Dog Eat Dog Showcase: Top '26+'27 Prospects

New readers: Use code Proia30 for discount at checkout    -Wood was probably my favorite find of the event as the standout performer showed that he can do a little bit of everything out there. He's an explosive leaper, had a huge 1-handed spike in transition and showed how quickly he can get off the floor by high-pointing post entry attempts for steals. He hit a nice 1-dribble pull in his defender's face while attacking a closeout. Wood showed active hands defensively and has pretty good awareness/ vision getting the ball to switch ends quickly before the defense can react. He timed sprints to the baseline well to come up with help side blocks and was on point with his rotations at the defensive end of the floor. He showed his ability to use his scoring gravity to then create for teammates with a middle drive to the top of the key to hit a corner shooter with a hook pass. He saved his best for last though, scoring on a really tough off-balance pull-up 3 in transition to cut it to 3 under 30 seconds left in the game. Should debut pretty high in our rankings update next month!     -Brown was the defensive standout of not only his game but in the showcase as his anticipation, length, and leaping ability make him a really potent shot-blocker both on and off the ball (finished with 4 blocks). Brown flashed some perimeter skill with an in n out into the pull-up elbow J midway through the first half while continuing to show a good motor on the glass at both ends of the floor. Really love his attention to detail defensively and willingness to guard 1-5, handling himself well as a post defender as well as on the perimeter.     -Mancho proved why he is a T10 player in the class with a physically dominant performance at both ends of the floor. He used his frame well to come up with rebounds in traffic despite guards/wings chipping in to box him out. Mancho showed some offensive progression as he did a pretty good job of bringing the ball up in transition off of offensive rebounds because he sees the floor well and is an unselfish passer. Mancho's value really shown through as a roll target in tradition as he ran the floor really hard and called for the ball to get the ball sprinting down the gut for 2-handed dunks. Also though he is showing better feel offensively by sealing well on the low block whether he has the top side or is fronted to either score on the post-up or reverse pivot to catch the ball over the top for the easy layup after the ball was swung to the other side. He showed a little bit of everything today at the offensive end: scoring on putbacks, hitting hooks, coming away with a steal and a self-alley for the two-handed dunk, and he even banked in a face-up three from the top of the key. Should be in for a huge year with the Cougars!     -The newest arrival on Chase St showed his value as an open court speed demon that can play both on and off the ball. McCoy is quite fast with the ball in his hands and only needs the smallest opening to slice his way to the rim. Love the way that he didn't settle for perimeter shots and spent most of the afternoon probing the defense to create easy looks for his team. Should fill in the gaps for the departing Lawson/Cannady transfers quite nicely in the backcourt.     -Without a doubt the top shooter in the showcase for his performance as the winner of the 3 point contest as well as in game play. The newest City College Knight showed his value as a knockdown shooter that can hit shots off the catch, off movement, or off the bounce. Really liked his feel as an off-ball mover that found open pockets in the defense as as soon as his matchup turned their head to provide help defense. Thompson has a really quick release and doesn't need much airspace to make the defense pay from deep.     -One of my favorite new finds of the event, Edwards is a twitchy athlete that can accelerate really quickly whether it's in transition or in the half court. Loved his change of pace on the ball as his dribbling cadence is really hard to time and as a result-- difficult to stay in front of. Edwards can handle, shoot with range, and finish above the rim after weaving his way through crowded driving lanes inside the arc. Loved his creativity with the ball in his hands as a play-maker that can fit passes through some tight windows.     -Belvin continues to prove his value as one of the most polished scoring wings in the area with a well-rounded performance in this one. He hit his defender with a crossover into the gut drive for the two-handed dunk, scored off a well-timed cut from the wing for the backdoor dunk hit a stepback 3, had a beautifull-timed relocate to the corner for the three. His handle has improved to take guards off the bounce and he's able to squeeze through tighter gaps in the defense as a result. His versatility as a scorer should make him one of the best players in his league heading into his senior season at Milford Mill.     -First time seeing Al-Mateen and came away impressed with how well-rounded his game is at both ends of the floor. He's a super athletic leaper but he compliments that athleticism well with elite shot-making off the bounce from the perimeter. He uses his frame well to get underneath his matchup and draw fouls or get the step on his man to score at the rim. His dominant performance won him MVP for his showcase.     -Really loved the versatility on display from Tshiabidi in this one as he used his athleticism to impact the game at both ends of the floor. He threw down several two-handed dunks, had a few emphatic blocks around the rim, ran the floor well, and even hit a face up 3 from the wing. His ability to finish around the rim was bolstered by some solid footwork to re-adjust around the defense to score at the rim. Tshiabidi also rebounded the ball really well and has the lateral quickness to stick with most wings and guards in the area. Should be an intriguing add for a TSF program based out of Atlanta.

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