Prephoops The Expo: Kentucky- Team 6 Standouts

I enjoyed the solid teamwork Team 6 played in the showcase. Everyone meshed so well, they gave the impression of being a team that's played together for years.    JaQuay was one of the most athletic guards at the showcase! I appreciated his determination to score whenever he had the ball in his hands. He was always in “attack mode,” no matter who guarded him on defense. JaQuay has a great handle of the ball. He used a quick first-step to drive by his opponents and score. I was blown away by his leaping ability. There was a play during the game, when he drove baseline and attempted to dunk over a Team 5 player. I really didn't expect to see this type of bounce from a 5'10 guard. He's an excellent finisher in transition. The majority of his points came during fast-breaks. When JaQuay had opportunities to shoot from the perimeter, he did with no hesitation. On defense, he made it tough on opposing guards by applying constant pressure on the ball. He forced numerous turnovers that led to positive outcomes for Team 6.     Dillon has the mentality of a true “floor general.” He's a great ball handler who always looked to set-up his teammates for high percentage shots. After watching Dillon play, I saw an elite passer of the basketball. He always managed to find Team 6 players in the right positions to score. I can say with confidence, Dillon led the team in assists and play-making. He showed great leadership by communicating with his teammates throughout the duration of the game. Dillon can also score the rock! He knocked down four threes and attacked the basket on multiple occasions. One of the four three-pointers was a highlight play. He used a nasty step-back dribble to make the shot despite being challenged by the defender. Dillon is an excellent lead guard who could become elite in the near future.     Jackson is an elite three-point shooter! He made the art of shooting look easy. In the two games I saw Jackson play, he knocked down seven three-pointers. He's very knowledgeable of how to run an offense and make plays as a facilitator. Jackson showed a knack for setting up his teammates for easy scores. Whenever he had opponents in one-on-one match-ups, Jackson easily beat them to the basket. He's the type of player who could successfully play in any kind of offense. His shooting ability makes him a threat to any opposing defense. Jackson showed good effort on the defensive end of the floor. He excelled at playing the pass lanes and generating turnovers. Jackson has the shooting skills to be successful at the game of basketball.     Nolan is an excellent shooter! This young man was one of the best shooters at the showcase. It did not matter if he shot from mid or long range. Nolan always found ways of being an effective scorer. He excelled at finding ways to free himself for good looks at the basket. Whether it was using teammate screens or beating defenders off the dribble, Nolan made plays. During the game, I watched him make four shots from behind the arc. He also scored on pull-up jumpers from the perimeter. Whenever there were opportunities to score in transition, Nolan did so. On defense, he stayed attached to his opponent and gave maximum effort on that side of the ball. He's a great shooter who has a valuable asset that allows him to be successful.     The big man was surprisingly agile for his size. He's an excellent ball handler who showed the ability to be a scorer and play-maker. Maximus is a great passer. Many of his assists led to high percentage shots for his teammates. He's what I call a "sneaky good scorer." Maximus scored the ball in a variety of ways Sunday afternoon. Whether it was scoring in the post, knocking down perimeter shots, driving to the basket or scoring in transition, team 5 players had problems defending him. He showed the capability of being a dominant player all over the court, including rebounding. Maximus effectively attacked the boards on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he was great at using his size to be a physical presence in paint. Maximus is a great player who has the skills to become elite in the coming years.     Cooper showed the capability of being an excellent power forward/center at the high school level. He's a hardworking player who did all the “hustle work” for team 6. Cooper showed the ability to knock down mid-range shots from the perimeter. He used his size advantage to score on smaller defenders in the post. Most of his baskets came from grabbing offensive rebounds or cleaning up his teammates' misses. Cooper was great at running the floor and finishing at the basket, when the opportunity was available. He's tenacious on the boards and defends at an elite status. Cooper was all over the floor defensively. He blocked shots, forced turnovers and used his physicality to defend the paint. Cooper is a great young player with a bright future.

I enjoyed the solid teamwork Team 6 played in the showcase. Everyone meshed so well, they gave the impression of being a team that's played together for years.