Big 64: SEPA Prospects to Watch on Saturday

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The West Chester Big 64 Showcase is a high school team event that takes place this coming weekend at West Chester University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of four prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania (and beyond) who will watching closely during Saturday's action at the Big 64.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abington Friends School vs. Bishop Eustace (NJ) (Tipoff at 9:00AM in Rec Center)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2400241"],"_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-66eb81a66bcf6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On Saturday we will be interested to watch how this former West Philadelphia phenom meshes with his new teammates. Hopkins is a serious open court threat. So, he should be a natural fit alongside AFS star [player_tooltip player_id='1848532' first='Zamir' last='Parker-Barnes'] in their transition game. In the half-court, Hopkins will provide as scoring punch in the mid-range, on cuts to the basket and in the dunker spot. From the wing, Hopkins has been known to execute a rip through and then use one or two dribbles to get to the cup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reading vs. Abington</strong> <strong>(Tipoff at 10:00AM in Rec Center)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1460803"],"_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-66eb81a66bd4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Glants in one of the most unique guard prospects in the area and it will be intriguing to witness him play against an extremely talented Reading squad. Glants is a tall and physical backcourt prospect with tremendous versatility. He owns crafty change of speed dribble moves that get him into the paint for lay-ins over or through defenders. He is a master at creating contact on his way to the rack that generates a favorable whistle. Glants can also drain jumpers from the baseline, the elbows, and the arc. Finally, Glants has a bully ball element to his game that he can use against smaller guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Executive Charter vs. Carlisle</strong> <strong>(Tipoff at 11:00AM in Rec Center)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[2391479],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-66eb81a66bda7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We do not get to watch prospects from Central Pennsylvania often, so we will not miss this opportunity to catch one of the most talented players from that area of the state. Smith is a lights out 3-point shooter who knocked down 53 treys last season. His logo distance range and ability to make off-balance shots are extremely impressive. His constant off-ball movement makes him difficult to guard on the perimeter. Smith is sneaky athletic and owns respectable end-to-end speed. That combination enables him to score on the fast break. He is an underrated passer too. In 2023-24 Smith averaged 23.9 points per contest and was 1st Team All Mid-Penn Conference selection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holy Ghost Prep vs. Pottsgrove</strong> <strong>(Tipoff at 3:00PM at Glen Mills)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2423943"],"_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-66eb81a66bde8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a monster summer in which he pushed his recruiting stock upward, Varella has become one of the top small school prospects in the region. Varella (20.8 ppg. &amp; 8.5 rpg. in 2023-24) owns the speed, handles and high IQ of a guard but he plays with the physicality of a small forward. He can score at all three levels, rebound, and distribute. Varella can run on the fast break as the primary ball handler or a lane filling wing. In both scenarios he can score through contact. Varella can also produce points on baseline drives or slashes to the cup from the wing. College coaches will love Varella's vocal on-court leadership.      </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->