Top 250 Expo: First Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30 for discounted subscription</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With over 100 entrants from 64 different schools, the Top 250 Expo was a huge success. Our group of coaches and scouts provided input for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams for the event to recognize the hard work of our student-athletes. Let's break down our MVP and 1st Team!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='2148719' first='Mekhi' last='Polk']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Team:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1588109' first='Finley' last='Billy']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353558' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782683' first='Anthony' last='Brown'] Jr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782680' first='JJ' last='Addison']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2458557' first='Jayden' last='Mills'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2148719"],"_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-66f1d26ac9a5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Polk turned in the most impressive performance of the day with a dynamic performance at both ends of the floor during both 3 on 3 and 5 on 5. A quick, explosive guard that burst through the gap for off-ball steals while also getting under his defender to turn them over on the ball as well. Polk showed some improved finishing craft in the paint with inside hand finishes past the defense, floaters coming across the paint and finger rolls in transition. His shot was falling from outside the arc, which opened up driving lanes to the rim to finish or create for teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1588109"],"_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-66f1d5410a12d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-One of our biggest stock-risers of the offseason, Billy has improved his body and is impacting the game outside of the signature shooting skills. Laterally he's moving much better on his feet to stunt at drivers or to stay with his man on the ball and his endurance has really improved to allow him to bang with forwards defensively while running off of screens offensively to knock down shots. The play-making has been the best revelation, as he's consistently driving to space and finding teammates with zip passes on the perimeter for 3s or dropping it off to a big for an easy 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1782683"],"_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","fullHeight":false,"anchor":"acf-block-66f1d5410a1f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Brown was really dynamic as a play-maker in the open floor, starting out 5 on 5 play with a flurry of highlight plays. Brown caught the opening tip and immediately found the cutter for the opening basket, had a kick-ahead baseball pass in transition, and threaded the needle with a laser one-handed bounce pass from his own FT line to a teammate in transition. He showed that he can play off the ball as a shooter that can attack hard closeouts and he's added weight to his frame. The edge that he plays with is beginning to manifest itself more often on the defensive end, and he uses that mentality to attack guards off the bounce before finishing around the rim. Making the simple read over the sexy read with the basketball is what will determine his success at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2458557"],"_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-66f1d5410a173"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Mills has been on a mission this offseason and he continued the momentum from a 3SSB championship into The Expo with a very well-rounded performance. Mills has really sped up his decision-making process to make the read to shoot or attack off the dribble before he even catches the ball. The footwork and finishing ability in the paint are both consistently high-level with more face-up scoring options in his bag. Defensively he is playing more disciplined, staying down on shot attempts and working harder to avoid playing behind his matchup around the rim to cut down on his fouls. His willingness to make plays for his teammates off the bounce or from the high post make him a tough cover for opponents and a fun teammate to play with</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1782680"],"_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-66f1d5410a1b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Addison did a great job of getting into the teeth of the defense with rip-throughs from the perimeter before raising up for elbow pull-ups. He can post up smaller guards, knock down C+S threes, and drill 1 or 2-dribble jumpers after ducking under closeouts. The complete offensive game is balanced well with his value on the defensive end as a wing with good size that can guard up or down a position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2353558"],"_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-66f1ea1dafe15"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-The motor and potential shown throughout the course of the day as Carpenter impacted the game both on and off the ball. With good positional size and length, he plays hard defensively and can guard multiple positions. Carpenter hits the glass hard and puts back his own misses if they come off the rim. The quickness, speed, and leaping ability allow him to get past most wings/forwards and into the paint. If he continues to improve his shooting ability outside the paint and polishes his finishing ability around the rim, I expect him to be recruited hard in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->