Summer’s Best: Playmakers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our scouts wanted to take the time to reflect back on some standout players outside of the top-40 to show some love to some of the top performers that might not always get the publicity that they deserve with their play. We'll cover top defenders, best playmakers, elite scorers, hottest shooters, and more! Today, let's start with some of the better play-makers in the area. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2454538"],"_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-68a102659d8ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Edwards uses his pivot really effectively in the paint to find the best passing angles and is adept at getting two feet in the paint to create for his teammates both in the halfcourt and in transition. The handle has also tightened quite a bit to cut down on turnovers in PnR's and double teams, allowing him to see passing reads better and keep his team in their offensive flow. I like that he's making the simple play and not going for the home run on his passing reads in the halfcourt, cutting down on deflected passes and keeping him on the floor for longer stretches. His ability to find your team a good shot operating at the top of the key makes him a valuable piece moving forward for a G Prep team that graduated 4 starters and several rotation pieces. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2762098"],"_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-68a102659d924"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Got a chance to see him run Gonzaga's JV unit at a high level last season as a throwback point guard who is constantly probing the defense to create advantage opportunities. Fairfax protects the ball well on drives to the rim and doesn't force the envelope, showing really good feel as he will sometimes halt his dribble to allow the rest of the play to develop and his passing targets to work themselves open. Waiting that extra half beat to allow his teammates to set off-ball screens on the other side to free up shooters is a detail that you usually don't see from an underclassmen guard. Love Fairfax's feel operating at the top of the key as he serves as a dangerous threat to score or create for himself from the elbows. Excited to see how he is utilized in a new system under Coach Urgo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2347761"],"_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-68a102659d975"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Liked the flashes that I saw from him this summer on a pretty stacked Museum roster competing on the Puma circuit. Mintz is doing a better job of dribbling to space in the halfcourt but he's also improved his balance to turn the corner on opponents and get to the key to raise up for a floater. Mintz is comfortable creating his own shot but does a good job of not settling for the same look, attacking the rim or pulling up short to stick a floater in the paint after hitting a few perimeter jumpers. The deceptive pace that he plays with while attacking the basket makes it difficult for his matchup to force dribble pick-ups or force him to a sideline. Really interested to see how he fits in during the HS season with a newfound confidence after an injury-free summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2357007"],"_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-68a102659d9c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Jackson is a really, really shifty point guard that is difficult to stay in front of in the halfcourt because of his change of speed and advanced handle. Jackson is great at creating angles in the halfcourt by attacking the rim or dribbling to the elbows or wings to rise up for a pull-up jumper off the bounce. Even when the defender is seemingly doing their job to keep him in front— Jackson uses a spin move or inside out crossover to break free and create easy looks in the paint. The balance and consistency on his perimeter shooting adds in a dimension that makes it difficult to press up to attempt to chop his momentum and keep him out of the paint. Have really liked the progression in his passing reads off the bounce as he's proven that he can slip a variety of passes (pocket, skip, hammer bounce passes) through the tiniest crack in the defense. Should make an impact in new threads with Coolidge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2552522"],"_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-68a102659da0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Love the dimension that Walker gives the Cadets off the bench as a physically-imposing ballhawk of a point guard. Walker already understands at a young age the importance of leverage and gets under the elbows of his matchup to draw fouls or knock them off balance on his way to the rim. Love how quickly he makes decisions and changes directions with the ball in his hands, constantly probing the defense to find a shot for himself or for a teammate. He's especially dynamic in transition as a decision-maker that routinely makes the right read at exactly the right time-- bullying his way to the rim or drawing two to kick out to an open perimeter shooter. Finding a PG that you trust at the end of shot clocks at a young age is rare but SJC has that in Walker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->