City of Palms - Top 25 Performers Countdown Part 2

Welcome back to the countdown! We're going to highlight another five players who impressed at City of Palms and who should definitely be on your radar if they are not already. Let's dive right back in!    Mingo was the engine that kept the LuHi engine going after their first day loss to Owasso. Through the first three games, Mingo showed a full bag of offensive moves at all three levels, but it was his improved passing on days 2 and 3 that helped his team bounce back and captures wins. Mingo showed his ability to drive and kick to open teammates and defenses gravitated to him. His crisp passing made it easier for his teammates to knock down shots and instill confidence in them. While Mingo can certainly take over a game with his offensive skills and shot making, involving his teammates and displaying his passing ability is a welcome change for a player of his caliber. On day 2, Mingo had a 30 point, 10 assist, 7 rebound, and 5 steal game. He did not have a foul called against him during that game either, showing his skill in playing a strong physical game and imposing his will on the court, without overplaying or forcing things too much.     Just like his brother Cayden, Cameron knows winning and doing it often. The intangible impact he has the moment he steps on the floor is palpable. Cameron crashes the glass and is able to overpower competition in most matchups. His court vision and ability to fire off outlet passes once he has the ball in his hands is reminiscent of Kevin Love or Nikola Jokic to jumpstart a fastbreak opportunity. With a solid inside-outside game, Boozer proved to be a matchup nightmare for teams game planning against Columbus. Three of the four games, he notched better than 20 points with a combination of post moves and three-point shooting. The only team that was somewhat able to combat his height and impact was Montverde in the championship game even though Columbus still emerged victorious. Boozer also does well passing out of the post when defenses collapse and hound him. He's able to remain calm under pressure and find the best option due to his understanding of the game and high level basketball IQ. Also headed to Duke with his brother, Boozer should slot in as the starting forward next year in Durham and continue to thrive.     Acuff's game has grown exponentially since last year's IMG squad underperformed even though he was the major highlight. He's now more adept at picking and choosing when to exert his impact on the gameand has a stronger feel for those moments when he can take over and put the team on his back. Acuff is every bit the driving, physical, and forceful lead guard that can stop on a dime and drain a three in the defenders face or get all the way to the rim and throw down a thunderous slam. His decision making off pick-and-roll plays is impressive to see as he is so herky-jerky with his dribble he can change directions before the secondary defender flashes or split the pair before they are set. Acuff has a quick separation step as he puts the ball out in front of him, but his counter move as the defender closes out frequently leads to a bucket or getting to the stripe as he catches them entirely off guard. Though Acuff has more of an above the rim ability, his space creation and finishing in the paint and on drives, sometimes off balance or out of rhythm brings shades of Jalen Brunson.     Holmes is a strong, southpaw shot maker who compliments Tosi's game well. He's developing the three-point shot still, but thrives on the quick pull-up and floaters, and did make some difficult, off-balance shots. His separation step allowed him to break down defenses, get paint touches, and kick the ball out. Decision making however could be improved as some passes were forced and ended up as turnovers. On the defensive side of the ball, Holmes uses his length and athleticism to jumpstart fast breaks off of steals. He's actually a stronger decision maker in the open court, rather than in a set offense off of turnovers. As he continues to develop his long-range jumper and add strength, Holmes should take on more of a leadership role as well.     Reece brought that more traditional point guard game to the forefront and was able to orchestrate for Oak Ridge during their four games. Paired with Jones, the flurry of passing and ability to find a way to get the ball through tight pockets on pick and rolls was on full display. Reece averaged almost 6 assists per game, but his offensive impact didn't stop at just sharing the ball. He has the long range three-ball in his arsenal, but also showcased a bag of floaters in the lane and some nifty fake outs to draw the defense while opening visibility to knock down shots or play off the glass. He showed more strength when shooting off of the dribble drive or dribble pull up rather than catch and shoot opportunities. On the defensive end, Reece is a confident defender and was fully engaged on his assignments. If an opponent exposed the ball and Reece was matched up, he was frequently able to get control and begin the break. With Reece heading to LSU next season, he will certainly be an interesting piece to watch on the Tigers roster.

Welcome back to the countdown! We're going to highlight another five players who impressed at City of Palms and who should definitely be on your radar if they are not already. Let's dive right back in!