Tri Scrimmage: High-Upside Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I attended a tri-scrimmage event at Patterson High School in Baltimore yesterday to see the 15u groups from [program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill'], [program_tooltip program_id='2076982' first='Maryland' last='Movement'], and [program_tooltip program_id='2076976' first='District' last='Basketball Club'] compete in a primer for AAU warmup events now that the teams have been picked. It was my first time seeing all three groups this spring and was the first time seeing several of the players as well, came away with some new names to track in the 2029 class ahead of our Rankings Update this Wednesday. Let's tap in with some of the guards that stood out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2955543"],"_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-69cad4350d97e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Like the strides he has made this season as a quick point guard that can create for others or call his own number when his team needs it. Throughout both games, Johnson showed that he is a really good passer with either hand as he got into gaps in the defense and delivered pocket passes with some zip to his bigs off a live dribble. He does a really good job of getting the step on his matchup and keeping him in jail behind him to create advantage situations for his team that usually leads to a bucket or free throws for his team. The jumper looks much smoother off the bounce as he develops balance in his footwork on shots off the bounce. In an expanded role with Thrill, coaches should see the upside he possesses as a floor general. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3072097"],"_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-69cad4350d9f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Leach is a super assertive/aggressive point guard that really pushes the envelope for his team at both ends of the floor. He served as an effective ball-hawking on-ball defender that closed the space between himself and the ballhandler to make himself much more difficult to screen in the middle of the floor. Off the ball he showed good instincts for when to double down on bigs to force turnovers from the wings, when to swipe away the ball in help positions as opponents drove to the rim, and when he needed to fly out with urgency to shooters on the perimeter. Love his decision-making in tight spaces in the paint as a PG that can finish with floaters and other finesse moves while finding opportunities to dish to a teammate when he forced the helper to rotate over to him. His touch in the paint was on point, want to see what he can do as an off-ball shooter from the wings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2973525"],"_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":3575404,"_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-69cad4350da5f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Pitts will likely continue to ascend our rankings as a combo guard prospect with good positional size and a diverse skillset. The trademark skill is for sure the shooting, as Pitts is a knockdown movement shooter that gets off his shot quickly without rushing his form. But he also looks to have improved his ability to knock down shots off the bounce, hitting sidestep and stepback 3s with relative ease from both the wings and the corner. Love that--despite the shooting touch and scoring ability-- Pitts remains a willing passer in transition that threw 1-handed dimes off a live dribble to the opposite block while operating in high ball screens in the middle of the floor. Pitts hails from a long line of hoopers in his family that stand 6'5+, if he reaches that height--we're talking about a national level CG prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3575300"],"_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-69cad4350daa9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Wynn had some nice flashes as a shooter, play-maker, and halfcourt scorer throughout back to back scrimmages. Wynn hit smooth pull-up 3s after he knocked his matchup off balance with double crossovers, knocked down a pair of baseline jumpers off the bounce, relocated well off the ball to create easier C+S opportunities from beyond the arc, and was a dynamic athlete at both ends of the floor that matched up well with Thrill. Intriguing blend of perimeter skill, just want to see more consistent performances throughout both halves of play--but the AAU season is still very young as he adjusts to a new team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3140940"],"_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-69cad4350daef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Melli's shooting really stood out as a prospect that hit several rainbow threes both off the catch and off a live dribble. Melli gets to his spots in the halfcourt and can create his own shot off the bounce, showed good balance on stepback 3s, and manipulated defenders with his eyes before the ball screen arrived on several occasions to gain a step on his matchup. Melli is usually in the right spot defensively and does a good job of absorbing contact on opponents' drives to the rim, he just needs to improve his stamina to chase his matchup around screens and stay within the frame to challenge shots even when he gets hit by a pick in the halfcourt. Intriguing perimeter skillset to track throughout this AAU season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2969684"],"_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-69cad4350db34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Kargbo's team was overmatched on the day but he really battled throughout both matchups, flashing some promising perimeter skill throughout the afternoon. Kargbo served as a smooth shooter both off the bounce and off the catch and got off clean looks against a variety of different wing or guard defenders. He gets downhill to his spots in the halfcourt with good pace, showed good speed in the open floor, and used the glass well to finish in transition on both sides of the rim. Should be an intriguing guard to track this upcoming season as he looks to join varsity at Blair for a team that graduates some key pieces in their backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->