Henrico’s Best: Exciting W/F Prospects

<!-- 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:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2405359"],"_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-69e656b7af3b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Malukila played up in the event with Max Levels Elite Philly 17u and had some nice flashes throughout both games that I saw this weekend. He knocked down perimeter shots off the catch (4 in one game), sprinted to recover back into the frame to swat a shot off the rim, and threw down a 2-handed poster dunk off the short roll late in the second matchup. The physical tools, diversity in his skillset and athletic flashes combine to make him intriguing prospect to track in 2028. If he can play with a consistent motor on the glass, I think it will jumpstart his production in games and significantly raise his long-term ceiling as a center prospect that can do a little bit of everything on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2743616"],"_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-69e65cf3355b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Really nice flashes throughout the weekend from Brand as a wing prospect that uses his size and a soft touch to finish at difficult angles around the basket. Brand scored off of putback dunks, scored with either hand with floaters or hooks, knocked down perimeter jumpers off the catch, and has a pretty good feel for where the ball is coming off the rim to crash the paint at the right moments. I came away impressed with his feel and pace as a prospect that made deliberate pre-catch reads based off the defense to get right into his move as soon as he caught the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3597349,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ewan Gillis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Halifax Metro Elite","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e65cf335651"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">18p 3r 1b vs The Lab</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Gillis served as a swiss army knife prospect on the wing that was just as comfortable knocking down 3s off the bounce as he was bumping with bigs in the paint. Gillis moves well for a young prospect of his size--scoring off of spin moves on straight line drives to the rim or on drop step reverse layups through contact. Gillis was just as comfortable doing the dirty work as a physical post defender that maintained his verticality while still contesting shots around the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3597454,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tate Van Ritchie","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Halifax Metro Elite","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e689a0c65b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">6p 8r 2a 3b vs The Lab</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Van Ritchie exited the game early with an ankle injury but made his mark at both ends of the floor as a dynamic forward prospect. He made timely dives to the rim to serve as both a roll and lob threat, came down with or tipped out several rebounds through double teams, and blocked shots both on and off the ball with pretty advanced timing. In blowout wins on day 1 and 2-- he looked the part of a stretch big as he knocked down perimeter shots off the catch, scored with hooks and post faders from the right block, and ran the floor extremely well to put pressure on his opponent's forward rotations. Really intriguing skillset that should only continue to stand out as he continues to grow and add weight to his frame. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3597492"],"_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-69e689a0c6621"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Came away impressed with the all-around impact from the rising sophomore as a wing/stretch four prospect that makes a lot of winning plays. Crouch laced several threes off the catch from either wing, showed the instincts and leaping ability with two-handed tip dunks, and proved capable of guarding 3-5 at the 15u level. While the burst is a work in progress attacking wings off the bounce from the perimeter, I like that he didn't settle for jumpers throughout the afternoon and did his best to find open teammates once he drew two defenders around the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->