Battle Royale Standouts (Part Three)
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Here are the final group of standouts from the Battle Royale this past Saturday. You can find the other standouts from Part One here, and Part Two here, as well as a full recap of the games I watched here.…
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Continue ReadingHere are the final group of standouts from the Battle Royale this past Saturday. You can find the other standouts from Part One here, and Part Two here, as well as a full recap of the games I watched here.
Smith is an impact two-way point guard who played the pick and roll really well offensively. He’s got the vision and IQ to hit all the passing windows but also has the hangtime and body control to effectively finish around bodies in the paint. He’s a defender that will challenge the ball each time down and there’s a big-time athlete in his 6-foot-1 frame.
He took the task of guarding Legend Smiley Legend Smiley 6’5″ | SG Garfield | 2025 State #98 Nation WA early in their game and did a pretty good job forcing Smiley into some tough shots. Offensively, he did what he normally does, hitting contested shots, scoring from each level, but also showed his athleticism getting up to compete at the rim.
His feet are so light and quick, and he was easily one of the top defenders on the perimeter and in the paint. He continued to look improved shooting from long-range and from deep behind the arc, and he can glide to the rim from the perimeter with his long reach and bursty steps. Harris was also one of the top shot-blockers of the day, showing exceptional timing inside.
Kanhukamwe can creat off the bounce with the best of them. He is always a threat to break his man down with the dribble and draw that extra defender to open up space for teammates. He was a little slow to get going with the jumper but showed later on what his shot creation can do when his jumper is falling. He looked most efficient shooting the ball when he could pull-up going right off one or two dribbles.
Moore is a really interesting player who showed a lot of potential though there was definitely some ups and downs with his game. He can play either guard spot and make some things happen off the dribble, getting downhill and looking pretty explosive out of his moves. I think he’s got a lot of potential on the defensive end to stay with quick guards on the perimeter and use some of that reach to get his hands in passing lanes.
Williams is a pretty poised player who can calmly go get a bucket when his team needs some stability or a basket to stop a run. He was outstanding on the pick and roll, hitting the edge tight off the screen and forcing the second defender to make a quick decision on which option to take away. He has the strength to guard posts in a pinch and was clearly a rock for his team on both ends.
Jackman-Thomas is a guy who kind of floats between the perimeter and the paint but showed he can be that reliable frontcourt presence for a team that looks to lack that true post player. He’s strong enough to battle bigger guys for rebounds, using his bounce to snag boards and finish up high at the rim. He’s physical, quick, and works hard. He should pose some matchup problems for opposing bigs this season with his versatility.
Highlights
Diao might have been the most intriguing prospect of the day not named Cofie. He’s 6-foot-9 but moves really well, can handle the ball a bit and was super active from rim to rim. He did a lot of operating from the middle of the floor, diving to the hoop, facing up and taking his man off the dribble, distributing, and crashing the glass. He has a high ceiling and will be a player to watch who’s new to the state.
Ervin is still a bit in between a wing and a frontcourt player offensively. He can get out and finish strong in transition, shows some touch on his jumper, but what really stood out Saturday was his defense. He made numerous block at the rim against a big front court and altered even more shots including a ton of jumpers. He should be one of the top defensive players in the GSL this season.