BCL Quarters: Underclass Eye-Catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday's Quarterfinals slate at the BCL tournament had a ton of high performers in a lively atmosphere at Loyola University (MD). The strength of the Baltimore Catholic League is largely in the younger classes, with the next wave of local talent already performing at a high level in big roles with their respective teams. Let's break down some of the standout guards that will continue playing in the BCL the next few seasons!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2954433"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3532828,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-69a5e65ba047a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">20p 4r 1s 4/9 3P</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Playing in a loaded rotation of SFA guards, McCoy really stood out as a knockdown shooter and good decision-maker in transition. Thought McCoy understood when to fill the wing to space the floor in transition and when to time his lifts from the wing to the top of the key in sync with his teammates drive's on the opposite side of the floor in the secondary break. McCoy does a good job of scanning the floor in his pre-catch reads to make quick decisions once he catches the ball on the wing, either to take advantage of a slow closeout with a 3-ball or slice towards the defense to score at the rim or at least force the defense to shift. SFA will need another balanced performance out of him and the rest of the backcourt in a semifinal matchup against a Spalding team that also scored 74 points in the first round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2926352"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3532987,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-69a5e65ba04fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">19p 6r 3a 1s 1b vs MSJ</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Wood's dynamic athleticism in the open court really showed in a standout performance against MSJ. Wood rotated down to the block to punch a big's layup attempt off the glass, scored on several C2C drives at the rim, flew upcourt to draw two in transition before he dropped it off to a big for an easy two, hit a big turn-around 3 just before the halftime buzzer, and scored off the and1 layup through the contact in the 2H. Wood showed a bit more of his scoring bag as a shooter off the bounce or off of movement&nbsp;throughout the afternoon, with much smoother dribble pick-ups in traffic to navigate through the key or stop on a dime for a pull-up jumper. The athleticism combined with a competitive drive/motor that always run hot should make him a name to know this summer for local D1s. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194760"],"_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-69a5e65ba054a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">13p 4r 2a 2s 1b (3/4 FG 1/2 3P 6/8 FT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Love the poise and feel from Word as a PG that can play on or off the ball with a scoring guard in the BCL POY (Ranson) beside him in the backcourt. Word understands when his team needs a bucket, scoring just before the buzzer of two different quarters by waiting for the ball screen before knifing downhill to the rim for the layup. He can shoot, uses his size to get under his matchup defensively, and does a great job of drawing two defenders in the halfcourt before executing on the correct passing read. His first step and handle allow him to be dynamic in both middle and side PnR situations, love watching him play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194755"],"_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-69a5e65ba058d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13p 6r 2a 3s vs MC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-The sophomore enjoyed a productive first season at SMA in the program's first year in the BCL A Conference. Rich had some success against OLMC as a slashing guard that got two feet into the paint to make plays for his bigs around the rim or his shooters around the rim--a feat that is difficult against a stifling Cougars defense. Rich raced back to strip away a layup attempt before his opponent could get the ball above his hips, hit a wing 3, and forced several turnovers to keep the game within 5 points for most of the contest. With the requisite size, skillset, and with several key pieces in the backcourt graduating this spring--Rich's profile within the area will only continue to grow as he proves his worth as a 2-way point guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2731617"],"_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-69a5e65ba05cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12p 1r vs MSJ</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Johnson came alive late in the 2Q to fuel a CH run that cut the lead to 5 at halftime and continued that strong play in his 3Q minutes as well. Johnson got things going with a rip through from the wing that was too fast for his matchup and the helper, sprinted ahead of the pack to collect two passes over the top to score in transition, knocked down midrange jumpers off the bounce, and flew in for an offensive rebound amongst the trees in the key to draw a trip to the free throw line. A super dynamic leaper that has a ton of speed in the open court, his athleticism raises his floor as a prospect that can compete with the best of them and it will be fun to watch that potential become realized over the next 2.5 seasons</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->