EPL Bucket-Getters

New readers: Use code Proia30   The Elite Prep League hosted its playoffs in Hampton VA, a great opportunity to check out some prep school basketball featuring a ton of local talent. There were no shortage of guards that could create their own shot, scoring at a high clip whether they started or came off the bench for their respective groups. Let's break down some of the best performances that I saw, which featured a pretty heavy list of unsigned talent ripe for college coaches looking for immediate contributors.      35p 13r 2a 1s 2b 12/21 FG 11/11 FT vs Highland   -Might be the best available but was definitely the most productive prospect in the event, Ruey averaged 20p 11r 2a 1s 2b as the MVP of the EPL in a magical run to the championship title game. Ruey uses a + wingspan and good positional size to rebound the basketball at a high level for his position, defend multiple positions as a rangy off guard/wing prospect, and score in a variety of ways. Ruey did a great job of consistently earning trips to the FT line, knocking down runners in the paint and stepback jumpers from all 3 levels, and initiating the fastbreak to get his team easy opportunities in transition. His handle has improved to fire live dribble passes with either hand from the perimeter as he did a great job of creating for his bigs and shooters throughout the week. Ruey can post up smaller guards on the block, rotated well to cross the paint from the elbows to block shots at the rim, and showed the resolve to bring his team back from double digit deficits by turning defensive stops into free throws or high percentage transition looks. His size, quickness, and positioning/defensive IQ allow him to guard 1-4 effectively at the prep level and should project well to the college level as a versatile prospect that can make an immediate impact at that end of the floor. And the offensive capabilities as the primary playmaker for Massanutten this season show the massive leaps in development and growth that he's taken over the last few seasons.     21p 8r 2a 2s 7/12 FG 5/7 3P 2/3 FT in 25 mins   -Scruggs carved out a productive role with Massanutten this week as a creative scoring point guard that filled it up from all 3 levels. Scruggs filled it up with 20+ points while shooting over 50% in both the quarterfinal and championship games because he simply took the right shots. Scruggs knocked down open perimeter jumpers, used a tight handle to hit his matchup with crossovers to get to his pull-up jumpshot in the midrange, and used some scoring craft to pivot around or past defenders to score in the key. His ability to manipulate the defense with his eyes to either use or reject ball screens stood out, getting to his spots with pace within the halfcourt.     15p 6r 2s 2b 5/7 FG 3/5 3P vs Massanutten   -Surprised at the relatively quiet recruitment for this 2-way guard with a great frame and good positional size. Smith serves as a connector on the wing that is capable of attacking closeouts, knocking down shots off the catch, and playing unselfish basketball to ensure that the defense has to make extra rotations. Smith blocked a perimeter jumper, blocked a layup attempt under the basket, and is a good off-ball defender that understands when he needs to jump passing lanes for deflections and when to crack down on the post to prevent opposing bigs from getting off clean looks around the basket. His ability to be disruptive defensively and play his role offensively makes him a pretty seamless fit for most programs at the next level.     19p 5r 5a 3s 1b 8/14 FG 3/6 3P vs Mt Zion   -The Navy commit really showed some good moxie throughout the game, forcing several jump balls and turnovers throughout the game while contributing his trademark shot-making to the WRA offense. Sprague stayed down in transition to block his opponent's shot at the rim, knocked down corner threes off of explosive lifts or V cuts within WRA's offensive systems, rejected a screen to quickly get into a 1-dribble 18-footer late in the game, and has packed muscle onto his frame to allow him to body up with forwards on switches. His willingness to crash the glass to double team opposing bigs on box outs or chase down 50/50 balls with guards made him a valuable piece for a disciplined WRA team that almost pulled out a last-second win.     15p 1r 5a 4s 6/14 FG 3/7 3P vs Western Reserve   -Popotte gave MZP some nice minutes this week as a scoring point guard that is doing a much better job of getting to his spots now that he is healthy. Popotte has an explosive first step, showed an ability to create his own shot off the bounce going both left and right from the high post, and uses his size to burst through gaps in the defense to score in the halfcourt. Popotte used the shooting gravity to blow by closeouts and get two feet in the paint to drop off to his bigs for easy bunnies around the rim-- sustaining the offense to mount their eventual comeback. Defensively, he served as a disruptor with quick hands that swiped away steals as a helper that waited to tag the driver until they got into a spin move or had their back turned-- effectively disrupting WRA's offense and initiating the fastbreak at the same time.     15p 6r 1s 5/9 FG 3/5 3P 2/2 FT vs Spire   -The speed and explosive capabilities of Holman serve as a nice catalyst in a Hargrave offense that had good balance and firepower over the course of this EPL season. Holman made an immediate impact with a stepback 3, laced a 3 from the left wing off the bounce in the secondary break, hit a huge corner 3 late in the 2H, and threw down a poster dunk with the left in transition. Holman's superpower was on display as he showed really good speed in the open floor as an improved decision-maker adept at running the fastbreak because the defense couldn't load up on his drive or leave his man on an island without help.     15p 3r 4a 2s vs MZP   -The Hargrave senior sniper went 8/13 from the 3-point line in the two games that I watched, serving as an effective floor-spacer that gets into his shooting motion quickly off the bounce or off the catch. Sullivan's ability to relocate as an off-ball shooter to set up lifts to the wings from the corner or back door cuts to score made it difficult for his primary defenders to be in help position. The range on his jumper allowed him to take and make some audacious deep 3s behind screens that sustained the HMA offense whenever they experienced scoring droughts. With the shooting ability and feel, he could be an All-League performer at the D3 level or help win games at a D2.     18p 9a 6r vs Massanutten   -The play-making has really evolved for [player_tooltip player_id='2353606' first='Amani' last='Asare'] as a scoring point guard that can really fill it up in bunches. Asare's patience and pace in side ball screen PnR opportunities allows him to gain and keep advantages on drives to the rim for easy finishes with either hand. He's not only gotten quicker but has gotten stronger at Highland, giving him the ability to absorb and mete out contact on drives to the rim to finish plays on his feet when before he would turn the ball over or lose his balance. The near triple double shows the growth that he's made as a play-maker that is starting to see passing options develop a half beat before they're open to allow him to deliver more timely passes as his ambidexterity has also improved over the course of the season. Asare is an absolute gamer that takes individual matchups personally and that passion should lend itself well to success at the next level.

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