Hard Work Region Finals: Max’s Day 1 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the top performers I saw on night one of the Prep Hoops Hard Work Region Finals!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1355915"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e747"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sage had some impressive moments in a night one win for [program_tooltip program_id='2075741' first='ND' last='Phenom']. At 6'7-6'8 he showed some impressive mobility and skill on the ball, beating his defender off the dribble on multiple occasions to get to the rim and finish. Showed he can score with touch off the glass or elevate for a two handed dunk. Defensively he has the length to act as a rim protector, and against a team without a true big he showed his ability to move his feet out on the perimeter against smaller players. Already productive player who possesses the ceiling to keep improving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561944"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e7b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jacob came out firing on Friday night. He knocked down a pair of quick threes, and ended up with 16 points in the first six minutes of the game. Hibner excels at quickly getting his feet squared to catch and shoot off the move from three, and is one of the best pure shooters in Wisconsin. What caught my eye was his improvement as a finisher, utilizing his strong frame and body control to convert on some tough looks at the rim. Hibner was able to hang in the air to finish through contact, including a couple of really impressive lay-ins with his weak hand. The lefty guard has put together an extremely productive spring/summer for [program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2391900"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e7f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Markell helped lead his Bradley Elite 16u to an opening night win. He's a shifty guard who excelled at getting downhill and getting to the rim for high percentage looks. From the opening tip he was causing disruptions with his on ball pressure, forcing a handful of early turnovers to get his team out in transition for easy buckets. Defenders all game had a tough time keeping him out of the paint as he can drive either direction, and does a great job of changing his speed on the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2025184"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e838"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wes continues to show improvements at 6'7. Looks more and more agile and comfortable on the ball, and last night he was finding success taking defenders off the dribble to get to the rim and finish. Always looked under control when going up to finish, and had the touch to score from a variety of angles off the glass. Wes dominated the game as a rebounder, and wasn't giving up any easy looks around the rim defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2392301"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e899"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When Giovanni caught on the block, the possession was pretty much over from there. All game long he was catching on the block and just powering his way to the rim for two points. His combination of strength, balance, and touch off the glass allowed him to go-to-work on the block and finish with either hand inside. Isn't the most athletic big but I really liked the effort he put in to run the floor rim to rim, looking to beat opposing bigs up the floor in transition. Helped lead his Bradley Elite 16u team to an opening round win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1545213"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e8db"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I like what Kenyatta brings to the floor defensively for [program_tooltip program_id='2075741' first='ND' last='Phenom']. He's a tough and versatile wing, who at 6'3 is capable of defending a variety of spots. Go with a small lineup and he can use his strength to defend against bigger forwards. Play with size and his speed allows him to move his feet with smaller guards on the perimeter. Offensively he's at his best slashing to the basket where he can hang in the air and extend to finish against size. Was making plays on both ends in an opening night win for [program_tooltip program_id='2075741' first='ND' last='Phenom'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561895"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-668934bd9e919"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Collin put in a gritty performance on night one of the Hard Work Region Finals. He's a tough as nails defender, and all game long was pressuring the ball and putting himself in the right spots off the ball to either take a charge or come up with a steal. Offensively he did a nice job of handling under pressure, and getting into dangerous areas forcing the defense to collapse and leave a teammate open. Collin always had his head scanning the floor as he was constantly looking to create a good look for one of his teammates. Off the ball did a nice job of finding pockets of space to catch and shoot from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->