BDH Stock Riser Showcase: Biggest Surprises
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For “Biggest Surprises,” I’m looking at kids I haven’t seen a lot of, or kids that have shown flashes in the past, but took it a step further at the showcase. Each of these guys has the potential to be…
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Continue ReadingFor “Biggest Surprises,” I’m looking at kids I haven’t seen a lot of, or kids that have shown flashes in the past, but took it a step further at the showcase. Each of these guys has the potential to be solid contributors for their teams this winter and showed some real skill in certain situations Saturday.
Lyubarsky is a solid guard who looks capable of playing either guard spot at the high school level but should be targeted as a point guard at the next level. He’s not too big but has good quickness and change of direction with the ball. He paired that quickness with a pretty reliable pull-up jumper, and also showed a good stroke from 3-point range. He looks quick enough to make some plays off of penetration and can also swing the ball around and space the floor.
Marley is another kid who doesn’t wow you with his athleticism or physical attributes, but he displayed great footwork, a comfortability deploying low post moves all around the paint and has the touch to knock down open shots. He was really effective hitting defenders with pumps and going to his up-and-under move. He seems to understand how to get himself quality looks without being able to rely simply on a quick first step.
Highlights
Ward is a kid that keeps piquing my interest a little bit more every time I see him. He shows some skill to play either guard spot, but also still lacks some consistency in certain areas for you to say he’s better at one spot than the other. He can defend really well at times, puts pressure on ballhandlers and has the hands to get tips and swipe dribblers. He also looks like a pretty effective 3-point shooter and creator off the dribble when things are going well. And while he looked better at the showcase, he still lacks enough consistency to be completely trusted at either spot. If he continues to show more and more consistency, he should be a reliable two-way guard who can be a big impact player.
I was late getting to Bowden but he’s another kid who continues to impress me more and more every time I see him. He really shows a balanced skill set out there and can shoulder a number of different roles and responsibilities on the floor. He’s an effective playmaker with a solid handle. He can shoot the three-ball well and also shows an ability to finish at the rim with strength and finesse. And he has enough athleticism and IQ to make plays on the defensive end. He’s a winning player that seems to make impact plays at key times and rarely made a negative play at the showcase.