Battle At The Lakes: Max’s Saturday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the best performances I saw on Saturday at the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1171683"],"_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":"Mason was simply not missing on Saturday morning. The unsigned senior guard had to be leading the event in three point makes through his first two games, as I believe he drained 8 in game one, followed up by about 6 more in his second game. The unsigned senior can come off screens and quickly get his feet set to elevate into his release, and his stroke from there is pure. Mason gets solid elevation on his shot so he can get it off with a hand in his face, and he was hitting college range threes with comfort. Scholarship schools still looking for a shooter in the 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e024 class should be giving Mason a look.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2410422"],"_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":"Arafan is likely the biggest player I'll see all spring/summer, and when he catches in the paint there's not much you can do to stop him. Listed at 7'1 with a strong and physical frame, Arafan was able to bully his way to the basket and throw down dunks over anyone who stood in his way. Also showed touch with his right handed baby-hook, as not many teams are going to have the length to contest it. Works hard to get up and down the floor at his size as well. Helped lead his team to three big wins on the day.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1412881"],"_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":"AJ was making big shots across two games on Saturday night. Against a [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] team filled with scholarship prospects and length all over the floor, AJ was hitting tough pull-up jumpers with a hand right in his face. He's an explosive athlete, so if you give him space to elevate on his jumper it's going to be difficult to contest. Bender was hitting those mid-range shots, while also showing his burst to get all the way to the rim and finish. Shocked most of the gym with his bounce when he nearly threw down a monster dunk right over a defender. Helped his Playmakers team go down to the wire with [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] 3SSB, before taking down a tough [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1973149"],"_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":"Also standing out in the two games for Playmakers was [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl']. You wouldn't be able to guess that Chris is playing up a year, as the 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e026 prospect shows no signs of being intimidated at the 17u level. Against a [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'] team that has a handful of D1 offered forwards, Chris was lighting it up from beyond the arc to make it a tight game all the way until the end. At 6'6 he showed the comfort to handle the ball out in the open floor, and if you give him too much space he's going to pull-up from three with ease. Came away impressed with his poise, confidence, and shot making ability.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1560778"],"_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":"Nolen showcased his deep range that makes him so dangerous out on the wing at 6'6. In a pair of wins for [program_tooltip program_id='2075431' first='D1' last='Minnesota'], the 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e026 wing was finding success moving off the ball and getting his feet set to catch and shoot from well beyond the arc. He's one of those players that you simply can't lose track of off the ball, because if he gets going he can put up points on the board in a hurry. Had a team high 17 points in the win over Fury before adding in another strong showing in a win over [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] UA Rise.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1385303"],"_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":"This was my first time seeing Ross play in a couple of years, and the 6'8 forward didn't disappoint. He came out stretching the floor from deep, showing an unorthodox but effective release on his jumper. That forced opposing forwards to defend him close beyond the arc, so it opened things up for Ross to use a shot-fake and attack to get into the paint. Does a nice job of playing off of two feet and creating openings with his footwork around the basket. Strong and skilled forward in the 2u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e025 class.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2103372"],"_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":"Fresh off of a breakout season for Minneapolis Washburn, Cooper showed his versatile game in a win for [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Academic. He really impressed with his rebounding ability as a guard, and was crashing the glass hard offensively to keep possessions alive for his team. Ended up picking up a couple of put-back buckets just with his effort to chase down rebounds alone. On the ball he changes speeds very well, which allows him to come off screens and just weave his way through defenders to get into the lane. Can get all the way to finish on his own, or spot and open shooter with a kick-out pass. Solid defender who's not going to give up any easy buckets to opposing guards either.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6640ad9a362e5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->