The Next Big Things

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1787950' first='Luke' last='Sigmund'] (Maryville)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of the scouting job and joy is projecting, imagining a player into the future. Seeing Brandon Miller at 14 was a treat. Darius Garland was tiny, skilled, and thrilling as a freshman starter for Brentwood Academy. Always the basketball world and PrepHoopsTN are looking for the The Next Big Thing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1981500' first='Baba' last='Diop']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why:</strong> Webb-Bell Buckle unearthed another diamond. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1981500' first='Baba' last='Diop']</strong>, though raw, can be a special player in the coming year. Baba stands about 6-foot-7 and moves around the floor with unnatural fluidity. Considering he is Swedish it is likely he grew up playing soccer. Bigs who played soccer as kids are frequently way ahead of the American bigs in the footwork department. Consider Hakeem Olajuwon, Joel Embiid, Dirk Nowitzki, Jokic, Paul Gasol, Marc Gasol, and on and on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diop is welcoming to his basketball teachers. He wants to and willfully plays on the low block. There is no indecisiveness about what he is. He is a big man in the making. Baba passes well with his back to the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Extremely coachable. High IQ. Great student.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Next: </strong>Baba is thin and it is likely he will be thin for several years. Diop probably can probably eat all day without gaining weight. That is typical for very tall, lean, young hoopers. At some point he needs to add muscle and strength. There will be plenty of guys that can simply bump him off of his spot until that happens. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Must get more aggressive. Facing Providence Christian Academy, Diop let a couple of nearby rebounds find opposing hands. He almost plays too nice, at times. A fourth quarter and-1 revealed the lion is in there, just not always visible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1787950' first='Luke' last='Sigmund']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why:</strong> Amazing height. Developing his aggression. The agility keeps improving rapidly. Sigmund owns the genetics and work ethic to really make something special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Next: </strong>Sigmund's shooting touch was way ahead of fellow bigs last year. That is going to be a real weapon. His handle can get better long-term. Sincerely, the guy might mature into a face-up 4 or an unlikely 6-foot-10 wing someday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2570444' first='Ezra' last='Sixto']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Why:</strong> Ezra will play almost never for the 2023-2024 Baylor School varsity and that is ok. The sophomore elegantly operated during the June portion. He will learn a tremendous amount under [player_tooltip player_id='1461916' first='Jack' last='Shutters'], Cameron Sparks, and the entire Red Raider veterans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Next: </strong>Sixto needs to get better dribbling into traffic. He plays alongside some guards who will do that for him now, but to reach a lofty ceiling this is a requirement. Ideally, Sixto will be able to create his own shot, drive past defenders with his long strides and improved handle. That is the dream. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->