Scrimmage SZN Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back to back Saturdays have brought together high school programs from all over the state in preparation for the quickly approaching high school season. Here's a group of prospects that were impressive in games watched at Del City and Solid Rock. Hopefully the use of the term "SZN" is still in favor of the youths, and helps generate clicks to view this content. I live to make the content that highlights high school basketball prospects, which hopefully helps, even if it's just a boost of confidence! Why, yes I am once again writing a meandering preamble that I assume no one reads because they scroll right past it to read the player scouting reports, because that's why anyone clicking on this articles is clicking for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1625043"],"_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":"The Crooked Oak standout shined in a match up against Putnam City North, which featured him going against bigger and more athletic guards who in theory should have gave him trouble. But there's no backdown in Garcia's game, from draining deep threes to having the burst to get downhill and attack. The Ruf-Nex carried himself with the small guard swagger that's needed to thrive in a game of giants. This cumulated in him draining a nifty floater in an over-time period to deliver a victory for his small school program. Crooked Oak broke through with a Class 3A State Tournament appearance, even with Class 3A looking loaded this year, Garcia will give them a path to back to back appearances.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1391431"],"_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":"After being a transition and defensive monster as a sophomore for a senior heavy Panthers squad, it's time for Leonard to take on more of a primary scorer and leader. From a scoring standpoint, the junior guard looks ready to explode. His handle looks tighter, with more crossovers, hesitations and counters to not only blow by defenders in transition, but also create separation and gain a step in the halfcourt. With the ball in his hands, he looked just as likely to knife by the defenders or pull up and drain a mid-range or three pointer when given space. Improve scoring will be the first benchmark for the upside combo guard, but watching how he leads a younger PCN team as they attempt to maintain their place as one of the best programs in the state will be another way to track his development.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2273091"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":2278046,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"A youthful Putnam City team is looking to become a darkhorse in a tough district, but it was one senior that stood out in Del City with how he starred in his role. The 6 foot 4, long arm Thomas is likely more of a wing long term. Especially as he does have the athletic profile to be a perimeter defender, but he also excelled operating out of the high post and mixing scrappy play with good touch in the 8-12 feet. From quick turn and catches to putting it on the floor, Thomas was decisive and effective in this viewing. If the energy he played with is a sign of things to come this season, the Pirate has the feel of an undervalued prospect who could thrive at the JuCo level before finding a four year college home.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1482826"],"_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":"Piedmont is loaded with perimeter shooters, which will give them a chance to compete in their first year in Class 6A. Lloyd is a quality shooter from deep, but what impressed the most when watching him in Del City was the way he attacked off the dribble. But it wasn't always to score himself, it was getting downhill drawing in defenders and kicking it out to open players. Sometimes it was Lloyd creating directly with an assist that would count in the scorebooks, but it was also producing u0022hockey assistsu0022 or simply getting the ball moving for a crisp passing Wildcat team. Scoring will always be there for the unsigned senior, but watching him continue to develop his playmaking skills will be a huge boost to his college recruitment.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1391441"],"_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":"One of the top scorers in Oklahoma, Miller is starting to fill out physically and it's showing with his improved ability to score off the dribble. After starting to graze the rim on dunks as a sophomore, he'll have a chance to be among the more regular transition dunkers in Oklahoma with his improved strength and athleticism.  Along with getting out in the transition, he remains a great one on one scoring in the half court, with a variety of pump fakes, hesitation moves and now is playing through contact even better on drives and even a little bit of u0022big guardu0022 post moves. A huge junior year seems to be on the horizon for the Mustang Bronco.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1367218"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The recent Northern Illinois signee looked dominant for Carl Albert in early action at Solid Rock. He was strong, quick and powerful around the rim. His mid-range touch was still hit or miss but the focus he had to dominant the paint on both ends of the court was an impressive sign of what could be a 5A State Player of the Year type senior season. One particular individual moment stood out, Mott had a steal around mid-court, went behind the back to avoid a defender than finished with a thunderous slam.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2277651"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Booker T Washington is looking to be strong contenders in their first year in 5A since 2018, they'll lean on a pair of experienced junior guards with exciting sophomores and freshmen around them. On Saturday, Matulis threw his hat in the ring as one of those youngsters who could step up big time for the Hornets. He's a capable spot up shooter, who plays with good feel and competitiveness on the defensive end. Those traits alone would be enough to jot him down as a player to watch going forward, especially as a Swiss Army knife type contributor. But he also showed more to his game. When given an open lane on Saturday he twice attacked the basket and had impressive explosiveness to finish strongly at the rim with slams. It was the first viewing of the sophomore in a varsity setting and it's a strong indication that there's already a good foundation, with the room for more growth as a college prospect.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["2277636"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"A rangy wing-forward prospect, Booker-Brown was all over the court in a afternoon game for the Tigers.  He was active on the defensive end and the glass and had some moments of pushing it himself in transition. In the halfcourt, he even caught the eye with good form on his spot up and turnaround jumpers out of post ups. There's a lot of untapped potential for the southern Oklahoma prospect, who right now is at the very least a productive undersized, stretch 4/5. But has the the athletic talent and foundation to transition to more of a wing prospect at the next level for the right college program with a good developmental system.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["1756347"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Thompson is another junior guard, who looks set to make a leap from a player excelling in his role as a sophomore to a complete performer as a junior. He remains a confident, floor spacer who pairs that shooting with a gritty defensive mentality. But he's added more of an off the dribble game, which especially looked good in the mid-range.  There were a couple times the ball seemed to stay on the ball a little too much, which is an area to keep an eye on as his game continues to evolve.  But it was good to see him stay in attack mode and aggressive throughout, especially as he paired his attempts on the ball with the crashing the glass offensively and trying to win 50-50 balls.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6552b5d2b9cca"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->