Jayden Moore Leads Hopkins Past DeLaSalle

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The full game intensity from [player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] was there and [player_tooltip player_id='2388499' first='Anthony' last='Byrd'] had a statement game of effort. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hopkins</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1550877' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] of Hopkins (Sr). One of the signature plays of this game for me will be Jayden hitting a three and instantly sprinting to the ball as DeLaSalle in-bounded it. Moore put on instant ball pressure and his stance was Spider-man level deep just hounding the Baskeball. I also really liked how Moore gathered his teammates to focus them after each dead ball as he continues to mature as a leader his senior year. And speaking of heady leadership play, Moore was incredible in quick transition. Even on DeLaSalle makes Moore would collect the ball and get his team an attempt at the rim with a great full court pass while the Islanders were celebrating big plays. Moore also made two or three key threes that seemed to slow Islander momentum immediately every time. And one of the biggest plays of the game came from Moore: shortly after an Islander three, Moore was able to get a steal on a bad pass and went the other way with a dunk. The play didn't just charge up his team because of a dunk, it was the effort in the play and it was the momentum change that came with it. Jayden finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2388499' first='Anthony' last='Byrd'] of Hopkins (Sr). Byrd is a 6'7 active player that has potential. Key plays he made early were moving with the [player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko'] dribble, keeping his length in front, and contesting shots. A key contest forced a miss and led to a Royal fast break score for a 10-0 lead. As the game went on, Byrd was the Hopkins big that worked for the easy rim scores: he cut off the ball, he went for putbacks, he ran the floor to the cup. And overall Byrd was a factor on the glass including THREE late put-back scores on his way to 15 boards and 23 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560534' first='Tre' last='Moore'] of Hopkins (Soph). Moore's defense always stands out. He took away early drives beating players to the baseline, his pressure and denial on shooters stood out to me. Moore's pressure led to an early turnover, steal and finish which forced the Islanders to call their second timeout. He is just physically quick, strong and with a high motor which makes him such a good defender. Moore not only is strong but he plays strong with his attacks, balanced finishes and defensive effort. Tre also had a late three that was big followed by a key board and steal: another variety of effort and skilled play that pushed him to a 20 point, nine board day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DeLaSalle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2557528' first='Ichima' last='Idoko'] (Soph). He is a 6'7/6'8 long athlete with a ton of potential. His ability to attack with the dribble at his size is a rare thing and it's what makes Idoko a high regarded prospect (plus that attack comes from the left side which makes Ichima even more rare). The agility, length, skill, etc are there and they are rare, and next the physical maturity will come. All the pieces are there to be a very good prospect and that was on display, and when he becomes stronger, Idoko will have a chance to be even more impressive. His shooting touch is also noteworthy because he is a lefty that can make a three. Percentages need to get better but the potential is there. And defensively, you saw examples of Idoko contesting (and blocking) shots in help and on the ball. His potential to be a great defender is all there, just needs to get to a level of consistency. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126474' first='Kamar' last='Thomas'] (Jr). Kamar looks to have become a very emotional player and that emotion seems to bring out a lot of energy from him. He had an attacking finish and a three early that were key plays bringing De back from an early deficit and his energy charged the team. That energy stayed throughout as Kamar was a downhill attacking finisher on the regularity using his length, size at 6'4, and his agility to finish over long contesting defenders commonly. Scored a game high 28 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2533408' first='Deon' last='Wallace-Johnson'] (Jr). The early charge take, the blow by dunk in the half court, the block of the Moore shot in transition, such explosive high effort plays, that is Deon. Then ten minutes into the first half, Wallace-Johnson stayed in front of his man and took another charge. He's a player of value that makes big plays that don't have to be scoring plays. What I also really like about Deon is that when he is challenged, he rises to it and battles. Like the attacking score on Moore in the middle of the half. And his scores are followed with defense and more work, and less taunting and celebrating during live play. Finished with 15 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->