DC Grind Session: Eye-Catchers

New readers: Use code Proia30     The Grind Session League made a pit stop at local member Mt. Zion Prep (National Team) for a weekend of high-level hoops featuring teams from across the country and across the globe. This one will be a mix of forward, wing, and guard standouts from my two days of attendance there. Let's dive in!    26p 2r 4a 2s vs Star Alliance   -It has really come together offensively for [player_tooltip player_id='2450393' first='Angel' last='Long'] as a dynamic scoring CG that can create his own shot without a ball screen. Long started things off with a double cross into the downhill drive and floater with the right in the paint, hit his opponent with a double crossover into the right wing 3, came off a screen to hit a fadeaway middy from the right wing, knocked down a C+S movement 3 from the corner, had a middle drive from right wing into the elbow pull up, and drove from the baseline to the elbow to knock down a jumper.     24p 6r 4a 2s vs Mt Zion National   -Bradford's ability to slice through defenses was very apparent throughout the matchup with Mt. Zion. He sets up his man well before the ball screen arrives by reverse dribbling to create the best angle to come off the ball screen and usually makes good reads when he gets downhill. Bradford hit shots from all three levels, was dynamic in transition, and used that scoring gravity to make plays for teammates in the halfcourt.     15p 16r 4a 1s 1b vs Bella Vista Academy   -Triplett was a menace on the glass to buoy Gillion in the absence of their star senior (Ponder). Triplett has improved his IQ to pick his spots as a rebounding machine that has improved not only the handle but the finishing ability to get from the rebound to the rim efficiently in traffic. The shooting stroke has improved with a better shot pocket that creates a more fluid and consistent release from the FT line. And his touch around the rim has also improved, as Triplett is using his pivot around the rim to create better finishing angles around defenders. He projects well as a W/F tweener that has matured to handle contact better and process defensive rotations more quickly on the fly.     14p 8r 1b 4/7 FG 6/8 FT vs Mt Zion National   -The size and physical frame stand out immediately as Coulibaly was a whirling dervish of activity for Hamilton Heights at both ends of the floor. Coulibaly attacked the glass, battled against a deep MZN frontcourt on the glass and in the paint, and had several 2-handed finishes above the rim. His most impressive play of the day came after he high-pointed a rebound, spun between 2 defenders, and through down a rim-rattling dunk off vert to halt at MZN run midway through the 4Q.     19p 4r 4a 1s 6/11 FG 3/6 3P vs Bethel   -Love the pace that Duncan played with the ball in his hands snaking ball screens and operating from vulnerable spots in the defense to create for himself or teammates. His jumper is compact and fluid, he shoots the same shot whether it's off the bounce or off the catch as he hit several contested looks to fill it up efficiently for Minnesota Prep. Easy plug n play scholarship player for a team looking for a competitive gamer willing to earn his keep.     13p 6r 3b vs Minnesota Academy   -The big dog has lost 30 lbs already this season, enabling him to play for longer stretches of time and improving his mobility-- especially at the defensive end of the floor. Morton's ability to catch tough passes in traffic, finish through contact on either side of the rim, hit the glass to score putbacks at the offensive end or close out possessions at the defensive end, and knock down open midrange jumpers has come a long way even since the beginning of the season. Loved the touch on his hook shots around the rim and his footwork has improved to allow him to pivot for better finishing angles around the basket. The timing on his rolls after setting physical screens on or off the ball has also improved along with the mechanics to cut down on some of the offensive fouls that plagued him at the start of the year.

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