District/MD Movement/Thrill 16s Scrimmage: Productive Wings/Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday at SEED School of Maryland, <a href="https://prephoops.com/program/team-thrill/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill']</strong></a> hosted a tri-scrimmage with <a href="https://prephoops.com/program/district-basketball-club/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2076976' first='District' last='Basketball Club']</strong></a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/program/maryland-movement/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2076982' first='Maryland' last='Movement']</strong></a> . The 16s and 17s were at this site and throughout the day, I saw some guards on the 16s that caught my eye and were worth highlighting below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3070524"],"_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-69cacb44c20f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pochkua was a riser in our latest 2028 update and if he continues with the type of play that he showed yesterday, he'll be due for another rise in the update down the road. More of a lumbering 6-foot-7 forward at this stage, Pochkua brings a physical presence in the paint that allows him to handle taller bigs. He possesses good touch around the rim with sound footwork and awareness. Whether he was on the finishing end after a dump-off pass or getting to the rim following a mid-range rip off the bounce, Pochkhua embraced contact and finished through fouls on multiple occasions. He did his work on the glass and impressed me with how vocal he was in Thrill's press or half court defense as the backline defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2731740"],"_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-69cacb44c2197"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ansong looks to have a productive spring/summer heading into his junior season as an undersized big who continues to flash some perimeter skill. The ball handling and play creation are still a work in progress, but he's growing as a threat to bury shots from outside when left open as he did regularly in yesterday's scrimmages from the corners. Ansong will earn his keep on the defensive end as he can guard up and down a position with his combination of size and strength. He impacts the glass and when he's feeling springy, can go rip a few at their peak among the trees. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2784657"],"_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-69cacb44c2218"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sloane-Marks has piqued my interest since I first saw him in 7th grade. His blend of size, skill and versatility have been evident since he was 12 and as he's continued to sprout to 6-foot-5, the fluidity has maintained. He was sidelined for a portion of the high school season due to an injury that is now 100 percent healed and that was evident in a grab-and-go possession he had Saturday afternoon as he glided down the floor with the ball to the rim maneuvering by three defenders in his path. The 15-year-old can catch from the mid-range and make plays off the bounce, effectively guard four positions on the floor at any given time and has a chance to be a name that catches some momentum on the UAA Circuit these next few months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2610860"],"_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-69cacb44c2293"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pearson is running with the 16s and will add much needed size and length to the frontcourt rotation. He'll be more of a utility and intangible type of guy who comes from a disciplined culture at Sidwell Friends. There were a handful of possessions where Pearson got his buckets out of pure will by putting himself in position offensively for tip-ins off misses. This Thrill 16s group has a talented stable of guards that could benefit Pearson if he continues to hang his hat on doing the small stuff. A focus on setting impactful screens, improving his hands and his aggression on finishes not only will raise the ceiling of this team, but also his high school career projecting for the years ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2961604"],"_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-69cacb44c230c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really enjoyed the energy and intensity from Akaya, who brings a much bigger presence than his listed 6-foot-3 height. Not only can he credit his wingspan to that, but also his mindset and bouncy, functional athleticism around the basket. He's an energizer bunny wing who is low maintenance on the offensive end. Akaya understands how to impact off the ball and make timely cuts, create opportunities for himself off the glass and can keep his defender honest when left open from 17 feet and out with a jumper that is trending in the right direction. Akaya is a seasoned sophomore who played a big role for Saint James and I'd expect that experience to pay dividends throughout the summer against good competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->