Missouri Freshman Showcase Team 1 Evaluations

Earl Austin October 9, 2023 @ 05:01 PM

The Prep Hoops Missouri Freshman Showcase was held on Saturday at the Principia School in St. Louis. We begin our team evaluations with a look at the members of Team 1.   [player_tooltip player_id='2339267' first='Jayden' last='Woods'] (Lutheran St. Charles): The 6'2" guard made our GameChangers list for the event with his his athleticism and high motor. He showcased his explosive leaping ability with a few entertaining dunks in the transition game. He stayed on the attack with his slashing ability, whether it was on the fast break or in a half court offense. He was a strong finisher at the rim who was also good at finding his teammates with a nice pass off of his penetration.   Tyler Ray (MICDS): The 6'2" wing also made the GameChangers list for the event with his stellar all-around play. I called him the "Draymond Green" of the showcase as he played with toughness, versatility and a high basketball IQ. He could hold his own with the taller players inside with his physical strength and footwork. He rebounded the ball very well and could get out and start the break. You could also run offense through him with his ability to handle the ball and make good decisions.   Deven Williams (Pattonville): A 6'1" guard who used his physical strength who was able to overpower most of the other guards who tried to guard him. He could power his way to the basket on the straight line drive and score effectively. He also showed a soft touch on the floater or the pull up jumper. He is starting to make the transition from a small power forward to the guard position. He will become tougher to handle as his perimeter game continues to develop.   [player_tooltip player_id='2836914' first='Jackson' last='Moad'] (St. Mary's): A 6'1" forward who plays bigger than his actual size because of toughness and high motor. When he was able to get the ball in his dominant left hand, he was getting downhill to the basket and he scored on some strong takes. He also used the shot fake very well to raise the defender to get by him on the drive. He was rebounding the ball well and constantly getting after loose balls. He is a good worker who got good results because of it.   Cooper Pearson (Francis Howell Central): The 5'8" shooting guard was one of the most impressive marksmen that I watched during the day. He was kind of unassuming on the court at first, but that was until he caught the ball with a good look at the basket. Then, he was sinking wide open 3-pointers on a regular basis. He hit at least four or five triples in both games that I watched him. He has a quick release and he was already shot-ready when he caught the ball, thanks to his good movement.   [player_tooltip player_id='2398673' first='Jamarious' last='Britt'] (Francis Howell Central): A 5'7" point guard who has good quickness and a high basketball IQ. He is a good playmaker who can distribute the ball well and handle pressure without a lot of trouble. He also showed to be a good shot-maker who used his speed to get to the basket for layups and runners. He was also knocking down open 3-pointers off the catch.   Vance Shaw (Seneca): A 5'8" guard who has a solid body and the ability to get into the lane off the dribble. He had an effective hesitation move to free himself of defenders when he was on the drive. He was also getting inside and grabbing some rebounds amongst the taller players.   Ta'Mariyon Gunn (Cardinal Ritter): The 5'4" guard was one of the smallest players in the event, but he played with a lot of confidence, especially when it came to shooting the ball. The young lefty was draining shots from well beyond the 3-point line. He has a smooth delivery and he didn't mind playing off the ball. He has a stout build and he could get low to provide good on-ball defensive pressure.

The Prep Hoops Missouri Freshman Showcase was held on Saturday at the Principia School in St. Louis. We begin our team evaluations with a look at the members of Team 1.