Zero Gravity Home For Easter: 6 Productive Bigs

<!-- 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>Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/zero-gravity-home-for-easter-5-biggest-eye-catchers/">Zero Gravity Home For Easter: 5 Biggest Eye-Catchers</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/zero-gravity-home-for-easter-5-impressive-guards/" id="https://prephoops.com/2026/04/zero-gravity-home-for-easter-5-impressive-guards/">Zero Gravity Home For Easter: 5 Impressive Guards</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing on with my coverage, here were 6 productive bigs that really impressed me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Luis Angel Javier Valdez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"The Academy of Central Florida","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"RI 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-69d5207d8e476"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Valdez isn't built like most sophomores. The 6-foot-6 forward has the upper body of a D1 football player, but he also has the motor and toughness to go with it, making him an extremely difficult front-court player for opposing players to handle. He's excellent on the offensive and defensive boards, and he can slide his feet significantly better than most guys his size and age. Offensively, Valdez has solid touch and a nice-looking shooting stroke, both of which should be key skills to continue developing as he gets older. He's in a great place to get better at the Academy of Central FLorida, and he's one of a few RI Elite players to come from that program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568438"],"_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-69d5207d8e4e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">NSSA had a rough opening weekend, but Ste. Marie was a bright spot for them. The 6-foot-5 forward showcased the ability to comfortably handle defensive pressure far better than most bigs his size are able to; he makes smart, under-control decisions and does a great job using pass fakes against aggressive double teams. He's also a deadeye shooter from three and can use his size and strength to bully smaller players in the post when he gets the chance. Most impressive is Ste. Marie's willingness to consistently make the right play, even if it doesn't show up in the stats. He's an awesome get for Governor's Academy next season and should be one of their key pieces moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470973"],"_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-69d5207d8e53a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pierce is a matchup nightmare. The 6-foot-7 junior is big and long, but he also has a beautiful shooting stroke. He shoots it quickly and accurately, and he can hit shots on the move and off the dribble. He won't necessarily wow you with his athletic ability, but his combination of size and shooting ability makes him a lethal threat from downtown. With all of the guards that BABC has to puncture the paint and collapse the defense, Pierce should get TONS of open looks from the perimeter this season, many of which he'll likely knock down. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josh Okoduwa","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'10u0022","_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":"St. Thomas More","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"RI 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-69d5207d8e5d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Okoduwa is oozing with potential. The 6-foot-10 forward is ridiculously long and skinny, and he looks like he may even continue to grow (or at least certainly put on some more weight) over the next couple years. He's a lob threat offensively and a rim protector defensively, but he also has significantly better hands than many guys his size/age—he catches everything and is strong with the ball. Okoduwa's motor is there, too, which is another awesome foundational piece to have in his game. Once he puts on more weight and gets more comfortable in his body, he could be a high-major player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2470876"],"_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-69d5207d8e627"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Diaby is a matchup nightmare for BABC's 16u team. They're a team of talented guards and wings, and then the 6-foot-11 sophomore. He is a major lob threat and probably threw down about a dozen dunks over the two games I saw him play; he's simply too big and long for most 10th graders to handle, and he has good jumping ability and hands. But he also has excellent defensive instincts and is a phenomenal shot blocker—he has good timing, and he doesn't overcommit to drivers. Diaby will be tasked with a lot in the front-court this season for BABC, but it will be really good for his long-term growth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2569689"],"_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-69d5207d8e675"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cornell really impressed me this weekend. The 6-foot-6 big clearly developed his wing skills this winter and is significantly more comfortable in his body than the last time I saw him. He made some really impressive moves and finishes at the rim on Saturday, including one head-tap dunk and a couple other almost-posters. He has great athleticism, long arms, and the toughness necessary to leap into the air and take contact. Cornell isn't a consistent outside shooter yet, but his combination of size, length, and athleticism is super intriguing for a prospect his age, and BCRI is the perfect place for those skills to shine. He'll continue getting better and will be a prime reclass candidate once the time comes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mohammed-gueye/"></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->