Summer's Best: Underrated Playmakers

After a summer of some high-level basketball, our scouts have gathered some new evaluations and new faces to introduce! We will be starting a new series called 'Prep Hoops Superlatives' to highlight some names and faces that some may not be aware of. There is a lot of talent in the area, so we will break down a few names into 4 different categories; defenders, scorers, playmakers, and shooters.   It is now time to take a look at some playmakers that have been on our radar or jumped onto it following their summer performance.    Gavin is getting better and better with his playmaking ability each time out. He is using his scoring gravitation to pull defenders out of position and create scoring opportunities. Gavin has always been strong in the pick-and-roll and finding the open player following defensive rotation. His shooting skill forces the defense to commit to closing out on him, so simple patience with the dribble causes defensive shifts that Gavin can read in a couple quick seconds. Gavin is also strong in transition, seeming to always hit the right man in stride for an easy basket.     Geezy looks to be in for a big season with St. John's as one of the featured guards in the backcourt. They will call for more of his ability to create for others now more then ever. Geremy's blend of speed and ball control is special and crucial for the speed that the Cadets play. Over the summer I have seen Geremy start to control his pace a bit better and learn when to speed things up offensively. He draws major attention with every drive to the basket and makes easy kickouts to shooters. I'd like to see him operate the pick-and-roll a bit better this season, but he has improved with his general decision-making, not forcing the ball to the rim-runner as much as previous times I've seen him out. Geremy is starting to realize the potential he presents to the defenders due to his quickness and willingness to find the open man.     Jaden did an excellent job of distributing the ball to the scorers and keeping the offense intact when I saw him with City this summer. He is the main guard now after some graduates have moved on, and he did well with keeping the ball popping and hitting the scorers. Jaden reads the floor well, seeking out the teammates who are scoring most consistently. He is the type of guard you want running the floor for the team, good size to see over the guards and keep control of the ball through the pressure. Doesn't get too sped up with the ball and makes the right decisions more times than not.     Every time our scout team catches Mahki in action, he seems to put on a show. His mix of scoring and passing is at a high level out on the public scene, and to do it most as an underclassmen makes it all the more impressive. Mahki never misses an open player, feeding any teammate he sees in scoring position. Makes the extra pass on the perimeter and comes up with a lot of 'hockey assists' during the game. His pick-and-roll efficiency is high. Mahki uses his jump-shooting skill to his advantage by drawing defenders out of help position, often firing the pass exactly where the defense just left. He creates such attention with the ball and makes passes all over the floor after beating the first line of defense on the perimeter. A lot of double-double nights from Mahki that I only expect to increase this next season.     Jarrard always does well coming into the game and keeping the ball moving. The offense is never slow or dead while Jarrard is on the ball. Even if he is not racking up assist numbers, Jarrard makes good passes and cuts to keep the offense in motion and eventually get the look they want. He pushes the ball well in transition and never holds the ball too long. I like the way Jarrard uses his quick first step to blow by the defender and draw help over from shooters or the big man down below. Great pick-and-pop game too with all his bigs whether on the summer circuit or with Georgetown. Usually ends each game with around 4 or 5 assists no matter the amount of play time.

After a summer of some high-level basketball, our scouts have gathered some new evaluations and new faces to introduce! We will be starting a new series called 'Prep Hoops Superlatives' to highlight some names and faces that some may not be aware of. There is a lot of talent in the area, so we will break down a few names into 4 different categories; defenders, scorers, playmakers, and shooters.