Henrico’s Best: Elite Shooters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Balance held a regional event this past weekend at Henrico Sports Center to showcase some of the top talent in the Northeast from their circuit. I mainly watched the local DMV teams compete but got an opportunity throughout my two full days there to check out teams from outside of my region compete at a high level. Let's breakdown some of the best frontcourt players that I saw!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2415809"],"_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":3597703,"_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-69e7b63f8eae0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-One of the top scorers, shooters, and 2-way players at the event--take your pick. Nix turned in a productive weekend while leading DC Assault to a 3-0 record. He showed that he can knock down shots, has the IQ to duck under closeouts to take 1 or 2 dribbles to pull up for a jumper in open gaps in the defense, chipped in on the glass, and was disruptive at the defensive end of the floor as a guard with active hands that could switch 1-3 for his team. Loved that he probed the defense off of middle ball screens or in the short roll and didn't pound the air out of the ball, as he showed that he was an unselfish playmaker that can read the floor well to hit the open man. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3597756"],"_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":3598010,"_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-69e7b63f8eb5e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Lockhart jumped onto my radar in a big way, bursting onto the scene with 21 points in a 6-minute span to close out a nice win for DC Assault. Lockhart knocked down two corner threes off the catch, caught a DHO behind a screen and cashed out a 3 off the bounce, hit a tough contested three off of a stagger screen, hit his matchup with a pump fake and beelined straight to the limb to score with the high pickup floater off the window, and jumped passing lanes effectively for steals before kicking ahead to his bigs for dunks. In his next game, I saw him use the shooting gravity of the earlier performance to hit his bigs with overhead jump passes for easy dunks or layups from the weak side dunker's spot as a guard off the bench that produced at a high level during his minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2876205"],"_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":3597777,"_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-69e7b63f8ebb6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17p vs Pure Basketball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Walker's ball skills have really developed over the past year and he's blossoming as one of the better players for a really good 16u DCA group that boat-raced all three opponents this weekend. Walker hit three 3s in the 1H then really turned heads when he caught a runout pass over the top and took 1 step with 1 dribble before throwing down a 1-handed spike off his left leg. His ability to switch ball screens defensively to stay with cat-quick guards or switch onto bigger, more physical wings gives his team a ton of lineup versatility. The speed and leaping ability in the open court are accentuated by a tighter handle that allowed Walker to weave through the defense on his way to the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2918988"],"_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-69e7b63f8ebfc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">14p vs Pure Basketball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Cully continues to make strides as a long-distance sniper that spaces the floor because of his movement ability off the ball and sheer confidence. Cully has great positional size, fades to the corner or lifts to the wings on a string with slashers to present an open passing angle for a high percentage look from beyond the arc. His conditioning has improved to allow him to play for longer stretches of time and provide a bit more pressure on the ball at the defensive end of the floor. Intriguing name to track in 2028 as he plays a key role for this DC Assault group and should be in line for a larger role next season at O'Connell with some key pieces graduating to college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3597955"],"_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-69e7b63f8ec3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-First time seeing Velez play and he impressed as a shooter that is really working hard to round out his all-around game to meaningfully contribute to winning. Velez knocked down shots off the catch in transition, used that gravity to probe the defense coming off of side or middle ball screens, used his length around the basket to score off of putbacks, and knocked down shots from all 3 levels. Liked his touch around the rim as he finished with floaters or extension layups high off the glass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3598004"],"_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-69e7b63f8ec7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Lee stood out in my first viewing as a pure PG prospect that knows when to get off the ball, understands the timing necessary to wait for the screen to arrive before beginning his downhill drive, and when his team needs to settle the offense and run a good set. Lee showcased the shooting in the second game when he knocked down 3s off the catch from either corner and from the wing, hit a floater off the window through the contact, knocked down a turn-around midrange jumper off the spin, and still did a great job of serving as a unselfish connector on the wing that found cutters or shooters on the opposite side of the floor with sharp passes to teammates. </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 --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->