducci has a fast crossover he uses to break defenders down and can slither his body around jumping defenders in the air to up for the layup or he will look to stop quickly and hit the pull-up shot.
Michigan is a talented scorer and is a player who has seemingly gotten better and improved in all areas of their game every year. His ability to score the basketball is special with how he moves and how he looks for his shots. At 6’4″ he makes it tough for defenders to get a hand up on his high release point. Michigan’s midrange game is excellent as he looks to hit step back, fading away, and turnaround shots more often than not. He has an effective floater he uses to get his shot up over taller defenders in the paint.
Portnoy lives in the midrange and painted area and has a large pile of moves he can go to. He will not be denied no matter who you put on him when he is driving into the paint. He goes straight up with multiple defenders around him and will either seek the contact or do an athletic finish around the rim evading defenders in the air. Portnoy can create something out of nothing and can play isolation ball if the opportunity is there. He is money on the pull-up or fading away midrange shot.