Zero Gravity Home For Easter: 5 Biggest Eye-Catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Saturday, I got my first look at a bunch of teams in their first tournament of the spring season. I attended Dana Barros Basketball Club for Zero Gravity's one-day Home For Easter tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the varsity and 10th grade age divisions, these were the 5 guys that impressed me the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553759"],"_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-69d2e08adac66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clement was unbelievable for BCRI this weekend. In their first game against BABC, he was a key part of his squad's ability to stay in the game and keep it close all the way until the end. He hit a bunch of threes—and his shot looks as smooth and fluid as ever—but he also made the defense pay if they overplayed him on the perimeter. On multiple occasions, he up-faked and then drove long close outs for dunks and finishes at the rim. He uses his length unbelievably well, and he has some budding athleticism that will be even more daunting once he puts some more weight on. This could be a season of massive growth for Clement, who's playing with a BCRI team that moves the ball extremely well and will give him an opportunity to shine in their explosive offensive system. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2422938"],"_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-69d2e08adacd8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Owusu-Aduomi was phenomenal this weekend for a BABC team that might not be as good as last year but will still have some very solid talent. The 6-foot-5 wing shot the ball extremely well from three in both games and looked comfortable as a driver and finisher at the rim as well. I'm quite high on his ability to pass the ball, too, which will shine with BABC more than it did with Tilton this past season. If he can continue to shoot the ball and score it from all three levels like he did against Team Sims on Saturday, he'll have loads of scholarship schools reaching out to him in no time. Owusu-Aduomi is a strong candidate to be BABC 17u's best player this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3550464"],"_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-69d2e08adad24"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez has an impressive blend of size, strength, athleticism, and skill and was the RI Elite player I was most intrigued by this weekend (though there were many). The 6-foot-5 point-forward moves defenders consistently on drives to the rim, and he has long arms and good touch with both hands, so he can really excel as a paint threat against players of all sizes. He also has a nice handle and feel on the perimeter, especially when using on-ball screens and making spray-out passes to shooters (which he's good at because of his combination of size and vision). Martinez will be at the Academy of Central Florida next year, a major prep basketball powerhouse where he should be able to hone his shooting ability and feel. Very high level prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2883459"],"_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-69d2e08adad68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lombardi was phenomenal for Team Sims all weekend and established himself as a super important piece for a very talented 16u UA Rise squad. The 6-foot-1 guard shoots the leather off the basketball and can hit threes on the move, off the dribble, and with very little space or time. He can also handle ball pressure from pesky defenders and makes very smart reads when he touches the paint with the rock; he's always balanced and under control. Team Sims is going to have an excellent 16u team that'll make some serious noise this spring—and Lombardi, who will transfer and join the class of 2029 at St. George's next year, will be a key part of their play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2526248"],"_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-69d2e08adadaa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cantave was super impressive this weekend for BABC''s 16u squad. The 6-foot-3 guard always goes so quickly off the catch, so he's difficult to stay in front of with a head of steam towards the rim. At the hoop, he has a knack for finishing with both his right and left hand, whether it be with contact or out ahead with a rear-view contest; he has long strides and excellent footwork. I also love how he plays on the defensive end. He's excellent in the passing lanes and moves his feet quite well laterally, so he's a great player on that end both on and away from the ball. Cantave needs to improve his three-point shooting and free-throw confidence, but he has lots of time to do so and should get tons of reps this season for BABC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->