CYO City Tournament: St.Francis/St.Clair vs St.Simon- Ballers

Watching small school players brings a different perspective to basketball and how its played. These guys play every game like its their last. It felt like players were competing to show they're just as good, or even better than kids from bigger schools.    Roman is an offensive scorer who showed the ability to drive the lane and make shots. He's the type of player who seeks out contact from opposing defenses. Playing this way, kept constant pressure on the St. Simon defense stopping him. Roman's play style works because it either allows him to score or get to the free-throw line. On many occasions, he was able to score through contact and complete three-point play opportunities. He was able to make plays for his teammates as the team's primary facilitator. Roman is an excellent passer who setup his teammates with easy shots around or near the basket. He really excelled at rebounding the ball from the guard position. He attacked the paint with as much ferociousness as he did on the offensive end of the court. Roman was able to finish at the rim during fast-break opportunities. He's a good all around player who can be great if he continues to work at it. Roman finished the game with (12 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) Good job Roman!!     Matthew is a tough player who played with aggression on both ends of the court. He was able to play with physicality in the paint, by scoring most of his points after grabbing offensive rebounds. There were occasions, when Matthew was able to score tough baskets despite being fouled. I remember, a point during the game when he knocked down a mid-range shot. I didn't expect it because everything Mathew did was inside the paint. If he continues to work on his jump-shot, His transition into high school basketball will be easy. He really excelled at doing all the intangibles for his St.Francis/St.Clair team. Every time I looked up, Matthew was on the floor diving for loose balls or blocking shots. He was also good at setting screens and protecting the paint from the opposition. Keep working Matthew!!     Kane is an excellent jump-shooter! The big man shoots the basketball with great form and ball rotation. Most of his baskets were scored outside on the perimeter. On a few occasions, Kane was able to play in the paint and score numerous times. He effectively used his size and strength to make shots near the rim. Kane was great at rebounding the basketball. He often, sealed off St. Simon players to gain position for grabbing boards. Kane was good at setting screens that freed up teammates for quality shots at the basket. As I said, his main strength is shooting. He knows how to move around within the offense, while finding ways to get open looks from behind the arc or along the perimeter. As long as Kane continues to work on his long-ball, he'll always be a valuable asset to a team. Keep shooting Kane!!     This young man was the best player on the floor during Sunday's game. Gus is a great all-around player who really has a chance of becoming elite. He's a good ball handler who easily broke down the St.Francis/St.Clair defense and made plays. Whether it was scoring, assisting, rebounding or defending; Gus was able to get whatever he wanted on the basketball court. He's a very athletic player who scored multiple and-one baskets in the paint. That means, he can play in the post or take defenders off the dribble. If he was isolated with a defender on the wing, he easily attacked the basket and scored. As I said, Gus does it all! He can knock down shots from both mid or long range. I watched him nail multiple threes during Sunday's game. During transition opportunities, he was able to finish at the rim or hit teammates streaking to the basket. Defensively, Gus was an excellent shot-blocker. He used perfect timing to cast away the shots of St.Francis/St.Clair players attempting to drive the lane. He also showed off his athleticism by guarding smaller players on the perimeter. I really enjoyed watching Gus play over the weekend. He has a very bright future in the game of basketball. Keep balling Gus!!     Brooks is a play-making point guard who ran the St. Simon team as a floor general. He's an excellent ball handler and facilitator of the basketball. This little guy showed great leadership skills by constantly setting up his teammates in winning circumstances. Whenever a pin-point pass was needed, Brooks delivered. He ran the offense in a very efficient fashion as its lead conductor. Practically, every offensive set the team ran versus St.Francis/St.Clair seemed to end with the team scoring. Brooks was clearly the coach on the floor. Whenever St. Simon forced turnovers leading to fast-breaks, Brooks was excellent at making correct decisions that lead to easy scores. He excelled at getting to the basket and knocking down mid-range shots. Many of his made shots came by shooting floaters in the paint. Brooks will be a excellent point guard at he high school level. Keep it up Brooks!!     Vince is a talented all-around player with a variety of basketball skills. During Sunday's game, he showed the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Vince is decent ball handler who had a knack of getting around defenders and scoring in the paint. He has a smooth jump-shot, capable of being nailed from mid or long-range. Vince also ran the floor and finished on the break, whenever the opportunity presented itself. Vince was able to rebound at a high level during the game. I counted at least five rebounds during the contest. On the defensive side of the court, he was great at applying pressure to the St.Francis/St.Clair guards. His defensive energy, forced many turnovers and mistakes from the opposition. Keep it up Vince!!     Anthony is an aggressive scoring guard who was most effective when he drove to the basket. He's a good passer who can make things happen off the dribble. Anthony is a decent ball handler who used his aggressive style to be effective on both ends of the court. He was able to make positive plays during fast-break situations, by either scoring or dishing off assists to teammates. Lane penetration, mid-range shooting and forcing turnovers are major strengths Anthony used to be effective in Sunday's game. Anthony played tough defense against opposing guards and forced numerous turnovers. After watching him play, Anthony gave off the impression of being a very confident player. The type of player who's fearless at everything he does on the basketball court. Keep working Anthony!!

Watching small school players brings a different perspective to basketball and how its played. These guys play every game like its their last. It felt like players were competing to show they're just as good, or even better than kids from bigger schools.