Mike’s Opening Week Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kentucky high school basketball season is underway and there's already been a lot of top action to start the season. I scouted two games this week, Walton Verona @ Covington Catholic and Louisville Trinity @ Louisville DeSales. In this article I'll break down the standout performers from those two contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1572701"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A new face in Kentucky, Miller was on the rim all night throwing down a handful of dunks including some crazy highlight reel slams. His most impressive finishes at the rim were an alley-oop and-1 poster dunk and a dunker spot extension finish with two hands on the rim. With his size, athleticism and motor, expect mid major programs to continue to show interest in Miller after showing what he could do on the 3SSB circuit for Midwest Basketball Club 3SSB this summer.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1575699"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A shifty point guard, McGillis showed his ability to create for himself and showed chemistry with Miller throughout the game on pick and rolls. His ability to change speeds gave defenders trouble in the pick and roll when deciding to stay with the ball or rotate back to the rolling Miller. His best move of the game came when he used a euro-step to make a reverse righty layup on the left side with nice spin off the glass. On the next possession he spun back to the right side to finish with an and-1. A creative dribbler with the ball in his hands, if McGillis knocks down a few more jumpers than he did on Monday, he has the ability to explode as a scoring option.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1258402"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"In a thrilling overtime battle between Division I prospects, Vasser was sensational finishing with 40 points and leaving with the win. Vasser is impossible to stop when he grabs a rebound and goes into attack mode. You must stop his dribble penetration before he reaches the volleyball line in mid transition, or he will score at the rim. Also making a handful of 3-point shots including a top of the key make, dribble handoff and a nasty step back at the third quarter buzzer. After his big-time game, I was reached out by multiple Division I coaches who were curious to hear my thoughts on his performance.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1085488"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"While Vasser was sensational, it was even more special to see Vasser get matched shot for shot by King who put up 37 points and was sensational as well. King is an explosive athlete who can get up very quickly off the ground and get on the rim. Comfortable in highly contested spaces, when King gets to the 12-16 foot range, it doesn't matter where the defenders hand it when he rises up. I think the difference in the game was King missing a couple shots late, after leaving it all on the court as he was exhausted by the final horn. I was also impressed by King's defensive performance, moving his feet and pressuring opposing ball handlers. With multiple Division I offers, King is one of the top available prospects in Kentucky's 2024 class.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1876861"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"A prospect who was sensational at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo and this was my first time to watch him in an organized game. While he wasn't making shots from the outside early, Kahnplaye was aggressive and got to the free throw line where he converted. His best move came at the end of the first half when he took it coast to coast and hit a buzzer beating floater at the halftime horn. Finally in the fourth quarter and overtime, Kahnplaye hit some big 3-pointers to give his team a big boost. His resilience to keep shooting after a cold night and make big plays late show what type of player Kahnplaye is.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6568cfa1b1476"} /-->