Adidas 3SSB Session 2: Sunday’s Palmetto State Standouts
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USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% THE FIRST PURCHASE FOR ANY SUBSCRIPTION The second stop on the Adidas 3SSB Regular Season tour concluded on Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama. Several of the state’s top prospects were in attendance for Session 2 and…
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The second stop on the Adidas 3SSB Regular Season tour concluded on Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama. Several of the state’s top prospects were in attendance for Session 2 and these six prospects impressed on Day 3 of the event. Sunday was also our first chance to see Upward Stars Gold in 3SSB Gold play, as they were at an off-site location for their first three games. Checkout Sunday’s Standouts:
Jonah Lawrence had a strong performance for Upward Stars SE on Sunday against the Atlanta Celtics. Jonah is at his best when he has the ball in his hands and is in attack mode. Although he likes to drive to his left, once he gets there he is comfortable finishing with either hand. He plays the game with good speed, doesn’t force turnovers, and does a nice job of fitting through tight spaces on his way to the rim. Against the Celtics, he put up 11 Points on 5-9 FG and added 5 Rebounds in a 76-68 win.
Highlights
Adidas 3SSB Session 2 was my first time getting to see in person Mike as a member of the Upward Stars. He has been one of the top scorers in the state the past two seasons but showed his ability to be a facilitating guard in Alabama. He had 5 Assists in a matchup with ASAK, frequently beating his defender off the dribble and kicking to open shooters or dumping off t0 his bigs. Jones also can play off the ball when the Stars go to their two Point Guard lineup, as they did on Sunday, and he was effective as a spot-up shooter knocking down 2 threes.
Littlejohn is truly a guard you can trust with the ball in his hands at all times. He is quick, smart, keeps his man in front, has a good handle, and can score the basketball. He does a nice job of getting downhill in both transition and half-court offenses. Rickey can finish with either hand and is very good at moving defenders with his eyes to set up a better shot for his teammate. In a matchup with Team Huncho on Sunday Morning, Rickey made play after play down the stretch to grab a key win.
Jackson had an important role in Upward Stars 15U’s overtime win over Team Huncho. He is a wing who can make an impact on both ends of the floor, playing strong defense and knocking down corner and above-the-break threes. Additionally, Ross will step up to make hustle plays by fighting for long rebounds and drawing charges. Although he will often come off the bench for the Stars, he played crucial minutes in crunch time on Sunday Morning due to his excellent performance.
Treyvon is one of two Upward Stars Gold prospects to stand out on Sunday Afternoon. Smith is a face-up big man who can play either the 4 or the 5. He looked very aggressive on defense and the boards, particularly on the offensive end where he earned a couple of second opportunities for his team. He has the physical frame to be a solid player at the next level, and if he plays with this type of motor consistently he can certainly be one.
Malachi also had an important game for Upward Stars Gold in their win over J Squad. He had a game-high 13 Points, playing the role of shooter and slasher from his wing position. His ability to shoot the ball and score off the dribble causes hesitation in defenders, which he frequently capitalizes on. Cooper is also an asset on the defensive end because he has long arms and stays in his gap.