The Expo: Team 9 Overview

From the jump, Team 9 set the tone with energy, competitiveness, and players eager to showcase their development. For these juniors and seniors, the Expo provided a key opportunity to separate themselves and measure where they stand. Several players elevated their stock, others emerged onto our radar, and a few firmly established themselves as prospects to keep tabs on this season. Team 9 showed plenty of intrigue and upside.    Austin Jr. came out firing in 3-on-3, relying heavily on perimeter shooting. He was getting plenty of shots up on the day. While we liked how aggressive he played, it sometimes limited his versatility as we wanted to see how he reads the court, if he's able to grab rebounds and use his size as well as play off the ball. It wasn't a bad day shooting but we wanted to see his expanded game. In 5-on-5, he settled into a better rhythm, mixing in drives and showing shot creation from multiple spots. As a bigger guard, he has the tools to create offense as he has the length and ability to get inside and attack, and when patient, he becomes a tough shot-maker with real upside. We want to see more of that and excited to see how he fits in at Northfield this season as we feel that he can be a solid contributor this season based off of what we saw at the event.     Marez is a player who really turned heads in the 5-on-5 portion of the day as he was constantly moving and consistently made shots. He's a tough shot maker as he hit threes off the catch, attacked closeouts, and also had a few creative scoop finishes. Inside of the paint he's a player who uses his body well to put defenders on his hip to prevent them from blocking his shot and converted. When he had the ball in his hands, he appeared to be a crafty guard with scoring instincts who kept defenders guessing.     Reeves was one of the biggest beneficiaries from the day as he appeared to be one of the best prospects at the entire event. His versatility set him apart as he showcased it all. He has a high IQ, a smooth shooting stroke both off the catch and dribble, and he also was the team's point guard despite being 6'4. He did a bit of everything and scored with ease, but also set the table for others. His length helped him switch defensively, contest shots, and even block a few at the rim, which added to his day. With how he performed, I expect him to be one of the conference's best under-the-radar options poised for a big season.     Mokalo's impact grew the more you watched him as he's a playmaker with high upside. He's a versatile guard with size. He scored in transition, attacked off the dribble, hit threes, and defended with urgency, and that was on display throughout the day. He was a spark for the team, and he plugged into any situation, making plays without forcing. As a player that we did not know too much about heading into the event, he proved himself as a productive, all-around playmaker who belongs firmly on the radar heading into the season. I am VERY high on Mokala as a player after the event, and is a player we want to see more of.

From the jump, Team 9 set the tone with energy, competitiveness, and players eager to showcase their development. For these juniors and seniors, the Expo provided a key opportunity to separate themselves and measure where they stand. Several players elevated their stock, others emerged onto our radar, and a few firmly established themselves as prospects to keep tabs on this season. Team 9 showed plenty of intrigue and upside.