Missouri Freshman Showcase Team 2 Evaluations
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Prep Hoops Missouri continues its team evaluations from last Saturday’s Freshman Showcase at Principia with a look at the members from Team 2. Xavier Clark Xavier Clark 6'0" | SG St. Mary's | 2027 State MO (St. Mary’s): The 5’11”…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Missouri continues its team evaluations from last Saturday’s Freshman Showcase at Principia with a look at the members from Team 2.
Xavier Clark Xavier Clark 6'0" | SG St. Mary's | 2027 State MO (St. Mary’s): The 5’11” guard was listed among the GameChangers for the event after an excellent showing on Saturday. His motor was running on high from the beginning to the end of the showcase as he was one of the best when it came to attacking the basket. He was bringing the heat as he continue to score on one straight line drive after another. When he encountered resistance in the paint, he was able to convert on some very acrobatic finishes in traffic. He was also good at finding the open teammate and dishing off the ball for an easy bucket. His instincts and tenacity were also very good at the defensive end.
Parker Hoffman Parker Hoffman 6'6" | PF Marquette | 2027 State MO (Marquette): The 6’6″ forward got a spot on our list of GameChangers as one of the top frontcourt players in the event. Even with his long and lanky frame, he plays an aggressive game that was very effective. He has solid fundamentals inside as he made tough catches in traffic and finished while keeping the ball up high. He also ran the court well and converted a few buckets in the transition game. He also stepped out and knocked down a few 3-pointers off the catch. He is an active rebounder who can also block shots.
Joshua Grimes (St. Mary’s): A 6’1″ shooting guard with a solid build who was able to score in a variety of ways. He’s a strong young man who was able to power his way into the lane to score in traffic. He was very aggressive when he turned the corner and got down hill on the drive. As the event wore on, he started to drain 3-pointers as a very toasty clip. He also participated in the Top 250 Expo a couple of weeks ago and he more than held his own with the older players.
Liam Nixon (Kirkwood): A long and lean 6’6″ forward who was making a lot of positive things happen with his length and mobility. He was very impressive in the first game I watched because he was so active at both ends of the court. He was running the court and grabbing rebounds and doing a nice job finishing around the basket. He also had a quick jump inside and he was able to block some shots. He’s just getting started in his development, so he will be an intriguing player to watch over the next few years as he gains strength.
Ace Armstrong (St. Dominic): A 5’11” point guard who is fundamentally sound and who always seems to be under control on the court. He is a good decision maker who handles the ball against pressure well and he was always making the extra pass. He also proved to be a capable scoring threat as he could change speeds well to keep defenders off balance and get to the mid-range to knock down the pull up jumper. He also had a nice float game in the lane and he could also knock down the open 3-pointer.
Tyson Montgomery (Belleville West): A 6’0″ guard from the metro east Illinois area who is very smooth and he played the game at his own pace. Even when facing pressure, he could be not be sped up and he was able to get where he wanted to go off the dribble. He would get into the lane and raise up and hit the short jumper with good elevation.
Will Schultz (Timberland): A 6’3″ small forward who displayed a versatile skill set on offense as he posed matchup problems for opposing defenders. When he was guarded by a smaller defender, he would go into the post and put in work. He had a nice turnaround jumper in the lane. He was also aggressive on the drive as he scored on some strong takes to the basket. He didn’t mind seeking contact at all. He also hit a couple of 3-pointers off the dribble.
Harris Putes (Oakville): A 6’3″ forward who was very effective inside as he was very physical and he used his body well to gain strong position to score in the post or rebound the ball. He was able to hold his position well and he also did a nice job of walking his defender up the lane when he was fronted in the post, so he could catch the lob pass. He was a strong finisher inside and he was very good at the reverse layups.
Elmer Dolic (Lindbergh): A 5’8″ point guard who was very solid ball handler who made good decisions. The ball never sticks and he made some impressive touch passes, which led to open shots for his teammates. He was also making a lot of hustle plays as he was getting on the floor to get loose balls.
Carter St. Gemme Carter St. Gemme 6'0" | SG Lesterville | 2027 MO (Lesterville): A 5’11” guard from a small school who displayed some quick hands on the defensive hand. He had a number of impressive strips and steals, which led to transition opportunities for his team. When he got his opportunities on offense, he look to penetrate in the lane with his solid handles.