Manheim’s Best: Impactful PGs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New readers: Use code Proia30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I drove out to Manheim, Pennsylvania to cover Made Hoops' East Mania event featuring some of the top talent from the Northeast competing in a warmup spring AAU event. I got to see teams from across the major shoe circuits compete alongside some of the top independent circuits, including MH's MHC or MCC circuit teams. In this article we will break down some of the top floor generals that I saw. Let's dive in!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2353569"],"_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-69db0e4dedb6f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Just an absolute winner. Gray engineered a comeback against a scrappy, well-coached Iverson team by playing both ends of the floor at a high level. Gray scored twice off of post-ups on a smaller guard in front of the rim, closed distance quickly to swat a layup attempt at the rim in transition, shot the gap to avoid being screened to force deflections or steals that gave his team life in the 2H, generated paint touches to force defenses to collapse, and hit a huge double crossover deep 3 for game. Our scouts always come impressed with how hard and how aggressive he plays on a nightly basis surrounded by 4 and 5-star talent as the engine for Durant's 17u group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2398422"],"_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-69db0e4dedbf6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Francis has always possessed the ability to get downhill and bully his way to spots in the halfcourt but it was good to see him use those paint touches to create for teammates as well throughout the game to make himself into an even more well-rounded prospect. Francis scored on and1 layups, had several successful drive n kicks that led to open 3s for teammates, and served as a switchable defender throughout the afternoon that can chest up with bigs or chase guards around screens. His toughness shone through as he served as a magnet for 50/50 balls in the halfcourt, coming up with big rebounds or steals by beating multiple opponents to the spot. His jumper looks much more smooth and consistent--especially on midrange drives that forced his defender's out of drop coverages. I'd expect his recruitment to continue to see an uptick over the next few months as coaches should be drawn to his hard-nosed brand of basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2450653"],"_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-69db0e4dedc50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">7p 5a 2s vs Team Thrill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Smith fills a nice role on this [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] group to provide both primary and secondary playmaking as a prospect with good feel. Smith started things off by knocking down a 3 off the catch from the wing, hit a one-dribble fade-away midrange bucket, and kept the defense honest with some high level play-making in the halfcourt. Smith sliced across the face of the defense repeatedly to gain a step after his matchup got hit by a rub screen to then turn downhill and wreak havoc in vulnerable spots within his opponent's man or zone defensive schemes. Liked his ability to play with pace and take care of the rock despite matching up with smaller, hyper-aggressive guards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2419608"],"_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-69db0e4dedca4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">-Shifty, aggressive downhill driving guard that leveraged his size/quickness to sweep or cross his matchup over to get to his spots--especially when his man was distracted by an arriving ball screen. Jackson was lightning quick in the open floor, used a quick set of hands to disrupt offensive flow by poking out steals or fighting over ball screens at the top of the key, and showed both the feel and the skill to throw high-level whip passes with either hand off a live dribble. Absolute gamer that forced reactions with repeated forays at the rim or Nash dribble baseline drives to force the helpers to leave open teammates.<br></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":3588078,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jabrieel Forde","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_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":"Canada 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-69db0e4dedd66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Love the way that he creates advantages with his dribble because he never picks the ball up and is a willing passer off the move that sees the floor really well. Forde has the ball on the string, shows explosive back foot burst to get to his spots, knocked down several shots in transition with a smooth midrange pull-up, and is effective off-ball because of the timing of his cuts and finishing ability in tight spaces. Seeing that level of assertive/decisive reads while having the skill and strength to finish through contact at such a young age really stood out in a matchup against some high-level athletes at Durant. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->